Chapter 48
The Betrayal
Jenna
Eight years old
I shake my head to make the jingle bell earrings sound.
“See what Nan got me,” I say, dropping onto my chair beside Killian.
“This one too.” I retrieve the little teddy that she got me from my bag.
A little gray kitten with a red scarf, a red hat, and green eyes.
“It looks like Ginny. Her most cuddly cat. Only Ginny wouldn’t let me put my Santa hat on her. ”
Killian smiles and leans in to whisper, low enough that no one else hears—I’m the only one at school he ever speaks to anymore since all the other kids laugh when he does. “I-it’s almost two m-months ’til C-C-Christmas.”
“I know, but I’m already in a Christmas mood. I can’t help it. Nan let me help with the decorations early since I won’t get to visit her again until mid-December.”
Killian gives the Christmas kitten a scratch behind its ear, a smile tugging at his lips. If he spoke more, he’d say it’s cute, I’m sure. I wish he would speak more. I don’t care about the stutter; I just miss hearing his voice.
“Will you come over to my place today? Your Dad is home, right? Maybe he’ll let you, now that you’ve turned eight and all.
I could show you all the Christmas decorations I made at Nan’s.
” Lifting my shoulders, I smile shyly. I’ve been wanting to have Killian over—or visit him—for a long time, but his mother will never let him spend time with me after school, and the one time we asked his dad if he could come to my place, he ended up coming up with an excuse when he saw my mom.
She was slurring and grumpy that day, but she’s been good this week, and Killian is one year older than the last time we tried, so maybe. I cross my fingers beneath the table.
Killian nods eagerly.
“Really?” My smile is so wide I’m flashing my teeth. I jump the teddy cat onto the table, steering its paws in a dance of excitement.
Killian giggles, but our fun is cut off when Callum enters the classroom and sees. Snorting, he announces loudly, “Jenna still brings teddies to school.”
Several of the guys turn their heads and laugh.
Callum steers straight toward us and snatches the kitten from my hands. “Look, it’s a Christmas kitten. In October. And it’s dancing.” He holds the kitten up for the whole classroom to see, making funny eyes while imitating the dance I made it do. Even the girls start laughing now.
I glance at Killian. He’s staring at the desk, trying to keep out of it, withdrawing like he always does now.
Without the comfort of his touch, his closeness, I’m not brave.
It’s only when Killian is the one needing the protection that I can gather the nerve to tell Callum off.
So I just watch, shrinking as the laughter keeps ringing.
When I move my head, accidentally bringing the bells to life, Callum throws a taunting look at the earrings. “Seriously? Jingle bells? In October?” He turns to Killian, pointing a finger at me. “Does she even know what month it is? Six weeks to Christmas?”
Killian looks up—at Callum, at me, and the whole classroom, which is looking expectantly at him. “T-that’s w-what I said.”
Callum doesn’t even notice his stutter. All his cruel attention is aimed at me. “Shit, you don’t even listen to your friends. Does she listen to anything you say, Killian? Or is she too dumb?”
Tommy, Callum’s best friend, comes over, snickering as he swats at one of the earrings, making it ring. “She’s like a cow. You’ll hear her coming down the hall even before you see her.”
“Now you can finally get rid of her,” Callum says to Killian, reaching out to swat at my other earring. “The clingy cow.”
“S-she’s m-more like a puppy,” Killian suggests.
Callum stops laughing as he looks at Killian. I think he’s going to roll his eyes or taunt his stutter, but instead, he lets out a laugh. “A puppy. That’s exactly what she is. Always jumping up your leg, trying to lick your face.”
Killian gives me a tentative look, full of uncertainty.
I feel for him, because I know that if he protects me, Callum is going to taunt him as well.
I expect him to remain silent the way he’s always done lately, but then something flickers in his gaze.
He straightens his spine and says with startling clarity. “I-I should keep her on a leash.”
“Oh yeah. And put a shock collar on her,” Callum adds, watching Killian with bright enthusiasm like they’re best friends brainstorming their new idea.
“And make her eat from a bowl,” Killian says, his stutter now completely gone.
Callum grips me by the neck and pulls me down over the table. “Or even better, eat off the floor.”
Tears prickle in my eyes as I stare up at Killian, my cheek pressed to the table, but he doesn’t see me. All he sees is his new best friend, and I wish I hadn’t hoped to hear him speak out loud as he keeps throwing out cruel words with startling clarity, all aimed at me.