For a while, nothing comes of our little run-in with the Petersons.

That night I was preoccupied with thoughts of the hell they would almost certainly raise, but the next day all is silent on the extremist parent front. The school day progresses as normal, Julie has her tutoring session with Riley, and the world keeps turning the way it's supposed to.

That trend continues through the rest of the week, and by the time I pick Julie up for horseback riding on Saturday, I've mostly gotten over my mild bout of paranoia. Mrs. Peterson greets me with a reserved smile, but she lets Julie go with me, just the same, and the girls have a great day together, with David and I stealing a few discrete moments here and there.

On Wednesday, Julie comes to my classroom during her lunch period just like every other weekday. Only today she's not smiling.

I see it as soon as I look up from the papers I'm grading. Her eyes are red and puffy, her face is streaked with tears, there are wet spots on the collar of her blouse.

"What's wrong?" I ask, immediately getting to my feet.

"Mr. Morrison, I just came to tell you that I… that I can't…" The tears are falling freely now, and she pulls a wadded-up piece of tissue from her pocket and holds it to her nose. "I can't come here for lunch anymore. I can't tutor for your class anymore, either."

Shock is the first emotion that hits me, hollowing me out completely. But that empty space is soon filled with anger as I realize there's only one reason she'd be doing this.

"Julie, did something happen with your parents?"

Deep down, I already know the answer. It twists in my gut, poisoning me from the inside out.

She looks behind her, out into the hall. The fact that she doesn't feel safe to just talk to me makes every fiber of my being react with utter contempt for her parents, but I can't let it rule me. I have to hear them out on their position.

Even if it's fucking wrong.

"They found out about me and Riley," she says, choking back sobs.

All of that anger leaves me in a whoosh of breath. It feels like someone's punched me square in the stomach, and I have to put my hand on the corner of my desk to brace myself from the impact.

This is the worst thing that could've happened. I'd thought her parents had just decided they didn't want her anywhere near the queer teacher any longer; that it wasn't right for her to be spending so much time with a homosexual. That's the kind of thing that makes my blood boil. This? This just makes me ill, because Julie and Riley will both suffer from this, at a time in their lives when they need positive affirmation, not to be "saved from themselves."

"Shit," I manage, knowing that's not remotely helpful. "How?"

Her fingers curl tight around the straps of her backpack. Even with the door closed, she looks out toward the hall before answering.

"After you brought me home Saturday, my mom… she didn't want me to go to the ranch anymore. She kept saying you and Mr. Frazier and Shane and Travis weren't fit to be around children."

My hands clench into fists at my side again. So it is about that. They just waited until it would hurt their daughter most.

"I… I got mad. I told her there was nothing wrong with being bi. I-I asked… if she'd treat her own daughter the same way…"

Fuck.

It's hard enough to come out to your parents. I could never do it, because I knew exactly how they'd react. Julie must have had that certainty, too, but she must have also had some glimmer of hope; some faith that they'd react like human beings instead of scripture-quoting automatons.

Julie can't even finish recounting what happened. She's crying too hard to make it through. Crossing the room, I pull her into a hug and let her sob against my shirt, trying not to show just how livid I am at this whole thing.

"I'm going to make this right, okay? I promise."

Because it does feel like my fault that any of this is happening. It makes me sick that David and I were somehow the straw that broke the bigoted camel's back, but we were. If I'd been more careful, Julie wouldn't have gotten hurt. Riley wouldn't have gotten hurt.

As protective as he is of his daughter, I know David will understand.

"I have to go. My dad said if I broke the rules, they'd… they'd withdraw me from school," she chokes out, pulling back.

Withdraw her from…? Fucking seriously? She has half a year left before she graduates.

"Julie, do you trust me?"

She's quiet for a moment, but there isn't any hesitation in her voice when she says, "Y-yes."

"Come to my classroom after the last bell rings, okay? I'll drive you home, talk to your parents, and get everything straightened out."

She pales, her fingers fidgeting with the strap of her backpack. She can't quite meet my gaze, her lack of confidence coming through in spades, but she nods just the same.

When she leaves, I immediately go for my phone. Reception is awful inside the school building, but I can't risk stepping outside. This conversation's too sensitive to have where anyone else can hear.

"Hey, I was just thinking about you," David says as he picks up, and his warm voice helps to soothe some of the anger that's built in me.

"Hey," I manage, trying to keep my voice steady. "You got a minute?"

His tone changes just like that, concern filling his voice. "Is everything okay? Did something happen with Riley?"

I hate that this time I have to answer that with "yes." Not wanting to draw this out, I just cut to the chase.

"Julie's parents found out about her and Riley and they're freaking out. They're forbidding her from being around me at all, and I'm sure they've forbid her from being with Riley."

"Shit," he breathes, and the line crackles as he blows out a deep breath. "You think this happened because of… the other night?"

I close my eyes and let out a breath of my own. "It's been building for a while," I say, not wanting to pin it to that one event. "Ever since they found out about Shane and Travis. They probably think we corrupted her, and keeping her away from all of us will magically turn her straight again."

