Chapter 10
Then
The sound of a closing door bounced against the concrete walls of the hallway, followed by whisper-light footsteps.
Sister.
One more breath, in and out, then I steeled my spine and opened my eyes.
Frances walked past and I shot out my hand, clamping onto her arm.
She yelped.
“Shh.” The sound hissed out as I pulled her around the corner, dragging her down another hallway.
“Milly?” she squeaked. “What are you doing?”
Frances twisted her arm back and forth, attempting to break free, but my fingers dug in. I didn’t let go until we were safely inside the girls’ bathroom.
“Milly? What the hell?”
I ignored her as I checked each stall.
All empty.
“What…” Frances’s fingers twitched at her side. “What are you doing?”
The chilly tone she’d adopted since our fight at the dinner table melted away at the look on my face.
“What am I doing?” I stepped close, inches from her. “I should ask you that.”
Realization flashed across her face and her eyes narrowed to slits. “Did you read my leaves? You know what Ruth said and—”
“No.” I held up a hand. “I didn’t read your leaves.
I saw you through the damn window in Mr. Fortenberry’s door.
Anyone could’ve seen you.” My hands flailed.
My heart thudded faster. Harder. “You want to threaten me with what Ruth said about breaking the Sighted rules? Well, sister, what do you think she would say about this? For fuck’s sake.
I thought you’re supposed to be the smart one.
The genius. How could you do something so stupid? ”
“That’s the second time you’ve called me stupid.” Tears glistened in her eyes, hitting me in the heart like arrows. Frances never cried. “And yeah. Right. Genius,” she said in a mocking tone. “You mean freak.”
“What?”
“Oh, I thought you knew?” She glared. “That’s what everyone calls me. Not to my face—oh no. Nobody would risk pissing off my guard dog.” Her voice cracked. “I even tried, you know. I tried to be like everybody else and to hang out with other kids. To not fall for him. Shane wanted me to try—”
“Shane? You mean Mr. Fortenberry? Our teacher?”
Frances shook her head, her ponytail whipping across her face.
“You don’t understand. I even went out with this boy, Nathan Clark, like he said I should.
You know what happened? After I let Nathan kiss me, the next day in homeroom, the prick laughed and told everyone it had been a dare.
Take out one of the freak Robbins girls and his brother would buy him a case of beer. ” Her tears fell freely now.
“Frances.” I held my hands out in defeat. “I knew you were having some problems this year, but I didn’t know it was so bad… I … You never did the signal.” The excuse was weak. It had been years since she’d used it, which I’d taken to mean that it had been years since she’d needed it.
“The signal?” Frances blew out a breath and buried her face in her palms. “Oh my God, Milly. You don’t get it.”
I watched my sister, her jaw set in defiance, a pleading look in her eyes, and everything began snapping into place all at once. This…this thing with our teacher had been happening for a while.
The way she’d been distant. Her sudden change of opinion about the Math & Science school. If it had been a boy? Fine. I’d have been annoyed but could’ve at least understood. But this? Mr. Fortenberry?
She was going to throw her entire life away because of him.
I took a breath.
“I’m sorry you’re having trouble, I really am. And I’ll help you figure it out, I promise. But Frances, you can’t do this. Whatever he said to you, however it started, it doesn’t matter. He’s a teacher. He’s old.”
“He’s not. He’s only thirty and—”
“Jesus. You’re fifteen.”
“Can you at least try to understand?” She wiped at her eyes and sniffed.
“He’s the only person who gets me. He sees me, really sees me.
Not as some weirdo math girl. Not as something he needs to protect.
But as a person.” She paused, her pale cheeks blotchy and red.
“I…I don’t have anything. Let me have this. ”
The plea stung. Because what was I if not someone who got Frances? And how could she say she didn’t have anything when she was beautiful and brilliant without even trying?
My gaze narrowed. “Let you have this? Are you kidding? You don’t have this. You don’t have him. You understand that? You don’t. He has you. You’re the one who should try to understand.” I grabbed her hands. “You know he’s married, right? I’ve seen his wife.”
Frances shook her head. “He doesn’t love her.”
“What about his son?”
“You mean stepson.”
“Frances,” I pressed. “We can get you out of this. We have to tell someone. The aunts will know what to do. They’ll help us fix this and—”
“No,” Frances almost yelled. Then, quieter. “No. Please. You can’t tell anyone. I won’t ruin his life. All he’s done is love me.”
My mouth gaped open, my hands falling to my side at the word. Love. I stared at her for a hard moment.
She reached for me.
“Milly. Please. If this gets out, it’ll be exactly like Shane said. No one will understand. He’ll get in trouble, but also—” Her voice cracked. “Also everyone will talk about me even worse than they already do.”
My heart broke open, because I knew what she meant. It had been my original concern too.
I squeezed my eyes closed, a hissing breath escaping between my teeth.
She was right. Of course I couldn’t tell. If this got out, Frances would suffer the most. All she’d ever be was the girl who got caught with a teacher. The echo of the scandal would follow her forever.
Her scholarship to the gifted school would disappear.
I couldn’t let that happen.
But neither could I let things continue. Even if Frances couldn’t see it was wrong.
“Fine,” I croaked. “I won’t tell.”
“Thank you, I promise—”
I held up my hand. “Under one condition. You end it. This isn’t happening anymore. You understand? You tell him that if he doesn’t leave you alone, I’m going to make sure everyone knows he’s a disgusting pervert.”
“He’s not. He’s—”
“Frances. I mean it. You tell him that tomorrow. Do it, or I’ll take matters into my own hands. I’m not playing around.”
Frances sniffed and wiped her tears on the back of her arm. “Fine.”
“Fine,” I echoed.
My sister stormed out of the bathroom.