The Secrets We Keep

The Tenth Chapter

Damien

Hayden stays in her room for the entire weekend. She doesn't come out for anything and when mom and dad ask me what's wrong, I tell them it's because she's come down with something. 

They go into her room to soothe her but Hayden is listless. I know exactly how she feels... it's not great knowing someone did something bad and knowing if you do anything about it, you'll be the one who suffers for it. Not them. 

But I'm glad she's like this instead of angry. Unfortunately, Hayden's got a temper and I've seen her do some pretty stupid things before. She hates injustice but breaking apart Diane's ex-boyfriend's bike is one thing... going up against rich douches with connections is another.

By the time Monday rolls round and we file into school, she seems better. The bags under eyes are gone and she's more talkative. 

"Do you want to go out to eat?" Mom asks as we head into the school entrance. 

"On a school night?" Hayden questions dubiously, swinging her bag from hand to hand. 

"I just thought it would be nice since you're feeling better. Plus, your dad's working late..."

"And you don't fancy making dinner and grading papers?" I ask and she gives me a tight smile. It stings a little that mom is still cool around me. We haven't spoken about last week but at least she's thawing a little. 

"That sounds great, thanks, mom," Hayden says, a sweet smile falling into place. Before we all go our seperate ways, mom places a kiss on Hayden's hair. 

"If you feel sick again, go to the nurse's office. Don't put on brave face." 

Hayden nods and I wish mom would just give me a chance to explain myself before she heads to her classroom. Hayden notices my sad glance and threads her arm through mine. 

"She'll come around, D. It's just... she doesn't understand why you did what you did and we both know you can't tell her..." 

I sigh, knowing Hayden is right. Something tells me if I told anyone what Christopher threatened to do to my mom, my dad would lose his job too.

I googled him a few days ago. Christopher's dad is a billionaire who runs a company that builds military equipment... which covers everything. It doesn't get more connected than the freaking US government. 

Hayden and I break apart as we start heading to our classrooms. It's just one more year... and then we're free of this place and all the people in it. 

-

My last class of the day is art. As I find myself behind the easel trying to recreate the bowl of fruit in front of me, I hear someone clear their throat behind me. 

I turn to see Amelia's freckled face staring at my canvas, her eyes narrowed in concentration. "That's very... abstract?" She asks, trying to keep the laughter out of her voice. I find my lips tipping into a smile as I glance back at what I've painted and try to see it from her perspective. 

"I like to do things differently," I tell her, looking at my purple banana and yellow grapes. Her smile turns into a laugh and she settles down onto the stool next to mine. I glance at her canvas and see she's rendered the picture perfectly. "That's amazing," I say, nodding to her work. 

Her smile becomes sheepish. "Thanks..." she says, ducking her head to hide her blush. "This is the class I enjoy the most. Art is one of the few things I'm good at." 

"I'm sure there are lots of things you're good at," I say, ignoring the student across from us who shushes us. 

Amelia shrugs, fiddling with the end of the clean brush. "Hey, I was wondering how your sister was. It occurred to me over the weekend that I might've been a bit... abrupt with her when we had lunch the one day."