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TOM STEPPED INTO THE principal’s office and handed the note Jennifer gave him to the secretary. Without waiting, he headed back into the hall and leaned against the bricks, watching for Raven. When she didn’t show up, his chest tightened another notch.
All the Skype calls last night went to a busy signal and he barely got any sleep.
The warning bell rang, and he went into the classroom, sitting in his seat, concentrating on not allowing the panic attack to take hold. Raven stepped into the classroom just as the late bell rang and Tom’s lungs clamped closed.
Raven wore the bland clothing she had always worn, and her hair fell in front of her face, blocking his view of her. But he did catch a glimpse of sunglasses, and his heart tumbled onto the floor.
She never even looked his way and when the bell rang, she headed for the door like a racehorse out of the starting gate. Tom sprinted, catching up to her in the hallway. He spun her around so he could see her face.
“Leave me alone,” she whispered.
Tom didn’t respond, he reached his hand under her chin and forced her to look at him. The glasses didn’t hide all the bruises and he stepped back, meeting her gaze as the coiled fury took over, he spun, heading toward the front of the school with one thought on his mind. His hands ached from how hard he clenched them, and it wasn’t until he pushed open the doors that she grabbed his wrist, pulling him back inside.
“Don’t. Please don’t do this,” she whispered.
“I’m going to kill him,” he signed and tore his hand from her grip.
She maneuvered in front of Tom, placing both her hands on his chest and stopping him halfway across the sidewalk. The beeping of his ankle bracelet cut through his fury.
“You can’t help me if you’re in jail,” she said.
Tom pressed his lips together and his vision blurred under the fresh set of tears filling his eyes. “What did he do to you?” he signed and when her gaze dropped to the ground, he turned and walked slowly back to the school. The beeping stopped as soon as he entered the hallway and he leaned against the brick, grappling with his shredded heart.
She stepped inside next to him and he turned his pained gaze her way.
“You are coming home with me today,” he signed. “And God help him if he comes near you again.”
Tears sprouted from her eyes like a slow faucet leak and he wrapped his arms around her, kissing her forehead.
“Auditorium or class?” he signed and she signed auditorium back.
He took her hand and led her down the quiet halls, and into the empty auditorium. This time he led her to the back corner where there was a little light seeping in from the doors. He took a seat, dropping his head in his hands as black despair took hold. His thoughts whirled with all sorts of degrading images and he closed his eyes, letting the tears come.
When his tears dried up, he leaned back, wiping his nose on his sleeve before turning toward her. He removed her glasses and inspected her black eye, clenching his teeth against the renewed flare of anger.
“I’m owwy,” he whispered. “I’m o owwy.” His breath hitched in his chest, and he stood, pulling her into his arms. She flinched, drawing in her breath audibly, killing another piece of his humanity.
“There is no way in hell I’m letting you go home,” he signed.
“You have to.”
“No, I don’t. We have extra rooms at the house. You’ll be safe there.”
“He threatened to kill you,” she met his gaze.
Tom narrowed his eyes and smiled. “I’d really like to see him try,” he signed and she shivered, wrapping her arms around herself. “I’d kick his ass from here to Ireland and back,” he signed, drawing a small laugh.
With a deep breath, Tom took her hand and led her into the media room, but this time he switched on the dark light and closed the door, sitting her down in the chair and pulling the other one close so they faced each other.
“What did your stepfather do?” he signed, preparing himself for the answer, but it still wasn’t enough.
“He tied me to the bed and beat me,” she said.
“Is that all?” he asked. He had to know, because the visions in his head were as ugly as it gets.
She shook her head, staring at the ground at first before bringing her tear stained gaze to his.
Shredded. That’s exactly what his insides felt like when her gaze locked with his. Every nerve exposed and throbbing with pain, and there wasn’t a damn thing he could do about it. He pressed his lips together, getting a hold on the storm brewing inside him and he reached out, cupping her cheek.
“Never again,” he whispered, forcing the enunciation.
Her chin quivered, and a torrent of tears flowed from her beautiful eyes. Soon her entire form shook, and he pulled her from the chair onto his lap, holding her tight so she wouldn’t fly to pieces.
The overhead lights blinked on, but neither of them moved. Raven still sobbed silently against his shoulder. When a throat cleared, Tom swiveled the seat, meeting Principal Novak’s sharp glare.
“You two shouldn’t be in here,” he said.
Raven stiffened in Tom’s arms.
“I’m sorry, Mr. Novak. It’s just today is the anniversary of my mother’s death and I needed a friend,” she sniffled from under her thick hair.
Tom shrugged and kept eye contact.
“Fine, I’ll give you a free pass this time, but I don’t want to see you miss another class. Is that clear, Mr. Ryan?”
Tom nodded, and Raven climbed off his lap, keeping her head down as she passed the Principal.
Mr. Novak grabbed Tom’s arm. “I’m watching you,” he glared.
Tom just nodded and headed out into the brightly lit hallway where Raven waited for him with her sunglasses back in place.
The rest of the day went by without so much as a sideways look from anyone and when the last bell rang, Tom met Raven at the door and walked out with her hand in his. He opened the back door of Jennifer’s car, and helped her in before climbing into the passenger seat.
Jennifer gave him a questioning glance.
“Just drive,” he signed.