fameless → ZACH HERRON ✓

f o r t y - t h r e e

CHAPTER FORTY-THREE
( BACK )

     CARMEN STARES AT Callie. Callie sits down nervously, fidgeting with her fingers as she takes the seat next to Jack. Zach places his arm around Carmen's waist as she shifts, her eyebrows still furrowed in pure confusion.

"What's wrong?" Carmen asks as Daniel takes the other seat beside her.

Mr. Quackington honks from between Addilyn and Corbyn, seemingly asking the same question.

"Why did you name him Mr. Quackington, Addi?" Callie questions, trying to avoid the topic at hand. "Can I call you Addi? I'm going to call you Addi-"

"Callie," Alex huffs. "I know you're nervous, but they need to know."

"I agree," Carmen nods with worry. "I would like to know."

Callie sighs loudly as Jack and Alex each take one of her hands in theirs.

"It started a few days ago," Callie begins. "Back when Carmen was kidnapped. You all know about my rough past with my father-"

"I don't." Addilyn states, raising her hand hesitantly. Carmen nods in agreement, Zach lacing his fingers in hers as he whispers into her ear.

"Before Callie's father was arrested, he constantly beat her and her brother," He says quietly, keeping his words quick and simple.

"H-he-?" Carmen opens her mouth, her eyes snapping to Callie in realization.

Callie opens her mouth to explain, but Corbyn sends her a look before leaning over, and explaining the situation to Addilyn. The girl looks to Callie with a gasp, a hand placed over her mouth.

Mr. Quackington quacks softly, rubbing his head against her leg in an attempt to comfort her.

"Anyways, as I was saying, I had just gotten a call about Carmen, so I got in my car to leave. My phone started ringing and I didn't recognize the caller ID, so I ignored it. After a few more calls, I accepted the call, getting curious as to who it was," Callie says, taking a shuddering breath before continuing.

"It was my dad. He told me that he had gotten out of prison and was going to fight for custody over me. I'm still sixteen," She chokes, holding back the tears pooling in her eyes. "I didn't think much of it, even though I was a little freaked out. I thought nothing of it until yesterday."

"What happened yesterday?" Zach asks, rubbing soothing circles on the back of Carmen's hand.

"I was moving in with you all when I went to go get another box. Alex accidentally dropped a picture, so I bent down to pick it up. When I got back up, I noticed a familiar car driving down the street. It was my father's car," She tells them quietly, finally looking up. "He knows where we are."