Thirteen Summers

fifty-four

THIRTEEN SUMMERS

tw: mentions of disordered eating, self-induced vomiging

Caleb knocked on Josie's door with his knuckles instead of his fist.

It hurt less that way.

There was a pause, then the soft scrape of her chair moving. The door opened just enough for her to peer out.

Her face dropped instantly.

"Oh my God." Josie gasped.

Caleb winced. "Hey."

She opened the door wider, eyes darting over him like she was afraid he might fall apart if she didn't keep looking.

"What happened to your face?" She demanded.

"It looks worse than it feels." Caleb said.

Josie's mouth opened, then closed. Her brows knit together, horror slowly replacing shock.

"Your nose is like...purple." She pointed out faintly. "And your lip. And your hands-Caleb."

He shrugged, careful with his shoulders. "You should see the other guy."

"That is not funny." She snapped, then immediately softened. "Who did this?"

Caleb hesitated for half a beat. Just long enough.

"Some guy wouldn't shut up." He rolled his eyes at the thought of him. "He was saying some stuff of me. Stupid stuff. I got sick of it."

Josie studied him, unconvinced. "You never fight over stupid stuff."

He looked away, rolling his shoulder. "Guess I snapped."

She stepped closer without thinking, reaching up like she was going to touch his face, then stopping herself.

"Does it hurt?" She asked, softly.

"A bit." He admitted. "But honestly."

He met her eyes again, something dark and honest flickering there.

"It felt good."

Josie blinked. "Good?"

"Yeah." Caleb muttered, quietly. "Like all the noise shut up for a second."

She didn't like that answer. It showed in the tight line of her mouth.

"Cam's going to kill you." She shook her head at him.

Caleb snorted. "Already did. Took my Playstation away."

She hesitated. "Are you in trouble at school?"

"Suspended." He boasted, easily. "Two days. Detention when I'm back."

Her eyes widened. "Seriously?"

"Yep." He tipped his head toward the hallway. "So congratulations. You're stuck with me."

Despite herself, a small smile tugged at her mouth. "Lucky me."

He stepped fully into her room, closing the door behind him with his foot.

It smelled faintly like laundry detergent and the vanilla candle she liked.

Josie sat back down on her bed, still watching him like he might disappear.

"You should put ice on that." She advised him.

"I will." Caleb replied. "Later."

She eyed him. "You're bad at later."