BUCK’S POV
“Greetings, Buck. Elizabeth is nearly ready.”
Eugene steps out of the way as I walk into his apartment.
“How are you feeling about tonight?”
“Fine. Nervous.”
“Well, that’s understandable.”
“Where’s Mom? I was gonna ask her about that ministry book.”
“Oh, she is at her physical therapy appointment.”
“Oh.”
“In fact, I’m supposed to be there to pick her up in fifteen minutes,” he says, glancing at his watch. He turns to the hallway,
“Elizabeth! I’m departing for-”
“Okay!”
He pats my shoulder before heading out the door.
“I’m praying it goes well tonight.”
“Thanks.”
He shuts the door.
“Okay let's get this over with.”
Elizabeth comes in wearing a jean jacket and a faded blue shirt.
“So you’ve given up on purple?”
“You’re not funny.”
“Jules is parked outside.”
“Great,” she sigh-speaks, pressing her lips together.
We walk out to the car, where Jules is sitting in the passenger seat, scrolling through her phone. We get in.
“Hey, Liz.”
“Hey.”
ELIZA’S POV
July Meltsner is the only person I know who calls me Liz. I don’t hate it, it’s just weird. On the way to church, I send a couple of snap chats to my friends. Buck and Jules talk about how they’re going to make sure Levi gets to bed on time if they’re going to be gone every Wednesday night. The thought of going to church every Wednesday makes my head hurt.
“So you’re really doing this?”
“Doing what?”
Buck’s blue eyes meet mine through his rearview mirror.
“You know. Being pastors.”
“Oh. Yeah,” he’s confident.
“Did you not think we were serious about this?” Jules half-turns to me.
“No I just wasn’t sure if you were just trying it out or not.”
“Oh okay. You just sounded unhappy about it.”
“I’m not unhappy.”
“Okay. Sorry.”
We don’t say anything until Buck pulls into one of what looks like thousands of parking spots in front of this almost old, large church building. The vision of my brother, me, and my sister-in-law sitting in a green-carpeted room alone in separate metal chairs with dusty Bibles in our laps comes to mind. I think of running into that set of trees where no one will ever find me.
“Ready?” Buck taps on my window like he did when I was six. But I’m not six. Why am I here? I nod, trying to keep my eyes on his shoulder so they don’t roll. It’s dark and cold when I get out of the car, that was also dark and cold, so of course, we enter a stupid building that is dark and cold. I know my pockets are cold and putting cold hands in cold pockets won’t fix cold hands. I put my hands into my pockets.
“Why is it freezing?” I ask.
“We have to turn on the heat when we get here to save money.”
“Oh.”
I almost ask why they don’t pay for it since they’re so rich. I don’t. Jules and I follow Buck to a white box on the wall, and he taps in the temperature. The vents above us start their airy scream.
“Okay,” Jules breathes, “Let’s check out this room.”
We go upstairs and turn on a light that illuminates a rectangular area with a kitchen in the corner and some couches at the other. The carpet isn’t green.
JULES’ POV
We turn on more lights, and in about fifteen minutes, about fifteen kids show up. I have to admit, it’s more than I was expecting. When my watch beeps at 6:30 we decide to sit in a circle and introduce ourselves. I try to gauge the mood of the group. There’s definitely some hesitancy, some distance between people, but they seem relatively familiar with each other.
“Alright, well. Hi guys. My name is Jules, this is Buck.”
“Yeah we know who you are,” a kid with blue hair laughs from the other end of the circle.
“Your music is awesome,” someone else says.
“Oh right. Well thanks.”
“What’s your favorite song?” Buck asks.
“That new single is actually so fire.”
“Oh, Sails?”
“Yeah! Did you seriously write that in a day?”
“Um,” I turn to him, “I think it was two or three.”
“Right. Well it depends on what you mean by write. We wrote the song in two days, but the third day we recorded it. So we called it our resurrection song since it took us three days,” he laughs, “Should we go to the next person? Maybe say your name, age, and I don’t know, favorite food.”
This question is well received, and everyone participates with a good amount of enthusiasm. Well, everyone but Elizabeth. I keep trying to figure her out. I know she’s a nice person. I think, fundamentally, she’s great. I mean, I know she is. I’ve known her for a long time. She’s always had some sass, but she’s got a good heart. Buck and I talk about it sometimes. He’s working really hard to get through to her.
BUCK’S POV
I walk Elizabeth to the door.
“I’m not going to get raped if you let me walk up some stairs by myself.”
