Collateral Damage (From the Damage) (8 page)

So there’s something to talk about
, she realized. And suddenly, she wasn’t sure she wanted to know. “We don’t have to.”

But clearly, he wanted to get everything out on the table. “I like her. A lot.”

She’d expected it to hurt, but surprisingly, all she felt was relief. 

Chapter 4

Meagan

Monday morning, Meagan hobbled into the kitchen on her crutches. Already dressed and ready for school, she grabbed a banana and sat down at the table to eat it. Trevor turned from where he’d been looking through the fridge, surprised to see her.

“What are you doing?” he asked.

“Um…having a healthy breakfast?”

“I mean the clothes. The backpack. You’re not going to school, are you?”

“It’s Monday,” she said. “That’s the plan.”

“But you just got out of the hospital yesterday.” He sat down across the table from her and added a fair amount of milk to his cereal bowl. “I’m sure it’d be fine if you wanted to take your time. What’s the rush?”

“I was bored out of my mind in that hospital. Here it’ll be even worse, so I figured I’d get back in the game. What’s the big deal?”

He was quiet for a minute,
then he leaned forward and said, “Seth.”

Meagan sighed and set the banana down on the table. “Look, I’m not exactly thrilled at the idea that I might run into him, but I’m not going to let it stop me from living my life. I’m not going to hide in the house all day.”

“And I get that, but you’re not exactly getting around easily. It’s not like you could outrun him.”

“No, but I could beat him with these handy little crutches.” She raised one in the air to demonstrate, smiling. But the attempt at humor fell short.

“I wish you’d let me talk to your teachers, so they’d know to keep an eye out.”

She shook her head. “I don’t want anybody to know.”

“Meagan, there’s nothing to be ashamed of—”

“I know,” she cut in. “But still…I’d rather keep it between us, okay?”

“If you insist,” he said reluctantly. “But I’m driving you to school and picking you up this afternoon. And promise me that if he bothers you, you’ll text me. Okay?”

“You don’t have to be so overprotective,” she said. “I’ll be fine.”

“Better to overprotective than… under-protective?” He stumbled a little on the word, then laughed. “Alright. Let’s get going.”

***

Kendall

***

Kendall slouched in her chair in the principal’s office, while her dad talked to the headmaster. The hearing this morning had gone better than she’d anticipated, but that stupid judge had granted Jordan’s request to sentence her to group therapy. For an entire year. Any hope of skipping town was dashed now, unless she wanted the police and her parents looking for her.

“I’ve had a chance to look over your daughter’s transcripts,” Principal Jackson said, with that hesitant tone most people took on once they’d looked at Kendall’s file. “And I’m not sure she’s a good…fit for our institution. Perhaps she’d be happier across town at Westview?”

Jordan gave an arrogant chuckle, and Kendall knew the principal was about to be put in his place. “I already have one daughter enrolled here.”

Kendall felt a sharp stab of pain in her gut. Since when did Kelly become his daughter? They’d only known each other for like…six years, if that.

“Surely you don’t expect me to send them to different schools,” Jordan continued. “And besides, Kendall was already enrolled here once. Last year.”

“Yes, I remember,” he said, with a note of disdain in his voice. “We got very well acquainted during her short stay at Clearwater.”

“Regardless, to send them to separate schools would be inconvenient, to say the least.”

“I realize that Mr. Harvelle, but…Kendall’s less-than-exciting academic history aside, it looks like she’s been in a great deal of trouble this year alone. We have
a certain…image to main—”

“Let me see that.” Jordan leaned forward and swiped the folder from the principal’s desk. He took a minute to read over the list of Kendall’s indiscretions—at least the one’s she’d been caught doing—and then turned a scrutinizing look to her. Kendall sunk further into her chair, avoiding his gaze, but she could still feel him studying her. Finally, he slammed the folder shut and put it back on the guy’s desk.  “I realize Kendall is no saint, but I believe this can be a fresh start for her. If we send her to Westview, she will, without a doubt, fall in with people who will only hinder her recovery. Surely you understand what a crucial time this is for her. I would think someone in your position would be supportive to a teen who’s trying to reform
herself.”

