Total pages in book: 166
Estimated words: 161257 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 806(@200wpm)___ 645(@250wpm)___ 538(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 161257 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 806(@200wpm)___ 645(@250wpm)___ 538(@300wpm)
“Tad. How’s my boy?” Tad turned around. “Dad.” Smiling, they clasped hands and shared a brief hug, but all too soon his dad was looking Scott over. Tad’s heart picked up speed. He cleared his throat. “This is Scott.”
Scott met the man’s eyes and held them firm. Tad wondered what was going on in his mind. Was he thinking about his own father? Remembering how mean he was? Was he worried that things might turn confrontational?
Mr. Mitchel donned a smile. “Hey, Scott. Good to meet you.” Tad exhaled in relief as the two shook hands. “You’re definitely a lot larger than I expected.”
Scott smiled.
Tad puffed up his chest. “Yeah, but not too large for me to pin.”
Scott tensed. Both parents turned and looked at Tad.
Shit. That probably didn’t sound very good.
Tad scratched his neck and chuckled. “Wrestling… We were wrestling.”
“Right,” his dad muttered.
Tad shot Scott a wince.
His mom all but snickered. “Let’s go eat.”
* * * * *
“First Monday in ages without class. This effing rocks.”
Sean glanced over his shoulder. Jonah was standing in the doorway, watching as Sean took down the pictures he’d developed over the weekend. The ones he’d hung in the bathroom to dry. “No more finals?”
“No more finals. Wait. Aren’t you done with yours, too?”
Sean nodded, unclipping another photo from the cord. “Yeah. Finished Friday. Not sure how well I did, though.”
“Please. You always ace final exams.”
Sean shrugged and set the picture on top of his pile.
Jonah sighed and crossed his arms, then leaned his shoulder against the doorjamb. “We should go out. Celebrate. Grab some lunch or something. I’m starving.”
“Nah. Not very hungry.” In truth, Sean actually felt queasy. Hadn’t had much of an appetite in over a week.
“You could still come with me… And get your mind off of stuff… Maybe catch a movie or something.”
He knew Sean was sad. Sean could hear it in his voice. Jonah was trying to find ways to cheer him up. Thing was, Sean just wanted to be alone. Didn’t have the energy—or desire—to put up a front.
He took down another picture. “I don’t think so, Joe. But thanks.” He glanced back over his shoulder. Gave his friend a smile. “Go with Ledger.”
Jonah’s whole demeanor shifted. He winced uneasily. “Yeah, I dunno.”
Sean paused and eyed him. “What? What’s up with Ledger?”
“Nothing really.” Jonah pocketed his hands. “He’s just been acting kinda strange.”
Sean frowned. “Strange how?”
“I dunno. That’s the thing. He’s just… kind of all over the place.”
All over the place? Ledger? That didn’t sound like him at all. He was always nice and steadfast in Mellow Yellow Land. Sean needed more to go on. “What exactly has he been doing?”
Jonah shrugged. “Nothing specific. It’s just… Gah. I don’t know.” His expression turned baffled. He looked at Sean. “Does he do drugs?”
Sean’s brows flew up. “Drugs?” He coughed a laugh. “I don’t think so. Geez, Joe. What the hell. Did you break him?”
Jonah snorted a laugh, too, even as he flushed. “Yeah, right. If anything, he broke me.”
Sean stilled. “Are you saying—”
“Yeah, I’m saying. And it was hot.”
Sean’s brows shot back up again. “Are you serious? When was this?”
“You really wanna know?”
“Wouldn’t ask if I didn’t.”
“Fine. Come grab some lunch with me and I’ll tell you all about it.”
Ugh.
Sean frowned and turned back to his pictures. “I told you, Joe. I’m busy.”
Jonah exhaled. “Sean, don’t do this. Don’t let that fucker keep you down. You’re stronger than this. This isn’t who you are.”
He was right. Sean knew he was, but the sadness was just so heavy…
“I know.” He nodded. “I’ll climb out of this soon. Just need a little more time and I’ll be good.”
Jonah didn’t reply. Just stood there in the doorway.
Sean sighed and freed another hanging picture.
“You sure you won’t come?” Joe was making a last ditch attempt. “I just got my paycheck. I’ll buy.”
A smile tugged at Sean’s lips. His friend had such a great heart. “Thanks, but yeah, I’m sure. Maybe next time.”
“Alright. Your loss,” Joe murmured whimsically. “Was gonna buy you a milkshake and everything.”
Their apartment door opened and shut a moment later. Sean stared at his myriad of strung-up pictures, then grabbed another and stacked it neatly with the others. Music played in the background. Sun streamed through the slots of his blinds. Next thing Sean knew, he was unclipping some photos of Max. Ones he’d taken when he’d spotted Max in front of the Art Building loading boxes with his students into a van. The kids had gone back inside, but Max had lingered. Lingered with that look on his face. Not his typical one of indifference. Not his stressed-out one, either. Not even his angry one. He’d just looked sad. Which, to this day, Sean still believed was because of him, and the very reason he’d gone to see Max that night.