53. Home
HOME
Conner leans against the car and inhales the smoke, drinking it in while I sit on the seat with the door open.
I look down at the new pants he is wearing.
Blushing profoundly at what happened, I turn away and look back at the school hall.
The music is pumping, and the cheers are a rush that I remember as Conner comes towards me, singing to me.
“When did you set it up?” I ask.
“The day you and Sammy got into a fight with Sarah Jane, I went to the office and asked them to put my name on the list.”
“Why that song?” I persist, wanting to know everything.
Conner inhales the cigarette, and the tip glows orange.
His eyes glisten from the streetlamp, and a tug of a smile reaches his lips.
“I decided on the song not that long ago. I was listening to it in the car, and usually, after a song ended, I’d move on to the next, but I kept repeating it.
I didn’t put it on repeat. I kept going back repeatedly, thinking in my head that this would be the last time I’d listen to it.
I drove to the supermarket and back with that song in my head.
” He eyes me, saying, “That’s when I knew I had to sing it to you. ”
“Is it our song now?”
He drops his cigarette and drags his shoe into the dirt until the smoke dies away. Standing before me, he leans down, his arms on either side of me, and a mischievous look in his eyes. “What about our playlist?”
“Our playlist?” I question.
He nods while drinking me in.
I breathe a laugh and say, “I like that. We can add all the songs that make us think of each other.”
“What would yours be?” he asks as he reaches over me. I lean to the side while he grabs another cigarette. “Sorry. I can’t sit down. I rarely smoke this much, but what just happened was too intense.”
“Did you want to go for a walk, then?”
“That’s not a bad idea.”
I hop out of the car and close it behind me. Conner lights another cigarette. We are about to walk away when the doors to the hall open, and Sammy comes out. I stiffen and dart a look down, self-conscious that she’ll know we did things in the car if I make eye contact with her.
“What’s up, Sammy?” Conner asks when she stops before us.
“Uh…” She pauses. She has her phone in her hand, and she raises it. I hitch a breath, and my hands ball into fists before she can speak. “Noya’s dad messaged me. He went back on his word and wants Noya home ASAP.”
“Really?” Conner drawls.
I bite my lip to prevent the tears from leaking out. I know what’s going to happen if I go home. He’s not happy. He must be pissed. Maybe he has caught on and knows I’m not going to Sammy’s place.
“Yeah. I told him we were at the school talent show and,”—a shallow breath hisses out of my mouth—“he said he’s coming to get her.”
I can’t breathe. A tightening feeling grips my throat, suffocating me. Should I run? Conner can’t be near me when Dad arrives. They can never meet because… because Dad would know. How do I gain my freedom after that? He would immediately know if I ran away.
I don’t know what to do.
“Hey.” I flinch and step away without realising when Conner touches my arm. “Baby?”
“You can’t be here, Conner,” I say.
“Why? What would he do if he saw me?”
I flinch when I imagine every possible thing my dad could do and get away with.
“It’s fine. Sammy, you will stay as well, right?”
“Yeah, I told Renee to take over.”
I turn to Conner, my eyes wild and my grip tightening on his arms. “Stay here. Sammy and I will head out of the school grounds. But can you stay here, please? This is all I ask of you. Please…”
Conner’s eyes darken, and the cigarette’s tip intensely glows when he inhales. Taking the cigarette out, he tilts his head away from me and blows out a longing puff of smoke. “On one condition,” he announces.
I nod vigorously.
“Is your dad the one you buy beer for?”
My eyes widen further, and my grip slackens. Conner arches his chin, glaring down at me. An inhuman curl of his lips reveals itself, and it’s as if I’m not looking at Conner at all.
I bow my head and glare at the ground. “I’m sorry,” I whisper.
“But… but your dad is a grown-up,” Sammy objects. “He can get his own beer.”
“Not if he’s shit-faced, out of his fucking mind,” Conner growls.
“I… I gave you my answer. Now, you do as I say. Stay here, Conner.” My hands drag down his arms to his hands, and I step closer until my head presses against his chest. “Please.”
Conner sighs deeply. My shoulders sag when his arms go over my shoulders. “Friday,” he declares. “Make sure you pack your things before Friday because you aren’t going home after that day. All right?”
I nod into his chest.
“Sammy, if her dad ever calls you to ask where she is, can you make up some shit about her running away? Think of a town further away.”
“Done. Anything for Noya.” Sammy places her hand on my shoulder and tightens.
I pull away from Conner and say, “You don’t have to, Sammy.”
“Hey, what are friends for? We do and ask questions later.”
Conner grabs my face and suddenly kisses me tenderly. “Text me as soon as you get home. I need to know that you’re okay.”
I nod vigorously. “I promise.”
He kisses me again, firmly this time, and says, “I love you, Noya.”
“I love you too,” I breathe.
Conner waits by his car, facing us as we walk away. Sammy links her arm with mine, her eyes gazing out at the street. “Does he hurt you?” Sammy asks.
“No,” I lie.
She eyes me. I can feel her piercing gaze. “When you yelled at Andy a while back, you screamed and said something about not wanting another violent person in your life. So, answer me again without lying this time. Does your dad hurt you?”
“No. He, uh… he only hurts my mum. When it happens, I lock myself in my room, and he doesn’t bother me.”
“Fucking hell,” Sammy breathes. “But he’s a police officer, right? He’s supposed to protect people.”
“He’s still a person. It doesn’t matter what work he does. Abuse can happen anywhere and to anyone. It just makes it a little worse that he is one, that’s all. Other than that, it doesn’t really matter.”
Sammy frowns. “I can’t believe you’ve been keeping this to yourself all this time. It must have been painful.”
I ball my hands into fists and say, “I don’t like burdening people. What happens behind closed doors should stay there. Besides, someone already knows about my home life, and look where our friendship is now…”
“Andy,” Sammy says, confirming with a nod. “Well, he was a fucking trash friend, to begin with. I so wanted to cut his dick off after what you told me he did.”
I breathe a laugh. “I bet that would have gone down well.”
Sammy giggles and then sighs. “Text me when you get home as well, okay? I want to make sure you’re okay. Also, don’t worry about Andy when you move in with Conner. I will make sure he doesn’t say a fucking word.”
“How?”
“I’ll block your dad’s number.” Her face goes grave. “But if I do that, I’ll need your help with something. If you can’t do it, don’t. But if there’s an opportunity, take it.”
“What?”
“Delete Andy’s number from your dad’s phone.”
I breathe sharply out.
“I know it’s fucked, but doing both will prevent Andy from getting spiteful and doing something stupid.”
I bite my lip and nod. “I’ll try.”
I hitch a breath when Dad’s car headlights shine on Sammy and me.
I step forward, leave Sammy there, and head toward the car.
As I open it and wave to her, I flick a look towards where Conner parked.
I can tell he’s glaring, even knowing it is a fair distance away.
Lowering my gaze, I enter the car and head home with my dad.