Theo-
"Hey Theo," says Uncle Mason with a knock on my door.
I pull my headphone out and look up at him. "What's up?"
He shrugs, "just wanted to chat. See how you're doing? Are you ready for next week?"
I feel the grimace cross my face. Next week is thanksgiving. Next week is Bryce's birthday, but he's talking about Dad's trial. I have to be there as the prosecutor could call me as a witness. They say they have a strong case overall, but if they need to, they can...so I have to go to Seattle and sit in the courtroom with the man who abused me.
"I....I....," words escape me. I really don't know what to think.
"Hey. It's ok. They might not call you," he chirps. "You're gonna be ok. At the end of all of this, you're going to be ok. I promise."
"But.." I croak out. I didn't even realize I was tearing up. "But what if he gets off. Won't I go back to him?"
Uncle Mason's face tells me he wasn't expecting me to be worried about that. He takes a seat on my bed. "No way. Tasha and I are ready to fight for you. I won't let that happen."
I nod and wipe my face and try and think of a subject change, "I should finish this up before dinner."
He nods and looks at my desk, and whistles at my books. "I checked your grades the other day on the school's site. I'm disappointed that you're lowest grade is a 97. Feels like you can do better."
I give him a weird look, and for a second, he looks serious before his face cracks, and he starts laughing. I can't help but join in as the tension in the room eases for a second.
Through the laughs, I say, "I'm smart. what can I say."
He's smiling as he stands up, "that you are. Ok, wrap up and come down for dinner."
I nod and turn back to my Bio homework. The magic of photosynthesis awaits me.
That is until I hear another knock on my door. I turn, expecting Uncle Mason again, but it's Bryce.
"Hey," I say with a smile. "What's the best wide receiver in Oregon need from me today?"
He caught the winning pass during yesterday's game. Thrown by the sexy as hell Daniel Madison. The pair of them dominated the game...when the Seniors weren't out on the field winning their final state championship.
He gives me a modest smile and shakes his head, "nothing really. I have to walk Mrs. Carson's Dog today for her. Wanna come?" I look at my homework.
I nod and close my book. It's Thanksgiving Break anyways. I just wanted to get it all done.
We tell his parents where we're going, and Uncle Mason smiles at us bonding.
He runs over to Mrs. Carson's house ahead of me. It's a lovely fall day, cool and crisp. Perfect for a walk. Mrs. Carson lives next door across the grassy path into the forest.
When he comes out with the sweetest-looking chocolate lab, I can't help but smile. "I love this dog. He's so sweet."
Bryce laughs, " he's a good boy for sure. Isn't that right, Riker."
"Massive points for her being a Star Trek Nerd," I say with a grin.
"Oh, that was her son. He lives in Portland now," says Bryce. "He was a cool dude. Like six years older than us, but he was cool."
I'm intrigued by this "cool" person, "what makes him cool? It sounds like you have a crush."
He stops and laughs really hard for a second, "He had a muscle car, got a tattoo at 18, he taught me how to sneak into the house one night and let me smoke with him once or twice."
I come to a stop and stare at my shockingly rebellious cousin, "wow...I didn't know you had a wild side. You smoking?"
He smiles, "just once or twice to see what the big deal was...I didn't love it. The Tattoo and the muscle car are the biggest things I liked."
I nod, and we keep walking, "so how do you sneak into the house?"
"You actually do it in your room. The lattice under your window on the pathway. It was risky cause it was Dad's office, but useful once or twice freshman year," he says, and he watches Riker pee on a tree. "So that's my same-sex crush. Who's yours?"
I think for a second, "my older bad boy crush would have to be my ex."
As Riker hunches over, Bryce makes a face. "Not what I meant, but now I'm curious."
I hand him the bag, "his name is Chris. He was one of my Dad's "employees.""
Bryce gags a little as he picks up Riker's present, "dealer, runner, what?"
I roll my eyes. This is the most I've thought about him in weeks. "Dealer. He's 19. College guy. Not good for me to be seeing....but clearly that was the least of my problems."
"Oh fuck. That's not right. I'm sorry, Theo," says Bryce with a bag of poop.
I shrug, "it's over now. He was WAY too overprotective." I do miss him sometimes, but Bryce doesn't need to know that.
"I'm glad you got away," he says quietly. Riker starts to pull on the leash, and we just let him lead. Mrs. Carson told Bryce to take him on at least a 30-minute walk each day. His doggie door will let him out, but she wanted him to socialize too.
After about 10 minutes of silence, he speaks up again, "sooooo....who are you crushing on now?" I shake my head. He doesn't need to know. "Liar. You have to have SOMEONE!"
I shrug my shoulders, playing the mystery game.
"Knew it. Ok, let me guess. If I'm right, you have to tell me," he says with a smile.
"Deal," I say back. "Cause you'll never guess it."
Bryce looks at me for a few seconds. He seems to be studying my passive face, "ok. It's .....Danny."
My poker face fails for a second or two, and he jumps on it. "Haha, I knew it. I'm right, right?"
I bite my lower lip hard....he's excited, but is he going to be mad. I just nod.
"I KNEW IT," he shouts down the street. An old man, three houses down, looks over at us. Riker doesn't like the shouting, either.
"Shut up. It's stupid. He's your best friend. He's straight. He's out of my league," I say back and start to walk away. My face is beet red.
Riker and Bryce catch right up, "slow down, T-Dog. First, I love that him being my friend was your first concern. Also, no one is out of your league. I'm saying this as your cousin. You're a good-looking dude." I give him a weird look for a second, and he pushes on, " you're not as handsome as me, but you can't have it all right?"
I roll my eyes, "thank you, Bryce. That's sweet of you."
He nods and takes out his phone. "503. We should head home. Dad wants to do a board game night."
I nod, and Bryce pulls out the standby subject of English class for us to talk about. Although we've had a good bonding time on the walk, he wants to play it safe.
When we drop Riker off and head into the house, we are hit with Uncle Mason setting up the "Game of Life."
His version of chicken stir fry smells amazing, and we all sit down to eat.
After hours of playing games and enjoying our time as a family, I finally crawl into bed. Mandy and Jackson are watching a movie downstairs, but Bryce bailed to talk to Megan. Her family went to San Diego for the holiday.
Now that Bryce said it's easy to sneak into the room, I check the window lock and confirm I'm safe. Then, for added protection, I put Wolfie in his normal guard dog spot.
Riker is out in his yard barking loudly at something, but he's been doing that the last couple of nights around this time. Probably a deer.
I'm drifting off to sleep with Him as white noise when I sit up. "Wait. I said Danny's his best friend; he's straight and out of my league. Bryce only said no one is out of my league, and Danny was his best friend," I think to myself. "Does that mean...Danny's not straight?"
I lay back down and play through the conversation again. It could've slipped his mind....or he didn't respond to it for a reason.
I smile at myself, and for a moment, I think I have a chance with Danny.
********
That stupid dog won't stop barking. It's impossible to get closer to the house with him there, and I can't kill him without drawing more attention.
Teddy in his room. Laying in bed. The stupid wolf doll was moved to the window after he checked the lock. The wolves in the area are doing an annoyingly good job patrolling, but they're not as strong or quick as me.
I breathe deep, trying to get his smell again. It's been too long...I miss it.
It'll be only a matter of time before he feels alienated by these people. He's not used to being welcomed. It doesn't suit him. He's an outcast like me.
When they turn on you, my love, I'll be there to pick you up. And this time, I'll turn you.