“Okay but I still want to say hi to mom.”
“Whatever.”
She pushes the front door open and leaves me to catch it. Katrina is sitting in the living room with Eugene’s torn vest in her lap. She sets down her needle.
“Wh- go after her!” she whispers.
“What?”
“She misses her big brother.”
“No she doesn’t.”
“Okay then go ask her if she wants to see Christmas lights with you and see what she says.”
“But I wanna talk to you. I haven’t seen you in a week or something.”
“We can talk tomorrow at lunch. Go spend time with your sister.”
“I’ll try.”
“All I’m asking.”
I walk down the hall and tap on her door.
“Eliza?”
“Yeah?”
“Do you want to go see Christmas lights with me?”
“What like right now?”
“Yeah. Well, I’ll drop Jules off and then come back and get you.”
“Okay,” I can hear her smile through the door.
“Okay, it’ll be like fifteen minutes.”
ELIZA’S POV
I stare out the passenger seat window of Buck’s car. This street of expensive houses places us inside a tunnel of tiny glowing lights. They remind me of the stars I saw on a school overnight trip to Mount Ontree. A few houses have nativity scenes or large inflatable snowmen. Buck clears his throat.
“So, how have you been? And don’t say fine.”
“I’m good.”
“Hm. Why?”
“What?”
“Why are you good?”
“I don’t know. I just am.”
“What’s bad?”
This one makes me stop. I hate that he makes me question my automated answers.
“Most things,” I answer casually.
“That can’t be true.”
“Well it is. In case you forgot to look down from your ivory tower, our lives are falling apart.”
“Everyone feels that way at your age.”
“Oh sorry I didn’t know you were spat on in the hallways at school for being part of a terrorist religion.”
“Christianity is not a terrorist religion. And no I wasn’t. I was in JD when I was fifteen. So I was beat up for no reason instead.”
“I know Christianity isn’t about terrorism. I am one. I know you don’t think I am one, but I am.”
“I’ve never said that.”
“But you’ve thought it. It doesn’t matter, honestly I don’t care.”
“About what?”
“About anything! I literally don’t care!”
“Okay…” he slides out this word and turns a corner.
“You’re not going to say anything?” I uncross my arms.
“Wh- what do you want me to say?”
“I don’t know. You’re just being rude.”
“I’m not trying to be,” he sighs, “You don’t have to be angry all the time, Elizabeth. You know? It’s okay to be sad.”
“No it’s not! I can’t be sad, because if I let myself be sad, I’ll just keep being sad, and I just want to be normal!” My eyes are dry.
“I know. Me too.”
“Your life is normal.”
“Look, Liz. I don’t know what you think my life is like, but things suck for me too.”
“Yeah having all that money must really suck.”
“How much money do you think we make? My family is burdened by mental illness, and-”
“I know. Mum prays for you every night at dinner.”
“She does?”
“Yeah. I’m getting kind of sick of it.”
“Tell her thank you. And my point is, you don’t know where my money goes, and it’s not your responsibility to tell me what to do with it. You understand?”
“You sound like Dad.”
“I take that as a complement.”
“I understand. I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay. How has your anxiety been?”
I shrug.
“I haven’t had another attack.”
He sighs.
“That’s good. That’s good, I was worried about you.”
“Yeah. Thanks for picking me up.”
“Anytime.”
“But I’m scared all the time. I don’t want to go back to school.”
“I know. You have friends there though, right?”
“Yeah. But having friends doesn’t prevent you from getting shot in the head.”
“You know shooters can’t get into schools anymore.”
“That’s not true, there was one in Oklahoma.”
“Oklahoma. When?”
“Last year!”
“Okay that school did not have the same security system as Odyssey High.”
“You’re making that up.”
“I don’t have to. Trust me, you are safer inside that school than you are in your own apartment. Dad helped design that system, remember?”
“Yeah.”
“So you should feel safe there.”
I shrug.
“Okay.”
We don’t say anything for a while. It’s like we both realized at the same time we hadn’t been looking at any lights.
“I love Christmas,” he finally says.
“Me too.”
“Things are gonna get better, Elizabeth. They are.”
“I’m trying to believe that.”
“Are you gonna keep coming to youth group?”
“I don’t know. I’m not sure that I really fit in with those people.”
“Well maybe you could bring some of your friends. Most of the others are bringing theirs.”
“I know.”
“And, I was talking to Jules… if you keep coming to youth group, we’ll pay off your tickets.”
“How long do I have to go?”
“Until the end of February at least.”
