“I brought some math worksheets,” Lennon says.
He’s been bringing us schoolwork, so if we ever get out of here, at least I’ll get a chance to get into school.
I like math and history but struggle in English. Lennon is a good tutor. Even Briar is doing the worksheets. My sister is smart, and if she had the chance to go to school, she would be top of her class. She says the same thing about me.
“Let’s eat and then we can go over them. After that, we’ll work on some more combos,” Lennon says, and I nod enthusiastically.
I love learning combos. My dream is still going pro in an MMA association. I will do whatever it takes and when I make it big, I will pay Briar back for everything she’s done for me. I will make sure she’s taken care of because she deserves that.
Lennon: Age 16
I can’t stand seeing her this way, or him. He takes it harder than she does when she’s hurt. I hate this. I hate our lives, our situation. I hate that people go on with their lives and we get shit on.
Briar needs a doctor, but she’s right. The minute we go to the ER, we’ll all be split up. If her foot is broken and it gets infected, she could die though. Maybe tomorrow after the gym, I’ll ask my coach if he can help. He knows my situation, but I’ve told him to leave it, that I have a plan. If he can help, I could probably carry her to him. He only lives two streets over. It’s my only chance to ensure she’s okay and abide by her wishes.
I can’t lose her. It would kill Thorn and me. I love Briar with my whole being, and someday when I make it big, I’ll make her mine. She’ll wear my ring, have my last name. I know she feels the same about me.
I take her hand in mine as we eat, holding on to each other like our lives depend on it. She does depend on me and I don’t mind. I like that she does.
“Oh, I brought some treats.” I grin, taking a bag out of my backpack. It’s full of candy and soda.
“Is that . . .” Briar starts to ask, and I nod.
They’ve never been trick or treating, hardly have candy, only eating it if I bring it to them. I took these from a cooler in a shop I passed on the way home. She knows I steal but doesn’t reprimand me. We have to survive somehow.
Thorn takes a candy bar and has half of it in his mouth. “Oh, this is so good.”
Briar laughs as he stuffs it down his throat, not even really savoring it. I love hearing her laugh.
“I love these peanut butter cups,” Briar says with a smile.
Her smile is breathtaking and always melts my heart.
“Here.” I hand her a Mountain Dew and a Pepsi to Thorn.
“This is my favorite,” she says, popping the top.
I need to get her more clothes. Her shirts are too big and full of holes and her sweats are in need of burning. They don’t have much. I don’t either, but I do have more than them. I even have the freedom of going to school and the gym. Let’s be honest, I’m not going to be top of my class. I probably won’t even graduate, but I’ve seen things.
“I know.” I grin as I take out a Coke and chug half of it.
“You’ll get sick,” Thorn snorts.
“Worth it,” I say as I kiss Briar’s hand, and she blushes.
I know that when we are truly together, we will fit perfectly. We eat and do worksheets the rest of the night until Briar falls asleep.
“I’m going to talk to my coach and see if he can help her,” I tell Thorn. “I’ll be back around four tomorrow.
“I can’t thank you enough,” Thorn says.
“You’re my family and that’s what we do for family,” I say before jumping back into my window.
* * *
I returnaround four and see that she’s still sleeping. I run my hand over her hair and then sit on the floor by Thorn.
“I have some stuff to help her, but it’s too risky to take her out. She’s right—if we go to the hospital, your parents will be called, and who knows what will happen,” I tell Thorn, tossing him a sandwich I got from down the street.