Tripp (28 page)

I wait for her to fight me, but instead, she nods. “Promise. Now get your ass in gear and push Gracie on the swing so we can go get our coffee.”

I smile like she wants, but I still look over my shoulder on our way home.

~

Me: You guys seen Marcus on campus or at the bar lately?

Tanner: Nope.

Griff: No.

Griff: What’s up?

Me: I don’t know. Just doesn’t feel right that he disappeared after following Rachel for so long.

Tanner: Maybe his parents gave him an ultimatum and he finally gave in.

Me: Maybe. Let me know if you hear anything.

38

Present

On Wednesday, there’s still a nagging feeling at the back of my neck. It doesn’t make sense. There’s been no sign of Marcus or his family since we saw Mrs. Kash over a week ago—but still, I’m waiting for Marcus to come at me, to come at Rachel, to do
something
. He’s not just going to take this. However much Rachel thinks he got what he wanted, I know he didn’t.

He wanted Rachel to get rid of Gracie. He wanted Rachel to
disappear
. He wanted his part in Gracie never to be recognized. All of those wants were somehow denied.

However, his mother made it clear she wanted Gracie. Since Marcus is the real reason she didn’t get that, I know she confronted him about it, just as I know it’s only a matter of time before he confronts Rachel. Just like the pregnancy, this is somehow going to be her fault.

“Hey, Big T, who you looking for?”

I nod at Huey and keep scanning the hallway. “Rachel. She should be getting out of her volleyball class right now.”

“Ah, gonna try and convince your girl to hook next class and go have some real fun?”

That thought makes me smile. “It’s not a bad idea,” I tell him and take out my phone. No text. “If I can find her.”

“I just passed her walking into the counseling office a few minutes before the bell rang. Might be she’s still there.”

I put my phone away after Huey says this. If he’s right, then that must mean she’s talking to Mrs. Flynn, her counselor. Which makes sense. I know something’s been bothering Rachel lately—something more than Marcus and Gracie and the custody suit that was just finalized. I think it has to do with her future and where she’s going to school next year—choices she wants to make, but needs reassurance for.

She’s been seeing Mrs. Flynn once a week since she was a freshman and quick to explode or punch people. That’s where she usually goes if she needs clarity, though she’d never admit it.

“Looks like I won’t be asking her to hook class,” I say and Huey smiles.

“There’s always after lunch.”

“True.” Even though I know where she is, I look over my shoulder because that tickle on my neck has become a persistent annoyance.

“Hey, Huey? You ever have any interaction with Marcus Kash in the off-season?”

He shakes his head and leans back against my locker. “Nah, man. My cousin swore he’d kill me if I bought outside of the family.”

“Your cousin know him?”

Huey shrugs. “Not much. Just the usual—rich kid with something to prove. He deals because he can, not because he’s got mouths to feed like my cousin. Why? You don’t smoke, Big T, and I know you aren’t looking to deal no matter how many mouths you got to feed these days.”

“Got that right. It’s nothing, just a feeling. He’s been giving Rachel some trouble and I’m worried it’s not over.”

Huey nods and pushes off the lockers. “You want me to text my cousin—get a beat on his street activity?”

“Thanks, Huey. It’ll make me feel better to know where he’s at.”

“I’ll let you know what he says.”

Huey and I separate and head to class. Rachel usually makes fun of me for being the one person who doesn’t keep my phone in my pocket so I can text during class, but today I do. Something’s off. I can feel it.

Thirty minutes into a Physics lecture I’ve barely heard two words about, my phone
buzzes
. I take it out to glance at it. The hairs on the back of my neck stand up.

Huey: Word on the street is no one’s seen Kash in a week or so. No call to his regulars or supplier. Rumors spreading that mommy finally sent him to rehab.

Not right. It’s not right, and I can’t explain why. I feel like Huey’s text just confirmed everything I’ve been thinking. We’re not done—
he’s
not done. It’s only a matter of time. I’m about to put my phone away when I see a text from Rachel pop up.