Principal Jackson sighed,
then looked from Jordan to Kendall. “What about you, Miss Harvelle? Do you have anything to add?”

Looking over at her dad, and his hopeful, urging expression, she could practically read his mind.
Tell them you’re trying to change. Apologize for your behavior. Help me out, here.
Turning her gaze back to the principal, she said, “Got any cute teachers?”

Hearing Jordan’s disappointed sigh, and the small scoff of embarrassment, she felt guilty. Wishing, once again, she could be the daughter he wanted.

“Kendall’s in treatment,” Jordan said. “She starts a therapy program this afternoon. We’re hopeful that the results will be good. So, how about we start her out here on a trial basis? If things don’t go well, then we’ll consider transferring her to Westview.”

The older, balding man considered this for a minute. When it looked like he was leaning toward ‘no’, Jordan sighed in boredom. “Come on, Tom. You don’t want me to take this to the school board. You know I’ll win. I always win.”

“Very well,” Principal Jackson said reluctantly. He held eye contact with Kendall. “Keep in mind, young lady, that your spot here is dependent upon your good behavior. Any trouble out of you will not be condoned.”

“Yes sir,” she said, with just enough sarcasm to make him wonder if she was being sincere or not. 

He stood, crossing the room to open the door to his office. “If you two will see Mrs. Masters in the guidance office, she’ll get you the forms you need to sign and draw up a class schedule. It’s been nice meeting with you today.” He lingered at the door, tapping his loafer against the tile while he waited for them to leave.

Once they were outside the office, he shut the door behind them. Jordan looked down at his watch. “Well, that was time-consuming. Let’s head over to guidance. I’m late for a meeting.”

Kendall rolled her eyes as Jordan led the way. “Wouldn’t want to keep the divorcee waiting.”

“I am
not
a divorce attorney,” Jordan said, sounding insulted. “I’m a prosecutor.”

She tried to hide her smile as they went into the guidance office. If she couldn’t get her hands on any alcohol, getting under her dad’s skin was the second best way to have fun. After he signed the necessary paperwork, Jordan left, giving her a ‘be good’ warning
look.

A few minutes later, she was walking the halls, looking down at the class schedule and trying to find
her locker. It was number 134, but she was in the five-hundreds and couldn’t figure out which way to go to reach the lower numbers. Just as her head was about to explode, she spotted Seth at one of the lockers across the hall. Relieved to see a familiar face, she tip-toed up behind him and planted a kiss on his neck.

“Hey there, hottie,” she whispered into his ear.

He turned, looking pleased to see her. Then he glanced around, in that familiar and insulting ‘did anybody see?’ way. “Kendall,” he said once he’d confirmed the hall was empty. “Good to see you again.”

“What kind of snobby school do you go to, Seth?” she asked, chuckling as she leaned against the locker next to his. “They didn’t want to let me back in the door.”

“They’re probably too afraid you’ll keep all the guys from concentrating.”

She shrugged. “Well, I was going to ask you to point me in the direction of my locker, but…” she glanced toward the exit sign with a devious grin. “How about we just blow this off all together?”

He looked reluctant, so she leaned close, pressing up against him and putting her lips against his ear. “Did I mention that my house is probably
completely
empty by now? All those rooms. Could keep us busy all day.”

“That sounds incredibly fun,” he said, pushing her back a little. “But try to go easy on the PDA. I have a girlfriend.”

She pushed down that initial feeling of insulted jealousy, quickly replacing it with carelessness. “Is it serious?”

“She thinks so.”

Kendall raised an eyebrow.

He shrugged, a smirk playing at his lips. “No, not really.”

She nodded decisively. “Then the offer still stands.”