I have to weigh my options here. There aren’t many.
“Fine,” I sigh, “I’m not doing anything with my Wednesday nights anyway.”
“Great,” he says, “We’ll try not to make it too boring for ya.”
WYATT’S POV
Jason puts his car into park.
“Why do I feel like a thrift store shirt?”
“Wyatt, this is for your good. You’re not a thrift store shirt. You’re a… okay I really can’t think of a good analogy, but we all want you to be safe, so we all want the same thing, right?”
“Right.”
“I just think this is the best choice.”
“Yeah. I know you’re right.”
“Great. Ready?”
“Yeah.”
We get out and walk up the flight of stairs that leads up to a navy blue door. Jason knocks on it. A pair of round glasses and a blue waistcoat answers.
“Greetings, Jason, Mr. Perkins.”
“Hi.”
“Please, come in.”
We thank him and follow him into the comfortable apartment. It’s not as small as I thought it would be.
“You can both have a seat.”
We thank him again and find seats on a soft brown couch. Katrina rolls in.
“Hi Wyatt, how are you?”
“I’m fine, Mrs. Meltsner. Kind of, I don’t know. Nervous.”
She nods.
“Well, we don’t want you to feel any pressure. We’re not that scary.”
This makes me genuinely laugh.
“Do either of you want something to drink? We have water or tea.”
I’m a little thirsty, but I don’t want to make her go get anything, and I don’t know where Eugene went. He returns to the living room with Elizabeth. They sit on opposite sides of the room.
“So, where do we want to start this conversation?”
“Well, obviously, you’re qualified, experience-wise,” Jason notes, “I think my main concern is space, and the family dynamic.”
“You think homosexuality is a sin, don’t you?”
“Wyatt, we don’t need this conversation right now-”
“No, it’s an important factor,” Katrina interrupts, “Yes we think homosexuality is a sin.”
I look at Jason.
“What’s that face?” He asks.
“It’s the face of I knew this wouldn’t work, why can’t I just stay with you, I don’t understand why we’re here,” I nearly growl, low enough that I don’t want anyone else to hear, but obviously they do anyway.
“Do we need to talk about this more? We can step outside.”
“Is there more to talk about? They won’t be supportive.”
“Wyatt, we didn’t say we wouldn’t be supportive,” Eugene clarifies, “Our personal convictions aren’t meant to control yours. It may be hard to believe, but there are Christians who don’t think homosexuality is immoral, and who are also not homophobic.”
“Yeah that is hard to believe since I’ve never met any.”
“I know you’ve been hurt-”
“Yes.”
“We’re not going to make those kinds of decisions for you, okay?” Katrina asks, “If you live under our roof, it’s because we want what is best for you. I’m not going to pretend like I know what those are one hundred percent of the time. You know yourself better than we do.”
“Okay. So if I wanted to date a guy, you would let me?”
“Yes.”
“Okay. I don’t know. It’s uncomfortable. I feel like a burden.”
Katrina shakes her head.
“You would be an addition. Never a burden.”
I don’t really say anything. I fold my hands.
“Elizabeth, how do you feel about this idea?” Jason asks.
“Oh, I get a say in this? Um. I don’t know. It feels sudden, so I don’t really have an opinion yet. I like you though, Wyatt. Like you wouldn’t be a bad person to have around.”
I nod.
“Can I think it over?”
I can sense Jason’s disappointment in me.
“Of course,” Katrina smiles.
I force my smile, and then we leave.
JASON’S POV
The road home was pretty quiet. I can’t say I was thrilled by how our conversation with the Meltsners went. It wasn’t that I wanted Wyatt off my back or anything. On the contrary, I knew what letting him go would do to me. I think I wanted to get it over with. I wanted a happy ending for him at least, if it wasn’t going to be one for me.
“You didn’t have to bring up the homosexuality thing.”
“I didn’t?”
“I didn’t think you did. I didn’t think you would.”
“I had to know where they stood on it.”
“And you think they’re on the wrong side of the fence.”
“Well yeah, kinda. Don’t you?”
“I see where they’re coming from. All things considered, they are being generous.”
“I know. But they don’t have a lot of experience with gay people… I feel like they wouldn’t know how to communicate with me just because I’m bisexual.”
“Okay let’s back up a second. Because with all due respect, I think you’re over sensationalizing this. Not all Christians are the same. I thought you would know that since you are one.”
“I do! But they don’t have the experience. They haven’t empathized with me or even people like me yet. So they don’t have my respect in that area.”
“That’s fair.”