Rachel: Just got done talking to Flynny. Think I figured some stuff out. Meet me in the BR by counseling and I’ll tell you.

It takes me five minutes to finish my equations and convince Mr. Harbert to let me use the pass. I don’t know what my urgency is, but the feeling I had earlier has multiplied. I need to see Rachel, to make sure she’s okay, to let her know what Huey found out so she can be prepared.

I’m still down the hall from the bathroom when I hear the pounding on the door. The voice sounds familiar, and when I start to run, I hear it again—this time more frantic, the voice screaming now.

“Flow? Flow open the door.”

Lauren’s standing on the outside of the door, pounding with both fists and people who are on an open period are starting to gather and stare.

“What’s wrong?”

Lauren looks at me and her eyes are wide and worried. “I walked out, Tripp. I walked out and saw him. I tried to convince myself that it was okay, that she knew he was there, but she didn’t. I know she didn’t.”

“I need you to tell me who’s in there with her, Lauren.”

“Marcus,” she whispers and my stomach falls out.

I hear a shout from inside. My already-jacked heart-rate spikes dangerously. “Rachel?” I turn to the bathroom door and shout her name. I can’t hear her, can’t hear anything but the occasional spike in his voice, and that scares me more. I slam into the door, shoving at it with my shoulder even though it doesn’t move. “Rachel are you in there?”

“I’m so sorry, Tripp. I came back. I came back, but the door was locked and I couldn’t get in.”

“I need you to go and get help.” Lauren shakes her head, staring at the door like she can’t believe it. “Lauren,
now
!” I shout. She jumps, snapping out of it enough to turn and race down the hall.

I step back and punch my foot against the door. I hear a satisfying
crack
, but it’s not enough. I step back again. This time, there’s someone next to me and I look over at Huey. His face is sober.

“Together,” he says and I nod.

I hear Lauren talking somewhere behind me, and I can feel the panic begin to buzz around as more people gather, but I just look at Huey. “On three.”

“One. Two.
Three
.” We step forward right as a scream can be heard from inside. My body wants to freeze in shock—the animalistic nature in the sound—but I don’t let it. Instead, I slam my foot as hard as I can, shouting Rachel’s name. Our feet connect with the wood at the same time. The force cracks the door open and it bangs into the wall.

I’m through it in an instant, Huey right next to me, and time seems to slow. Two things happen at once—I see Rachel staggering away from Marcus, and I see Marcus. Even with a split lip and terror in his eyes, he’s reaching for her again and something inside of me snaps. I reach for Rachel, grabbing her by the shoulders and shoving her toward the door.

“Get her out of here!” I shout to the room at large. I know I should turn around, should scoop her up and take her outside myself, but I can’t let him go. I can’t turn away when I know he never intended to let her leave this bathroom.

There’s noise all around me as more people show up, but I barely hear any of it. My hand is in the front collar of Marcus’s jacket. I’m hauling him toward me with my left even as I bring my right up under his jaw. His head snaps back with a satisfying whip, but I don’t stop. I get in three more punches before the arms banding around me get tight enough to hinder my swing. I try anyway. I’m both relieved and pissed when I let go of Marcus and he slumps to the floor.

“Hang on there, Big T, we got to get you out of here. The police have showed and unless you want to take a ride, it’s time to let them take over.”

Huey has me. Right behind him is one of the campus police. I let them take me out, let them sit me against the wall and stare at me while someone else goes in to cuff Marcus and bring him out. The hallways are full now—as if people heard there was a fight and came running. Though my eyes are scanning, I can’t find Rachel anywhere.

“Where is she?” I ask, looking at Huey and then the officer. “Where’d they take Rachel?”

“Flow’s still in the bathroom sitting on the floor with Lauren,” he says. “She couldn’t walk, and nobody wanted to make her without getting her checked out first.”

“I need to see her,” I say and step forward. The officer places a hand on my chest to halt me.

“Not until the room’s cleared.”

“She shouldn’t be in there with him,” I say between my teeth. Jesus, she never should have been in there with him.

