The Hart Game

Chapter Twenty-Five

LUKE

"Garrick! You've made bail." The officer announces as he goes to unlock to bars that are separating me from my freedom. I lift my head from my hands, my elbows resting on my knees, waiting to see the angry faces of either my mom or my dad. Instead, Kyle's face comes to view and he looks as angry as if my mom or dad would be if they were the ones to come get me. Kyle knowing I got arrested is worst than my mom and dad knowing I got arrested.

The officer lets me out and I cautiously walk up to Kyle, waiting for the blowout. But nothing comes. He turns around and starts walking towards the exit. This is bad.

We walk to our car, well I have to practically run cause Kyle is practically walking like the station is on fire. He gets into the driver seat of our Impala while I get into the passenger. But he doesn't start it. He just sits there looking at the steering wheel while I'm preparing myself for the explosion.

Except it doesn't come. He starts the car and we make our way home in uncomfortable silence. The tension is so thick that it can be cut with a knife. I'm not sure if I'm supposed to say anything or nothing. We make it home still in silence, and only once we park, he opens his mouth.

"Why is it so important to you, that you have to keep doing this?" He says so quiet I thought he would be talking to himself. I don't say anything but stay seated in the passenger seat, hoping he will just leave it alone. He wouldn't understand why I keep fighting. "You're not going to answer me?"

I look towards him and see that he's so done with all of this. Lately our mom and dad have been on his case about things I don't really know about. I mean they think I don't hear them arguing when they think I'm sleeping. The hushed conversations when I'm not in the room. The tension during dinner. Some times I think it's because he's graduation soon and he's going to be going to college. But I don't think it's that.

"Luke!"

I snap up towards the scene that I've seen so many times to count. Bars that block me from the outside world. Have I been spacing again? I must have been cause the guard is giving me a weird look. "You've made bail, Garrick."

He unlocks the door while I go to stand. He leads me out the door and down hallways to the entrance. For some reason I expect to see Kyle waiting for me but instead I see my dad. His hair disheveled from how it usually is. Dark circles under his hazel eyes. I also see something else in his eyes. Worry.

"Dad," I say once I make it to him. He gives me a tight hug that I haven't felt since Kyle funeral. He lets go and doesn't say anything. "How's Cameron?"

"Come on. Let's go to the hospital." He says trying to drag me out to the car. But I stop. I need to know how he is first.

"Dad. How is he?" He stops. Takes in a deep breathe and exhales in exhaustion and waits a moment before he answers.

"I'll tell you in the car. We have to get to the hospital." I don't make a move to go to the car. I just stare at him, waiting for him to tell me. "Please Creepy, we need to get to the hospital. You're best friend needs you."

That got me moving. Soon we are on the road to the hospital my dad works at. On the way he tells me Cameron's case. Two broken ribs, one of them puncturing a lung. Three fractured. A lot of cuts that needed stitching and bruises. What got me the most was the head trauma. All that anger was suddenly coming back.

"Please tell me he's far away from that bastard." I ask through gritted teeth, my hands clenched in fists hoping to draw a bit of blood. They are a bit sore and shaking but I don't pay attention to them.