Absolution

18- Truth

Brady POV

"okay. be safe" i hung up on callie before she could speak

i didn't want to be that person. i really didn't.

but who the fuck was she meeting

in headed downstairs to where my friends were sleeping, mason was the only one awake

he stared at me as i downed a glass of water

"what?" i asked him coldly

"do you wanna share why the fuck you nearly killed marcus livingston last night?"

i stared back at him. i just had to tell someone. i couldn't keep it in any longer

i don't know how callie does it.

"i think marcus did something to callie" i spoke quietly, trying to keep the conversation between us. "i think he hurt her, badly"

mason looked shocked, like id just told him the worst news of his life

"i don't think marcus would do something like that. we've known him since we were like 8." he replied.

"callie is terrified of him. i can see it in her face everytime we're in class, when she sees him in the halls. even when i say his name" i continued, "she was with him that night, you saw the state she was in. something happened to her and i think it was him"

mason stuttered for a couple seconds, trying to make sense of what i was telling him

"what do you think he did" he asked me timidly

"i don't even know if i want to know" i spoke lowly, clenching my fist slightly. "but i think deep down we both know what"

mason slightly nodded at me, as i let him take it in.

"so now what?" he asked me

"i have no fucking idea" i stared at the floor in front of me "i need to speak to her. tell her what i did before she finds out through someone else"

a couple hours went by, and i'd heard nothing from callie. she was either still with whoever she was meeting, or she didn't want to talk to me

i didn't want to force her. i just wanted her to be okay

we eventually decided to go to the bridge and smoke. get out the house for a while

we all sat down, lighting the joints in silence.

the other guys didn't ask me about last night, which surprised me. maybe mason said something. i hope he didn't

i snapped my head as i heard small footsteps in the distance.

it was callie, of course. we locked eyes for a split second, yet she didn't speak, she just sat down a few steps away from me

all of us were silent, wondering what was going on.

but it was also nice. we smoked, entranced in quiet conversation and just enjoyed the company of eachother

as the sun set, they all started leaving. ronan and isaiah, then landon. then mason got up to leave

"talk to her" was all he said as he walked away.

i turned my gaze to callie. she was staring aimlessly at the stream below. the running water and rustling leaves being the only noises in the air.

i got up, walking closer and sitting right next to her. i could feel her body heat on my arm.

as i studied her close up, i could see it again. she was high.