Katie’s mile-a-minute mouth was going over our last class when I looked up and saw Jax approaching. A couple girls called out to him but he’d set his eyes on me. I could feel their determination across the room, raking over my face and trying to read me the way he always did.
As he neared, Katie glanced up and then grumbled. “Oh, for fuck’s sake, doesn’t he have a girlfriend? He’s practically obsessed with you.”
“Katie!” I whisper-yelled.
Before she could answer, Jax leaned against our table and set a peach in front of me. “Peace offering, Peaches.”
I would have said thank you. I would have accepted it and we would have parted ways amicably. No lines would have been drawn. No people would have had to witness the war beginning.
Jay had other plans, as he barreled up to us and shoved Jax so hard, he stumbled into the other table.
“What the fuck, man?” Jax roared, stabilizing himself and coming back at him.
No one stepped in between them like I assumed some of their friends would. Everyone around us was fine with these beautiful guys destroying each other’s faces.
“I told you not to fuck with her.” Jay pointed to me, and it seemed everyone’s heads in the lunchroom turned my way. “You gave me your word.”
Jax glanced at me and back at Jay. His gaze hardened as he eyed his brother again. “Well, I’m sorry, Jay. Didn’t know the little pixie was so important to you. If you’d have told me you two had a thing—”
Jay shoved him hard again, but this time Jax was ready and shoved him back harder. They were both strong, too strong and too charged to be in each other’s faces.
Katie must have seen my panic as I slipped out from my seat and jumped between them because as I faced Jax to push him back, she faced Jay and pushed him back.
My hands were on his chest and I felt his heart beating so hard, I rubbed him there like I had the right to. “It’s all right. Please stop, okay?”
His hands flexed into fists and his eyes remained trained on his brother, but Katie had reined him in. She spun around to me and spoke loudly, “Brey, were going. Leave these fuckers to their own shit.”
I glanced at Jax again. His eyes were still on his brother. They held something other than anger though. His brows pulled down like he was acknowledging something, like he was worried.
The color drained from Jay’s face as he glanced from Jax and then to me with wide eyes. I lifted a hand to smooth back my hair and realized it had slid from my bun again. My short hair was loose and Jay finally noticed.
Without another word to Jax, I rushed toward Jay.
He’d always known something was amiss in my household. Everyone did. I’m sure he’d assumed but the look on his face right then said his speculations were confirmed. It was recognition, and I knew that if I didn’t tell him today and talk him down, he’d share his suspicions with someone he thought would help.
As I grabbed his arm and stormed out of the back doors of the lunchroom, Katie followed and brushed off anyone who tried to talk to us. When we sat at a secluded picnic table, I started at the beginning.
I confessed that the first time I remember my dad hitting my mom, I did nothing. Every time after, nothing. I ended my excruciatingly long confession with the shame of still not doing anything every time he hit her.
Jay asked about my hair, and I told him I deserved it and that I should have hidden it better because my mom paid a price for my negligence later on. He looked mortified, but Katie nodded her head solemnly, like she completely understood.
That day, none of my stones were left unturned and none of my secrets were left unsaid. Those stones built a wall between us and everyone else in that high school. My secrets fortified our friendship and lifted so much weight off my shoulders that I honestly believed I had enough strength to fly away from the problems I had at home.
Some problems though weighed enough to keep me firmly grounded.