Chapter 21
Sam
It’s the first day of school, and I’m actually excited, which I don’t think has ever happened before.
Usually, I take the bus, but Jameson insisted that Luke would pick me up, so I have a few extra minutes to get ready.
Ever since I went to his house for dinner a few weeks ago, we’ve been inseparable. If we’re not together, we’re on the phone, and the only time we’re really apart is when he’s with his father.
My phone chimes with a text, and I look down, grabbing it from the top of my dresser and see that they’ll be here in ten minutes.
I slide the phone into my back pocket and take one last look in the mirror.
My eyes are lined in black, like they always are, and my dark hair spills down my back.
My jeans are tight and flare at the bottom, just covering my black Converse.
I have on a gray faded band tee that was Johnny’s.
I cut off the bottom and stretched out the top so it falls off my shoulder and shows off my layered necklaces.
Satisfied, I grab the book I’m in the middle of from my bed and shove it into my purse before heading for the door.
Once I’m in the hallway, I hear rustling coming from the kitchen and figure it’s Carson. I peek my head into my brothers’ room and see Johnny passed out in bed. He’s still dressed in his clothes from yesterday. He even has his boots on still.
I sigh, thinking about how late he must have gotten home last night.
Walking silently into the room, I drape a blanket over him.
His eyes flit open, and he croaks, “Bug?”
“Yeah, it’s just me.” I move to his side. “Sorry, didn’t mean to wake you.”
He shakes his head against the pillow. “I wanted to be up for your first day.” He turns. “My alarm …”
“It’s okay, really.”
“You heading out now?”
I nod. “Luke will be here in a few minutes.”
“All right,” he says. “Well, have a good day.”
“You, too,” I answer. “Try to get some sleep.”
He’s already shutting his eyes before I turn to leave.
I start down the stairs and see my father still asleep on the couch. I’m relieved I won’t have to deal with him this morning, but that quickly fades when I spot Carson sitting at the kitchen table.
His head is bent over his phone, a protein shake on the table beside him. I skirt past him, into the kitchen, and start a pot of coffee.
It just begins brewing when he asks, “That what you’re wearing?”
I glance down at myself but don’t respond.
The sound of his chair dragging against the floor fills the room. “I asked you a question.”
“Obviously, it’s what I’m wearing if I have it on,” I snap back.
“You’re asking for it, you know that?” He stands, leaning against the counter. “It’s a good thing you have that boyfriend now, ’cause I’m sure as shit not stepping in anymore.”
I set the coffee pot down and face him. “What are you talking about?”
“You think I don’t hear what people say about you at school?” He crosses his arms over his chest. “I’m your brother; I can’t let people say that shit in front of me and not correct them.”
“I never asked—”
“How do you think it would make me look if I didn’t step in, hmm?
“It’s not my fault people say that stuff.”
He laughs. “Yeah, it is.” Waving a hand, he adds, “Look at you.”
A knock sounds at the door, and my head jerks up. I twist the lid on my travel mug and move to leave the kitchen, but when I start to pass by the counter, Carson steps in front of me.
“I’ve gotta go,” I mutter. He still doesn’t move, forcing me to look up at him. “Carson, come on. He’s waiting for me.” I move to sidestep him, and he mirrors me, continuing to block my way. “Move.”
He tsks. “Aw … that’s not very polite of you. Come on, sis; say please.”
I try to move around him again, but he shifts with me.
“Seriously, fuck off.”
He snatches my arm so tightly I wince. “Say please, Samantha.”
I look down at my arm and whisper, “You’re hurting me.”
“Say it.”
I blink my eyes closed. “Please, Carson, let me past.”
There’s another knock at the door, and he drops my arm. “There, that wasn’t so hard, was it?”
I storm past him, flitting my eyes over my father’s curled-up body. I swear a bomb could drop on this house and he still wouldn’t wake up.
I get to the door, but before throwing it open, Carson sarcastically calls across the room, “Have a good first day of school.”
