Gabe
He locked himself in the bathroom for over an hour, then blew right past me while I was scrubbing the trailer and disappeared.
Where the hell does he go all day?
I shouldn’t care.
But I almost followed him just to see, until I stopped myself.
I have to have a sliver of self-respect.
Instead, I spent most of the day drawing pictures of Jason being fried alive by a fire-breathing dragon.
Very therapeutic.
I’d managed to calm myself down until Mom charged into the trailer to remind me about dinner.
And here I am…
Sitting across from him.
I’ve never eaten a meal so quickly in my whole life.
Head down, eyes fixed on my plate, I scarf down every last crumb so I can get up and leave.
I’m about to push my chair back and walk away when Doug asks, “So, you didn’t get along with your mother’s new boyfriend?”
I freeze.
Doug’s tone is pointed, to say the least. He stares at Jason with a condescending expression I saw too often as a kid. Doug would taunt Jason—leering at him with this cocky, twisted face, making Jason furious. It was like Doug wanted Jason to start something so he could punish him for it.
“Nope,” Jason replies without even looking at Doug.
Mom shoots me a look, and I know exactly what she’s thinking. She can feel it too. A bomb is about to detonate, and we’re gearing up for the explosion.
“Can’t get along with anyone, can you?” Doug asks as he cuts some of his meat.
I narrow my eyes at Doug.
Why? Why are you doing this?
Jason sets his fork down and crosses his arms over his chest. “That depends.”
“On what?” Doug asks.
Jason leans in closer. “On how big of a prick they are to me.” He deliberately over-aspirates the p in prick, puffing a burst of air directly into Doug's face, which turns beet red.
He stares at Jason, his jaw clenching, and warns, “I don’t want you to get into fights while you’re here. If you’re gonna live here, you follow my rules, or else.”
“Or else what?” Jason barks. “You’ll use the belt again?”
Mom interrupts. “Guys. Don’t do this.”
“If I have to,” Doug hisses back at Jason, completely ignoring Mom.
Jason narrows his eyes at Doug and whispers, “I’d like to see you try.”
Doug jumps out of his seat, but I’m up in seconds flat, pushing past Doug and positioning myself in front of Jason.
It’s instinct.
Yes, I’m furious with him, but I can’t let this happen. Doug doesn’t get to hurt Jason anymore. Not while I’m old enough to do something about it.
“You won’t talk to me like that when you’re living under my roof,” Doug screams.
“Your roof?” Jason spits back. “It’s Linda’s! You kicked your family out, remember, you piece of shit?”
Doug moves forward, but I fold my arms over my chest and push him backward. Doug looks like he wants to hit me. He grabs me by the collar and shouts, “Stay out of this!”
Mom’s voice cuts through the chaos, stopping us all in our tracks. “Doug!”
We all look at her.
She’s red-faced, anger blazing in her eyes. “Stop it. Now.”
My eyes trail back to Doug. He shakes his head, like he’s trying to snap himself out of his rage. “I’m sorry,” he says to Mom. Then he turns to Jason and me. “I-I’m sorry, Gabe. I don’t know why—”
“I know why,” Jason interrupts. “I know exactly why. You fuckin’ hate me. Well, the feeling’s mutual, asshole.” Jason laughs, but it’s bitter and hollow. “I knew you hadn't changed. You’re a mean bastard just like you always were.”
Jason tries to move me out of the way again, but this time, I face him and put my hands on his shoulders.
He attempts to struggle out of my grasp, but our eyes lock.
His mouth falls open to yell, but he pauses.
And suddenly, I feel like the world stops spinning.
Jason’s eyes…
The way he’s looking at me—so wounded.
That hurt I saw for so many years.
I want to hold him.
My whole chest throbs as my fingers caress his arms.
Jason looks like he’s about to break.
He opens his mouth to speak, but he stops himself.
Then he shrugs me off and backs away. “I won’t be here long,” Jason tells Doug, pointing his finger at him. “Mom kicked me out, and I don’t have a dime to my name, but I’ll get a job and get the fuck out of your life. I only need a month.”
Jason turns on his heels and stomps away from the trailer, heading toward the main road outside of the park. I start to run after him, and he must hear my footsteps, because he turns around and says, “No.”
He holds his hand up, keeping me at arm's length.
We stand there on the gravel road, our eyes locked once more. “Stay back,” he begs.
Then he turns around and leaves the park.