Conner

 

“Hate to break the news but I don’t think you’regetting laid tonight,” Ryan says, slumping against the locker next to mine while I shove books in my backpack.

“What?” I throw him a quick glance, my heart doing a double thump against my rigcage.

“Hen knocked Jessica out in the library today,” he says on a laugh that sounds half embarrassed and half impressed. “Doubt she’ll be making it to Caleb’s party and if she does, I don’t think she’ll be in the mood.”

Jessica. He’s talking about Jessica. Not his sister.

“Henley hit Jessica?” If he notices how sharp my tone is, he doesn’t show it. “Why? What happened?”

“I dunno,” he say, with a shrug. “According to Jess and her friends, they were in the library and Hen just attacked her.”

Bullshit. Henley has a temper but she wouldn’t just attack someone, unprovoked. “What does Henley say happened?”

“Nothing. She’s been sitting in the Dean’s office all afternoon with her mouth glued shut.”

“Jessica did something,” I say shouldering my backpack. “She harasses her non-stop. Where is she?”

“Jess? Her parents came and—”

“Henley.” I cut him off. “Where’s Henley?”

Ryan gives me a weird look. “They couldn’t get ahold of anyone to come get her so they kept her in the office until the end of the day and then sent her home with a three-day suspension. Our mom’s gonna—where are you going?” he calls after me when I start walking away.

“I’ve gotta get home.” Hopefully Henley will be there. I can talk to her. Find out what happened.

“To hang out with my sister?” The way he says it, slow and careful, puts me on edge. Like the thought of us together bothers him. Like there’s something wrong with me. “On a Friday night. Again.”

I don’t want to lie. I don’t think I should have to. Henley is my girlfriend. At least, I think she is. I have a feeling whatever happened in the library with Jessica might have changed that. I’ve got to talk to her. I can fix it if she’ll just let me talk to her.

“I want a car,” I say, giving him the standard lie I’ve been telling for the past three months. “That means I have to pass calculus. Finals are next week. I can’t afford to slack off now.”

“Yeah, but Caleb’s parents are—”

“Yeah,” I say, continuing the lie. “And you just said, Jessica probably won’t even be there so what’s the point?” I push the exterior door to the school open, squinting my eyes against the bright afternoon sun. It takes them a few seconds to adjust, when they do, I catch sight of Henley across the street, walking home with Tess. Declan is walking with them. I can see his mouth moving from here.

Jessica’s going to be there, and Con’s been trying to hook up—

Shit.

“Henley,” I call out, not giving a shit that it’ll make her mad. She doesn’t even look at me.

I jog across the street, acutely aware of the fact that Ryan is following along. That Declan and Tess are watching. Other kids on the sidewalk. She finally looks at me. But when she does, her gaze slides right through me like I’m not even there.

“Hey,” I say, walking the last few steps to close the gap between us, I shoot my brother a quick look. He’s got his eyes pinned to the sidewalk between us. “I heard what happened. Are you okay?”

“I’m fine,” she says, shifting her load of books from one hip to the other. She still won’t use the backpack I gave her. They look heavy. That hand she has wrapped around them is sporting a set of swollen knuckles. And the ring I gave her is gone.

“Where are you going?” I ask, fighting against the churning sickness in my stomach.

“Tess’s to hang out and watch movies.” Like Declan, Henley won’t look me in the eye. I look at Tess. She’s surprised by what Henley just said, but she does a decent job of hiding it.

“I thought we were studying,” I say, fighting to keep my tone calm. Trying to pretend I don’t care where she goes or what she does.

“Declan was just telling us there’s a party at Caleb Emerson’s tonight,” she says, her tone too upbeat. Too bright. “I think you should go—you’ve been working hard. You deserve a break.” She nods her head, like the matter is settled.

“I don’t want a break,” I say a little too loud, aiming a hard stare at my brother. He still won’t look at me.

“Well, I do,” Henley says, drawing my attention. When I look at her, she looks right through me. “I think we could both use it.”

I give her an almost imperceptible shake of my head, my jaw clenched and aching. Teeth clamped together so tight I can practically feel them cracking.

She gives me a bland, unHenley smile in return. “Have a good time, Conner—I’ll see you on Monday.” She hitches her books against her chest and turns away from me. Gone before I can say another word.

“Let’s go,” Ryan says, snagging my shoulder to pull me toward the park. I jerk out of his grip and close the gap between me and Declan.

“What’s your problem?” I say, getting in his face.

“I’m problem-free,” he tells me with a grin. “What’s yours?”

“I’m only gonna say this once, so I really hope you’re listening,” I say, making sure my tone travels no further than my brother’s ears. “Unless you want me to tell Mom and Dad that you’re stealing cars and selling them to that chop-shop in Southie, stay the fuck out of my business and leave Henley alone.”

I’ve known for a while what he’s been doing when he sneaks out, but until now, I’ve kept my mouth shut. I watch Declan grind his teeth for a few seconds before I look at Ryan. “Buy your sister a backpack,” I say, practically snarling at him before pushing past him. He calls after me a few times before giving up. They head for the park, and I head for home.