Shutting out his comment, I push open the door and find Jameson leaning against the side of the house.
The second I’m outside, he drags his gaze over me, slowing on my face.
“What’s wrong?” he asks, looking past me and into the house.
“Did something happen? I was giving you another minute before I came in there.”
“I’m fine. Just my asshole brother.”
His eyes darken. “Johnny?”
“Carson.”
“What’d he do to you?” Jameson questions, already starting to step around me.
I grab his hand. “Nothing.”
“Don’t lie to me.”
“I just want to go to school,” I tell him, pulling on his hand. “He’s just a dick. It’s not gonna change.”
Jameson scoffs. “Oh, I’ll make him change.”
“Jamie, please.” My voice drops. “I don’t want you to make things worse.”
“I won’t—”
“Can we please just go?”
He turns, looking over at me. “Fine, but you’ll tell me if he needs to be put in his place. Yeah?”
“Yeah,” I murmur.
He pulls me into him, kissing the top of my head, and throws his arm around my shoulders. We walk like that together over to the car that’s idling at the top of my driveway.
Jameson opens the door to the back of Luke’s truck, and I slide into the far seat, allowing him to come in after me.
Luke turns, glancing from me to Jameson. “Everything good?”
Jameson gives him a quick nod.
Luke brings his attention back to me, a smile pulling at his lips. “Then let’s go. Don’t want you three to be late on the first day.”
The truck jerks forward as Billy says, “Did you guys look at your schedules yet? I hope we have the same lunch.”
I pull the paper from my purse and turn to Jameson. “Do you have yours?” I ask. “They sent them in the mail.”
He shakes his head. “Never got it.”
I shift my eyes from him to the floor of the truck and realize he has nothing with him. No bag, no papers, not even a pencil.
I smooth the paper out on my lap. “I’m sure they can print you one at guidance.”
He grunts before I tell Billy, “I have A lunch on day one and C lunch on day two.”
“Sweet!” Billy answers. “I’ve got the same.” He pauses for a minute. “What teachers and classes do you have? I’ll give you the dirt on them if I had them last year.”
I rattle off my schedule before Billy says, “Those are the classes you’re taking?”
“What’s wrong with her classes?” Jameson snaps.
Billy holds up his hands. “Whoa, easy. I didn’t mean any offense.” He shifts to me. “Just didn’t realize you were some sort of genius or something.”
“I’m not a genius,” I say quietly.
“You’re taking AP Chemistry, Advanced English, and AP American History, aren’t you?” When I don’t say anything, he turns in his seat. “Who knew you were secretly a nerd this whole time?”
I roll my eyes. “I’m not a nerd.”
“What’s your GPA?”
“I don’t know.”
“Come on,” he teases. “I bet you do.”
I peer over at Jameson and find him smiling at me. “What?”
“Nothing.” He shrugs. “Just didn’t realize I was dating a genius.”
“Would you guys stop?”
Luke chuckles as Billy pushes, “Come on; what is it?”
“Fine,” I relent. “My weighted is a four point three.”
“Jesus,” Billy mutters as Jameson asks, “Doesn’t it only go to four?”
“Well, yeah, the unweighted does, but AP classes can push it over a four.”
“So, you’re better than perfect?” Billy asks.
Jameson lets out a short laugh. “Not surprised.”
My face heats. “Really, it’s not a big deal.”
“It is,” Luke cuts in. “That’s something you should be proud of.”
He pulls to a stop in front of the school as I mutter a shy thanks.
I drift my gaze over to the building and the students passing by, excited that this year I’ll have someone to walk in with.
As if he can read my thoughts, Jameson’s hand comes down over mine.
“All right,” Luke says. “Have a good first day.”
We all mumble our replies as we climb out of the truck. Billy jumps out first, opening my door for me. I slide out, and Jameson steps out behind me.
They each position themselves on either side of me, and a warmth spreads through me.
For the first time, I’m starting a new school year and I don’t feel completely alone.