JUST SAY SOMETHING

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE: The Park

Mike Williams

This is it. *Fingers Crossed*

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Marc Harris, Jenny Simmons, and 8 others like this.

Michelle Choi: Any news?

Jenny Simmons: None yet. :(

Alison Mayer: Oh God, I feel so useless here.

Michelle Choi: Don’t worry, sweetie. We’ll be okay. Just get home safe. See you very soon, Ali.

CHAPTER 21:

Dean parked at a gas station. He filled the tank and walked into the convenience store. We did not talk since he started driving. I would look at him from time to time, while we were on the road. There was something in me that missed him, but there was also another feeling that made me fear what he kept from me.

“You should drink this,” he said as he handed me a cup. I did not notice that he was back in the car. “It’s hot chocolate.”

“Thanks Dean,” I said. I took a sip and felt the hot chocolate scald my throat, but I welcomed the little discomfort. It warmed me up and I sighed. “We need to talk.”

“I know, Leb,” he said. “I’ve got so much to explain to you.”

“I never got to thank you… for saving me.”

“You don’t need to,” he whispered. “I would do it again, like I have before.”

We were quiet for a while when Dean yawned.

“We should get some sleep before you start driving again,” I said.

“I’m fine. I can still drive,” he said, rubbing his eyes.

“Are you sure?”

“Yeah,” he said, starting up the car.

We were on the road for about fifteen minutes when we found and empty parking lot near an old park. The streetlights lit up the place and it looked like most of the playground was in terrible shape except for the swing and monkey bars. Dean shut off the engine.

“What are we doing here?” I asked.

“You’re right, we need to rest, but I don’t think I’ll be able to fall asleep.”

“Can you tell me everything now?”

“Well, my full name is Dean Ezekiel Marshall Baker. Does that ring any bells for you?”

I thought for a couple minutes. “Wait, you’re related to Janet Marshall?”

“Unfortunately, I am,” he said. “She’s my mom’s sister-in-law and she’s as crazy as my bigot uncle. They’re both crazy about eradicating gays from the world, like it’s something as easy as exterminating termites. It makes me sick. My mom isn’t that close to them, but she does what she can to keep a level of connection to them. Her brother happens to be the family prized poodle and whatever he wants goes.”

“So your mom has to keep appearances of accepting the camp?”

“Yeah, but she hates it more than I do.”

“Why does she want to stay on your uncle’s good side?” I asked.

“He has connections. If you think what happened to you was bad, imagine what he could do to me and my family. It would be a whole lot worse. The rest of the family would simply turn a blind eye. It’s twisted, even I don’t get it.”