"God. I don't get how someone could be so narrow-minded. Especially when it comes to their own kid." He lets out a muffled groan of displeasure. "Riley's going to be crushed."

"Yeah," I say, reaching up to rub at my temple. "She's going to need you after she gets home, so I wanted to give you a heads up."

"Yeah, of course."

"Julie's got nobody in her corner, so I'm going to have to take care of things over here. With any luck, I can at least get her folks to see reason."

David goes silent. I can still hear the TV in the background, so I know the line hasn't gone dead. But it takes him a full minute to say anything.

"…How are you planning to do that?"

"I'll talk to them this afternoon, when I drop Julie off. I've gotten through to them before. It'll take some doing, but I'll get there."

I don't expect to change their minds, but if they can ease up on Julie, she won't feel like her life is imploding. Then in a few months, she'll be able to make her own decisions about who she can and can't see.

"I don't think confronting her parents is a good idea, Jake. Don't get me wrong: What they've done to Julie… it's awful, on every level. But if you poke the bear, you're just going to get all of that bullshit turned on you."

That hollowness returns as the gravity of David's words hit me. He doesn't get it. He doesn't know how bad off Julie was just a couple of years ago. He doesn't know how dangerous it will be for her to have all of these things she loves taken away.

"She's turning eighteen soon, right? I think it would be best for everyone involved if we don't make waves until then."

Make waves? This is about her future. A future she might not get to if she has to go three months with absolutely nobody fighting for her.

"I can't, David. I can't just sit back and do nothing." I glance at the clock, hoping to be saved by a timely bell. It's still a good fifteen minutes off, but I can't have this conversation any longer. "I have to go. I'll give you a call later. Tell Riley not to worry. I'm going to fix this."

* * *

Shane told me once that I'm the most prideful person he knows.

I've never liked admitting I need help. Ever since I was little, I've had trouble trusting others to do what needs to be done. Over the years, I've turned down genuine offers of aid from more sources than I can count, and a lifetime's worth of advice I should have followed.

But as I drive to the Petersons' house, I'm still convinced David's wrong. The worst thing I can do right now is nothing. Even if I fail here—even if the Petersons put me in their crosshairs—at least Julie will know somebody gives a damn.

She's quiet on the ride over, and white as a sheet. I keep telling her it'll be okay, but she says nothing. When I stop in her driveway, she grabs her backpack from the floor of the cab and I prepare to give the speech of my life.

The door opens, my engine obviously having aroused suspicion, and Mrs. Peterson stands in front of a darkened foyer. She's always reminded me a little of Lady Tremaine, and right now I'm picturing her in that moment when she locks the door on Cinderella.

Life may not be a Disney fairytale, but I can't just stand by and let her hatred destroy her child's life.

"I know I'm probably the last person you want to see right now, but I was hoping we could talk."

"You're right," she says coolly, "you are the last person I want to see." Her shrewd gaze cuts straight to Julie. "How long did it take for you to disobey your father and I, Julie?"

"This was my idea," I speak up before she can intimidate Julie into responding. "Is Mr. Peterson home? I thought if the three of us could talk, we—"

"My husband and I have no interest in speaking with you, Mr. Morrison. Thank you for seeing my daughter safely home, but I suggest you leave. Now."

Some weak-willed part of me considers doing it. The way she's looking at me right now, I know it's going to be an uphill battle just to speak my mind. But when I look at Julie, when I see the pain in her eyes, I know I have to fight.

"Not until you hear me out."

"Come inside, Julie."

Julie doesn't hesitate. That sharp tone of voice cuts through her, hunching her shoulders and forcing her head down. She moves quickly past her mother and into the house, getting swallowed by the shadows.

"You know, after we saw you flaunting your lifestyle in front of everyone, James wanted to go to the school. I talked him out of it. I told him it wasn't any of our business. But then I find out you've been influencing my daughter, making her think it's perfectly acceptable to go against God's will—"

"I didn't make her do anything," I tell her through gritted teeth. "She was always this way, Eleanor, whether you're willing to accept that or not."

"You're wrong. God made my daughter without sin. He made you without sin. You chose to stray from Him."

"I haven't chosen to do anything, and neither has Julie."

"Leave, Mr. Morrison. Right now. Before I call the sheriff's office."

I look past her, trying to see Julie. She's nowhere to be found. As much as I hate the idea of backing down, I feel like I'm talking to a brick wall right now. Mrs. Peterson has dug her heels in, and nothing I say tonight is going to make a difference.

I have to retreat and live to fight another day. I just hope Julie will understand.

"Whenever you realize how miserable you're making your daughter, I'll be around to talk."

Too much. Before the words even leave my mouth, I know they're too much.

Eleanor confirms it seconds later.

"I'm not protecting you anymore, Mr. Morrison. My husband will be contacting the principal as soon as he gets home, and he will make sure you aren't able to corrupt any more children the way you've corrupted Julie."

My breath catches in my throat, my lungs burning with the effort to keep working. I knew she would make this threat. I knew it was a possibility.

But knowing that and facing the reality of it are two different things. Some part of me wants to apologize, but my pride wins out and I just climb into my truck and drive home.