Crash Course

Chapter 4

I didn't run into Liam the rest of the day. I didn't blame him, suicide was a choice, he didn't choose for Makala to hurt herself. I just wasn't ready yet to ask him about it. I didn't want to hear about how he was a douche bag jock once upon a time. I didn't want the answers to the questions running through my head. "Are you sure you're okay? You are freakishly quiet." Nate said as we left math class and began the traditional walk to my locker.

"Yeah, I'm just a little off today. Didn't sleep well." I replied. Nate nodded, not really buying into my answer. "I'll text you when lacrosse is over." I said to him, pulling out the books I needed for homework. "Where is Kris?" I looked around the hallway, and just like that she came bounding our way. Nate smiled, hugged us both, and left. "Hey, can we talk really fast?" I asked.

"Yeah! But it'll have to be quick, I have tutoring in fifteen." She said.

"What do you need tutoring in?" I asked, Kristy seemed like she had it all, the beauty and the brains.

"Nothing, I'm the tutor." And I was right. I smiled.

"Let's sit." I said, pointing to a secluded sofa at the end of the hall.

"What's going on?" She asked, searching my eyes.

"What do you know about Makala Evans?" I asked. All the color drained from her face. She looked panicked, upset, and overwhelmed all in one.

"I knew you would hear about her eventually." She said with a sigh. "The truth always comes out." She continued searching my eyes. "Who's story did you hear?"

"Luke's." Kristy nodded.

"Makala was my best friend. She moved up here from Yardly, a school down south. Her parents divorced and her mom's new boyfriend was abusive so she had to get away. Her dad didn't want her here. He had given up custody for a reason. You wouldn't have been able to tell just how shitty her home life was if you saw her at school. Day one, she had already claimed the popularity crown. Everyone loved her. She picked Liam to be her right hand, and rightfully so. They were the stars of Dayton. But Liam treated her like shit. He was constantly hooking up with other girls, standing her up, joking about their sex life. He would get drunk and say awful things to her. When she killed herself, everyone was shocked, we all looked for answers, except Liam. Liam dropped out of the world completely. He didn't come to her funeral or to her wake. He just left everyone else grieve." This story was getting more and more heart breaking, but something was off. I needed to talk to Liam. I hugged Kristy.

"Kris I'm so sorry, I don't even know what to say."

"You could promise me that you'll stay away from Liam Forbes. He's a bad guy." She said. I stayed quiet. "But I know you, and I know you won't. So just promise me you won't put your heart in his hands, because he'll just crush it." With that, she was gone. Girl knows how to make an exit. I grabbed my backpack and headed out to the field. I had some serious thinking to do.

I loved watching Andrew compete. There was something about the way that he dominated a field that just reassured me. The guys were getting ready to start warm ups when I trotted up to the field. "Mom!" James was the first to spot me. He rushed me, picking me up and fireman carrying me to the guys. He dropped me down in front of Luke and my brother. I laughed as Andrew beamed at me. I don't know why seeing me at his practices meant so much to him.

"You're staying?" He asked.

"Yeah. I'm going to work on some homework while I watch." I said.

"You ready to watch me kick your brother's ass?" Luke asked.

"As if!" I snapped defensively. "Andrew is easily one hundred times better than you!"

"That's my sis!" Andrew shouted.