“As much as I would love to, if I miss school, I miss practice. I miss practice and my coach tears me a new one. He’s brutal. Just ask the guy you ran over.” He slammed the locker shut and picked his backpack up off the floor. “But, I can help you find that locker. Is that your schedule?”

Sulking, she frowned as she handed the sheet of paper over to him.

He scanned the paper until he found her locker number. “Wow. You’re completely in the wrong neighborhood.”

“Tell me about,” she mumbled.

Looping an arm around her waist, he led them down the hall and around the corner. “It’s this way.”

***

Group Meeting

***

The members of the support group gathered
in the meeting room. Surrounded by inspirational posters, dimly lit lamps, and the sounds of soft chatter, Kelly looked nervously around the room, sneaking a glance at Gage.

She
noticed that he wouldn’t look directly at her, and wondered how long this cold-shoulder would last.

“Meagan,” Daphne said, “I’m glad to see you’re feeling better. How’s the leg?”

“Hurts a little,” she said. “I think I was just being stubborn when I insisted on going to school today.”

“Well, healing does take time,” she said. “Alex, what about you? How are you feeling?”

“Great,” he said, giving a smile to prove it. And Kelly couldn’t help but notice that he was, once again, sitting next to Kay. 

“Good.” Daphne smiled proudly as she looked around the room. “It seems we’re short a member. Has anybody seen Ryder this afternoon?”

They all shook their heads.

“I talked to him earlier,” Meagan said. “He sounded fine.”

“I’ll give him a call after the meeting,” Daphne said. “I’m sure you guys have noticed we have another new member. I’d like everybody to say hello to Kendall.” Daphne motioned to Kendall, who was sitting across the table from Kelly. “She’s Kelly’s sister.”

“
Stepsister
,” the girls corrected her together.

“Oh, of course. I’m sorry.” Daphne turned her attention to Kendall. “Would you mind telling everyone a little about yourself?”

Kendall looked uncomfortable, and Kelly tried to remember ever seeing her that way before. But she couldn’t recall a single situation where Kendall wasn’t armed with witty remarks and insults. “My name’s Kendall and I just moved back here.”

“Where are you from?”

She shrugged. “All over.”

Daphne waited, giving her a chance to elaborate. When she didn’t Daphne pressed, “Want to share what brings you here tonight?”

“Not really.”

“When I spoke to your father, he said you had a bit of a drinking problem. Let’s talk about that.”

“Let’s not,” Kendall sighed. “He overreacted.”

“But you were drinking the night you hit Alex, weren’t you?” Daphne asked, leaning her elbows on the table. “Wouldn’t it be fair to say that the alcohol has caused some problems in your life?”

“My life already has problems,” Kendall said, fixing her eyes into a glare. “I’d say the alcohol is my medicine.”

Daphne nodded in understanding. “So you use it to self-medicate?”

Kendall sat up, her mouth dropping open. “I didn’t mean—”

“And it makes you feel better, for a little while, at least, doesn’t it?”

“Look, it was just a joke. I don’t self-medicate.”

“Do you often joke to keep from being…
personal
?” 

“Wow,” Kendall said, flopping back in her chair. “You give the term ‘dime store psycho-babble’ a whole new definition.”

“A very funny
joke
.” Daphne gave the girl a small smile. “This is a safe place, Kendall. You can get personal here.”

“I’ll believe that when I see it.”

Daphne nodded again, and turned her attention to the rest of the group. “As humans, we’re naturally defensive. It’s a reaction to being insecure, or unsure. But, over time those defenses can begin to create problems. Leading to dysfunctional relationships, or the lack of inter-personal relationships altogether. That’s why I believe it’s important for everyone to have someone they can talk to. A trusted friend, or in some cases a counselor. That’s why I’m very proud of everyone who showed up here tonight.”

Kelly found it hard to focus on what Daphne was saying. She just kept looking at Kay and Alex, noticing they kept stealing secret glances at each other, and at Gage, who looked away every time she looked at him. But he had been looking at her, hadn’t he? She wished she knew for sure.