Before I know what I’m doing, my fingers are flying over my keyboard, tapping out a response.

I get it. Seeing someone you’ve known for years change right in front of your eyes is hard. The best thing you can do for him is stop pushing him around, let him know you’re there for him. 

And for the other guy- I’m glad someone finally stood up to you. Don’t get me wrong, I really like you, but you’ve been toeing the line for a while now. Maybe this guy is the push you’ve needed to change.

“You actually respond to his posts?” Crayton’s looking over my shoulder again. “I don’t think I’ve ever said anything to him.”

“I comment sometimes, when I think I can help. Commented on the last post. Suggested the terms asexual and panromantic to him.”

“What do those mean?”

“Stop looking over my shoulder and I’ll tell you.”

“So there’s this guy named Rinock that you both follow, and he talks about how he bullies people and you don’t think he’s a bad person?” Jason turns into his driveway. “How does that make sense?”

“He’s alone, Jason,” I say. “Just like you and I. The only difference is what kind of alone we are.”

“But- he’s basically just Conner!”

“He’s not. Conner’s a jerk just to be a jerk. Rinock is a jerk because he doesn’t know what to do with himself.”

“Because that’s a huge difference.”

“It is.”

“Alright.” Jason parks his truck and pushes open his door. “You two stay here. Don’t move.”

“And if Conner comes over here to fuck with us?”

“He won’t.” Crayton leans over the center console and flexes his arms. “Because I’m a great bodyguard.”

“Smiley McSmileyson will protect you.” Jason pauses. “That’s such a weird sentence. I can’t believe I just said that.”

“Just go grab your stuff before Conner decides to do something.”

“I’m going, I’m going.”

“So how long have you guys been bullied?” Crayton’s smile drops the second Jason closes his door. “It’s been going on for a while, hasn’t it?”

“Years,” I answer. “There were a few months in freshman year when Conner was absent. It toned down a bit but it was still pretty brutal.”

“How do you cope with it?”

“With the bullying?”

Crayton nods. I tilt my head a bit, and then understanding dawns on me when his eyes flit to my wrists for a split second.

“I don’t have any self-harm habits.” But Jason does. “I’ve felt the urge to, sure, but I’ve never done it.”

“So how do you deal with it?” Crayton leans forward, head propped up in a hand. “No one can take this much torture and not have some way to stay decently okay. What’s your secret?”

“I write.” I shrug. “I shift what happens to me to my characters. It helps to think that I’m not completely alone in all of it.”

“But you’re not alone,” Crayton remarks. “You’ve got Jason.”

“Now I do. I didn’t before because we didn’t interact.” I pull my phone out of my pocket and start flipping it over in my hand, thumb gliding across the screen. “And I’m still cautious of him. He’s Conner’s brother and even though we’ve determined we can’t do anything to each other, it’s hard to trust someone. Especially now, after years of abuse.”

“But you do trust him, right?”

“Somewhat. There’s no reason not to, but there’s a voice in the back of my head telling me to keep my distance. From Jason and from you.”

“I helped you though.” Crayton tips his head. “I’m on your side.”

“Yeah, and who’s to say my life isn’t gonna play out like some Wattpad novel?” I stop flipping my phone, staring down at the screen. “Guy pretends to be nice to gain someone’s trust, then stabs them in the back and goes off with the popular people.”

“Good thing this isn’t a Wattpad novel.”

“I’m still going to be cautious of you.”

“As long as you know that you can trust me, I’m okay if you’re cautious about what you tell me.”

“Hope you didn’t have too much fun without me.” Jason pulls open his door and jumps in, setting a small gray bag under his legs. “What’d y’all talk about?”

“Just talked a bit about Conner,” Crayton answers, a smile gracing his face again. “Mostly the timeline of everything.”

“So what else did you talk about?” Jason starts the truck, glancing around.

“I just told you.”

“No, you just told me that you mostly talked about the timeline. That means you talked about something else.”

“What kind of music do you like?” I ask, looking over at Jason. He glances at me then turns around, backing out of his spot.

“Bo Burnham, AJR, Fall Out Boy, All Time Low,” he lists. “My music tastes varies but I really like them. Good job trying to change the topic.”

“Thanks, I thought I did a good job.”

“You almost got away with it too!” Crayton pokes my shoulder, chuckling. “So close.”

“So you were talking about me.”

“What? No!” I slide my phone under my leg, moving my hands to grasp the seatbelt instead. “Crayton asked me how I dealt with all the bullying. That’s all.”

“You sound like you’re hiding something.”

“I’m not. I promise.”

“Alright.” Jason nods, eyes focused on the road in front of him. “Crayton, what’s your address?”

“512 Floret Street.”

“Are you sure that’s your place?” My grip on the seatbelt tightens.

“I wrote it on my palm, so I’m pretty sure.” Crayton holds his hand out to me. “Could be wrong though.”

“What’re you hiding?” Jason glances over at me. 

“I’m not hiding anything.”

“You’re digging your fingernails into your palms, you’re clutching the seatbelt like your life depends on it, and your voice is shaky. Not hiding anything my ass.”

“Maybe it’s something that doesn’t concern you.” I relax my hands, the crescent shaped wounds stinging. “And don’t you ask, Crayton, I’m not going to tell you either.”

“Does it have anything to do with the locked boxes Delia found in the shed?” Crayton questions. “Do you have the key? Do you know where-”

“What’s in those boxes is none of your business!” I snap, twisting around to glare at him. “Okay? Don’t touch them. Just- just don’t.”

“You know, the kids who lived there told Delia and I that-”

“Drop it, Crayton.” I lean my head back against the headrest, blinking away the tears that gathered in my eyes. “Leave the subject alone, leave the boxes alone. Can you do that?”

“Curiosity killed the cat,” Jason chimes in.

“And satisfaction brought it back!” Crayton finishes. “I’ll let Delia know to leave them alone. I’m sorry for being so pushy about it.”

“It’s fine.” I start drumming my fingers on the center console of the car.

“Do you want to take them home with you tomorrow?”

“No. I want them to stay where they are.”

“Are you sure?”

“Crayton, you’re pushing.” Jason looks in his rearview mirror at Crayton. “Knock it off.”

“Sorry. Do you guys want to watch some movies tonight?”

“What movies do you have?”

“Depends on what you want to watch.”

“Let’s watch Av-”

“Do not finish that sentence,” I warn, glaring at Jason. He snickers in response.

“I meant the blue people Avatar.”

“Are you seriously trying to lie to my face right now?”

“Of course not!”

“You totally are.”

“I really didn't mean the last airbender movie.”

“I don't believe you. Like, at all.”

“I solemnly swear on Crayton that I didn't mean the last airbender.”

“Hey!” Crayton pokes Jason’s arm, then mine. “Rude!”

“It’s not rude if I mean what I swore on.” Jason grins. “And I definitely meant it. Totally.”

“Remind me to punch you later,” I remark. “The fact that you even suggested that movie sickens me.”

“Hey, my house!” Crayton leans forward over the center console and points at a light blue house. I swallow the lump in my throat as my eyes focus on the black front door. “Delia and I still need to repaint the front door and a few of the rooms, so don’t mind the tarps covering some floors.”

Pink and green and white bedrooms. 

“Which rooms are you repainting?” I force a smile onto my face as I get out of the truck.

“We’re repainting the main hallway, the downstairs bathroom, and the downstairs living room.”

I sigh, closing the truck door behind me.

“So you did know the previous owners.” Crayton moves to stand in front of me, tilting his head. “You were friends with the twins.”

“They were triplets.” The words leave my mouth before I can stop myself. Crayton smiles and whirls around, leading us into his house.