Collateral Damage

Chapter Twenty-Five

My life had become a walking cliché. A girl fights with her parents over a boy, and the first thing she does is run straight to that boy. The sort of thing on those cheesy CW teen dramas Ana and I used to laugh at. It wasn't my finest moment.

Still, I needed an escape, and John offered one. I didn't exactly have any other friends to go to for comfort.

He was waiting for me in his driveway, standing right next to the car. It wasn't until I drew nearer that I got a good look at his face—and I couldn't help but gasp. "You shaved!"

"You noticed," he grinned.

"Oh...well...it's nice." I felt suddenly awkward. Why couldn't I stop staring? It wasn't like he got a big makeover. He still looked very much like John, in his trucker hat and baggy clothes that reeked of cigarettes. Yet his face looked so different without all the scruff and stubble. It was softer, almost younger; I could see more of his mouth and the rounded contours of his jawline. It somehow made him more...approachable.

"It's for the hearing," he explained, rubbing a hand across his chin. "Have to be presentable for Family Court." His smile faded as he noticed my puffy eyes and streaming nose. "What's wrong?"

"It's nothing." I quickly wiped my nose on the back of my hand. "It's just...I had a fight with my parents."

He tensed. "Because of Frances?"

There was no point in denying it. "Yeah. They know everything. They found out before you even told me."

"Can't keep anything secret in this town," he grumbled. "Let me guess: they don't want me to hang out with you anymore."

I nodded apologetically.

"Fucking bitch," he spat, kicking out at his tires.

"Don't worry about my parents," I said fiercely. "I don't care what they want."

"I didn't want to bring you into this..."

"You're my friends. I want to be in this."

Then I was struck by an idea—one so brilliant and simple that I didn't know why I hadn't thought of it sooner. "Why don't I testify for you?"

He stared at me like I had gone crazy. "What?"

"Why not?" I asked. "I can be a character witness! I can tell the court all about how she came to me..."

"No." He shook his head vehemently. "No way. I'm not dragging you into this."

"But it'll help! I know you guys—and more importantly, I know what a piece of shit Frances is."

He gave a tired sigh. "Okay, let's just say for the sake of argument that you testify. What happens then? I'll tell you: her lawyer will do everything possible to damage your credibility. By the time she's done, you'll just come off as one of my 'delinquent friends.'"

"Delinquent?" I laughed wildly. "I'm an Honor Roll student!"

"Who happened to date an alleged rapist."

I froze.

"You said Frances knew about that, right?" he queried.

I gulped and nodded.

He cursed under his breath. "Her lawyer must be worth every penny."

"That has nothing to do with this!" I pointed out. "They wouldn't bring that up, would they?"