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Chapter 69

Ronan leans back in his chair and stares at the ceiling. "That's so ______ up," he says. I nod. 

"He made her cry in front of her boyfriend," I sigh. "He drove all day to see her. It's so messed up." 

I had recounted yesterdays events to Ronan during break. It was the only time I could really sit down and talk to him besides on the bus, but here I knew no one was really listening to our conversation. They are all busy with their own cliches. 

"He's such a jackass," Ronan replies but I barely hear him. I am still swimming in the memory of yesterday. 

"He was ready to hit him. I wanted him to hit Matt," I look up at Ronan. His eyes meet mine. He is thinking over my words and the unspoken question I am thinking. Was it wrong for me to think that way? Ronan shakes his head. 

"He should have. He would have had it coming." I lay my head back into my arms. 

"Yeah." Ronan gaze doesn't shift. "He ever hurt you?" 

I don't say anything. The question was bound to come up sooner or later. I just was not expecting it to come today. I shake my head. Which is the truth in a sense. Physically at least. Emotionally and verbally yes, but that is not what Ronan meant.

"He ever hurts you, I'll kill him," Ronan declares. I believe him. 

Even if Matt had hurt me, I wouldn't have the heart to set the hounds on him. Despite how mean and hateful is could be, he was nice sometimes. He would bring us ice cream or candy. I remember the time he brought chocolate ice cream. It was Matt's and my favorite. I ate most of it but left some in the container. I didn't want to eat all of it.

Later that same day, Matt went in the fridge to get him some, but there was only the little bit I left. He instantly knew I was the one who did it. 

"Ray, you left just enough to piss someone off," Matt said turning around and smiling at me. He laughed and I returned his laughter. We joked around the remainder of the day.

It is moments like this that make it hard to turn on him.