Back To Our Roots, Book One

CXVII. You Know It's Bad When You Get Out Of View Of The Security Cameras

Thad had taken on a completely different tone. Instead of covering up his negative emotions with anger, he actually showed them. They could all tell he was terrified, that his heart was breaking.

The first day of classes, he didn't go. He didn't even leave the dorm for lunch until they made him.

When the school day ended they were all in the common room, Thad curled up in one of the armchairs. He wasn't reading; he was just avoiding the world.

There was a knock on the doorframe and they looked over, seeing Ryan standing in the doorway. He was looking at Thad sadly– and guiltily, maybe?

"How long have you been there?" Blaine asked, disoriented.

"Not long," he said softly. "Thad?"

Thad sighed, not looking at him. "I told you to leave me alone."

"You told me not to talk to you until I changed my opinion. I've changed my opinion about part of this; there's something I need to tell you. I'm not supposed to, but..."

He sighed again, slowly getting up, as if it cost him too much energy. "What?"

"I..." Ryan's eyes glanced around at the others. "I'd rather not tell you here."

Thad followed Ryan out of the room. They stopped in one of the hall bathrooms that nobody used.

"A bathroom?" Thad questioned.

Ryan nodded out the doorway. "Security cameras. So you know where she was–"

"Prison," Thad interrupted.

"–but you don't why she was there."

His heart sank as Thad didn't make his usual 'let me guess, murder?' or 'certainly not because she committed a crime' remark. Instead he just responded plainly.

"You're right, I don't. Is that what you're not supposed to tell me?"

"Yeah. They're worried it'd make you hate her, but I think it'd make you understand my point of view. She left because she was trying to protect us."

"She protected us by committing a crime?"

Ryan thought for a minute. "...Kinda. It wasn't a good idea, but her heart was in the right place. And you know our family and mental illness." He winced. "Not the most tactful line, sorry about that."

"Just tell me already," Thad said. He looked exhausted.

"You were in fifth grade, and... Well, you were bullied really badly. I think you remember that."

He nodded.

"Mom went to pick you up, and she saw you getting picked on. You ran back into the school before you saw her, but she saw you. She was absolutely furious. This is were the mental health part came in... The idea of one of us getting hurt set her off." He paused as Thad looked down, clearly hiding tears.

"She doesn't want to hurt either of us, but when she gets back she immediately stabs me in the heart," he mumbled.

Ryan's heart broke. "She was in shock. Thad, I promise you, she's not transphobic."

Thad sighed. "Just tell me what she did."

This was the hard part. He swallowed, mouth going dry as he thought about it.

"She... God, how do I put this? She–"