“She’s not alone, and unless you want to go for that ride your friend here warned you about, you need to wait.”

It takes two minutes. I stare at the door the entire time. When they finally lead Marcus out, his hands are cuffed behind his back and his head is hanging so low his chin nearly rests on his chest. He looks spent, broken. I can’t help but wish I had broken him more.

“All clear. Let’s get some admin to help with crowd control,” the officer says into his radio and nods at me. “You can go in and get your girl. You’ll want to take her to the offices. She needs to be talked to and looked at.”

I take a second to slap Huey on the shoulder in thanks before rushing back into the bathroom.

“Rachel.” I say her name before I’m even all the way through the door. I say it again when I see her on the floor against the wall, her knees to her chest, her face pale, and her eyes dark and dilated. Lauren is with her. I murmur my thanks, and she moves so I can crouch in front of Rachel.

I don’t want to scare her, but I have to touch—my hands reaching hesitantly for her face, cupping it gently while my thumbs graze her jawline and sweep over the tears falling undetected from her eyes.

“Rachel,” I say in a quiet, gentle, apologetic tone.

Again.

He.

Got.

Her.

Again.

I lean in, my lips brushing her forehead in silent apology; her tears really come now. Her body begins to tremble and her breathing is shallow. When the dam breaks, the power of her sobs wrack her until she’s wrapped herself around me, her hands anchored at my back as she holds on.

She fought. She was at the door when I was coming through, and all that strength is gone now—replaced with a kind of fear I can’t begin to comprehend.

I whisper to her, telling her how sorry I am, how much I love her. I try to remind her I’m here—I’m always here—and no matter what, I won’t leave her again.

She wraps around me more securely, her face at my chest. I sweep my arms under her legs, lifting her as gently as I can, and cradling her against me before I turn and walk her out of the bathroom.

The hallways are filled with gawkers, but Mrs. Flynn is waiting with the vice principal and the same officer from earlier. They lead us to the front office and leave us in a small conference room. I don’t put Rachel down when we get there; I look at Mrs. Flynn and she nods like she gets it.

Rachel’s sobs are still wracking me, soaking through my T-shirt to my skin and it takes everything in me not to let loose and fall apart.

“I need to call her mom,” I say, my voice scratchy and strained. My arms tighten around her involuntarily.

“I already have,” Mrs. Flynn says in a low voice. “We’ve also called an ambulance. I don’t know how long she was in there,” she says when Rachel whimpers and shakes her head
no
. “I know she doesn’t want to talk to anyone else, but we don’t know the extent of her injuries.”

When she pauses and looks at me, I shake my head. “I don’t know, either.” And it’s another wound over my already-raw skin. I don’t know what happened in that bathroom, what Marcus did or didn’t do. Her clothes are intact, but does that mean he couldn’t have degraded her, hurt her…touched her? Oh, Jesus Christ.

“We need to wait and have her checked out. Until then, I’ll have everyone wait outside until her mom’s here.” Mrs. Flynn turns to go. I stay where I am, holding Rachel, rocking her, my arms banded around her so tightly I’m not sure I can remove them without help. “She’s strong, Tripp. She’ll get through this.”

Strong. Right.

Rachel, the girl who can kick anyone’s ass, has stood up against a monster again. But that’s not the point, is it? She never should have had to stand up to him in the first place. “No one should have to be this strong, Mrs. Flynn.”

She stares at me, and then accepts what I’ve said. “No, they shouldn’t. But it’s lucky for us that Rachel is anyway.”

39

Present

I’m sitting in the waiting room of the E.R. with my elbows resting on my knees. Dr. C and Stacy are in with Rachel and the doctor. It was too crowded for me—that was my excuse; the real reason I’m out here is because I’m not altogether sure why Rachel would want me near her after what just happened.

Katie’s next to me; she followed Rachel and me from school. Although Rachel fought her mom, Mrs. Flynn, the principal, and me, she was taken away in an ambulance.
School policy
. I don’t know if that’s true or if it was the only way they could convince her to get in the ambulance and let the paramedics check her out.