I shrugged. “Well, here I am. Still alive and kicking.”
“What did he do to you?”
“Who the hell’s at the door, Clint?”
I rolled my eyes. “None of your damn business, Roy.”
Rae tried reaching up for my bruises again, but I backed away. I closed the door a little more, trying to block her view of the inside of the house. It was a wreck. Shit was strewn everywhere, and I hadn’t showered since Monday morning. But she didn’t take the fucking hint.
“Let me come in. Let me help you clean up a bit.”
I scoffed. “I’m fine. Get out of here, Rae.”
“You need a doctor, Clint. Someone has to know what’s going on.”
I paused. “Did you tell anyone?”
“Tell anyone what?”
“Rae, don’t you dare tell me you told someone at that fucking school what's happening.”
“And what if I did?”
She tried reaching for my eye again, but I snatched her wrist. If she told anyone at that damn school what was going on and they started poking around, I wasn’t sure I’d survive my father’s assault. I’d kept it hidden from the school this long. And the last thing I needed was someone attempting to upend my life because it was their job to give a shit about me.
“Leave, Rae. I’m serio—”
“Cleaver!?”
I closed my eyes and quickly dropped her wrist. I stuck my tongue into the inside of my cheek as Roy pried the door away from my hand. I sighed as Rae’s eyes flickered over to him, and he pushed his way beside me, chuckling. I’d tried to spare Rae from my best friend, but it had been her choice not to fucking listen.
Why the fuck did she never listen?
Roy laughed. “What the hell are you doing here, Cleaver Beaver?”
Rae rolled her eyes. “I could ask you the same thing, Roy Toy.”
He shrugged. “I don’t mind being a toy. Especially Marina’s.”
“Gross,” she murmured.
I sighed. “I’m fine. Thanks for the homework, but it wasn’t necessary. You’ve done your duty for the day. Let the school know I’ll be back when I feel like it.”
Roy scoffed. “Homework? This idiot thought you’d actually want homework?”
Rae grumbled, “I’m not an idiot.”
“Goodbye, Rae.”
“Wait a second. Rae?”
I saw her grow uncomfortable as Roy studied the two of us. She shuffled on her feet, her hands buried into the pockets of those faded brown pants of hers. I shoved Roy out of the way with my hip, going to close the door.
But it was too late.
“Hold up. Hold up, hold up, hold up. I know what’s going on here.”
Roy’s voice filled my ears as panic flooded Rae’s eyes.