“I just need a little bit of time.”
“How long?”
“Three days?”
“Okay. I’ll let them know. Hey, I’m proud of you.”
“Thanks. I need to hear that.”
ELIZA’S POV
I take a sip of root beer out of a clear yellow plastic cup. At least there are snacks at this thing. The youth room that was basically empty when we walked into it a week ago, is now covered in colorful old couches and posters are hanging around the room. There’s a big rug in the center of the room. Quite a few kids showed up to what feels like a grand opening. Definitely more than there were the first week. I brought my friends like I promised I would. If I’m going to do something I don’t like, I might as well do it with people I do. And I think they like it here. Quinn is in the corner with a group of girls who are complimenting her makeup, Kodi is showing another group a card trick, I forget she does that. Michael has been scrolling through his phone for the last several minutes, but I know he’s interested in Sarah, a girl who was here last week. She has blue hair and a septum piercing. They would be cute together. And Alex is-
“Hey,” he puts his hand on my back. I glance around.
“Hey.”
“Can I talk to you outside?”
“Sure.”
I follow him out into the hallway.
“Look. This is awkward.”
“What is?”
His eyes are so cute when he’s hesitant.
“I think I overestimated my uh… my tolerance, or comfort level or something.”
“What do you mean?”
“There are a lot of RCs here.”
“Well yeah. It’s a youth group. For church.”
“Yeah I get that, but like… I’ve just never been around so many RCs at once, ya know? It’s- I think it’s just giving me some anxiety.”
“Oh. I’m sorry.”
“Yeah. I uh- I think I’m gonna call my mom to pick me up.”
“Are you still coming to the Christmas party?”
“Um. Sure. I guess,” he glances behind him, “I probably just need time to get used to all of this, to being around so many Christians- sorry is that offensive?”
“No.”
“See, I don’t even know the right vocabulary to use. It’s just a lot of pressure. And look, I know what they say at school about the attacks and stuff, but I watch the news. Some RCs are dangerous. I don’t think you’re one of them, but some do kill people.”
“Some people who aren’t registered Christians kill people,” I say softly.
“Not with bombs and rifles. I have family in DC. It makes me nervous.”
“Okay,” I nod.
“I’m not saying no for sure. I just need time, okay?”
“Okay.”
He hugs me before walking outside to wait for his mom. I go back into the youth room. Jules catches my eye.
“Hey where’s Alex?”
“He had to leave.”
“Oh yeah? Anything wrong?”
“No. He was just tired.”
“Alright. Well he should come to the Christmas party.”
“Yeah I told him.”
She nods.
“Yeah. Buck told me about Wyatt possibly moving in. How are you feeling about that?”
“It sounds like he’s going to. I’m fine with it,” I shrug, “He’s nice. And I mean, it’ll be like having an older brother again.”
“Yeah, that’ll be nice. Hey, are you doing okay?”
“Yeah. I’m just tired.”
“Well, we’ll probably wrap things up in about an hour.”
“Alright.”
Buck calls her over to help him figure out some board game, and I take a sip of root beer.
WYATT’S POV
My new room is smaller than my old one. It has baby blue walls and white carpet. Elizabeth walks in, holding a stack of sheets and a comforter for the twin sized bed in the corner.
“Everything look okay?” she asks.
“It’s great. Thank you. I can do that.”
“Oh, Mum told me to help you, since you have to unpack so much before tonight.”
“I have most of my stuff unpacked.”
“Oh okay,” she sets the sheets onto my mattress.
“What are you wearing tonight?” She asks, standing at my doorway, one ankle over the other. I’m trying to figure out if she’s just making conversation, or has an important reason for asking.
“I have this green suit and black bowtie I’ll probably wear,” I start pulling my books out of my suitcase and putting them on the small bookshelf at the end of my bed.
“That’ll be nice. I’m wearing a black dress.”
“So we’ll be matching.”
“Yeah,” she giggles, “You know, I wasn’t sure about this party idea, but I’m actually getting kind of excited about it.
“Same. Buck said the youth group is a good group of kids.”
“They are. That was another surprise,” she smirks, “I’m glad this is a formal event though. I haven’t dressed up for something like this in awhile. Speaking of, I should probably go get ready.”
“Okay.”
“Do you need anything else?”
“Nope. I’m good.”
“Okay. Well I’ll see you in a little bit.”
“Yep.”
She disappears into the hallway, then comes back.
“Sorry, can I ask kind of a personal question?”
“Sure.”
“What made you decide we weren’t homophobic?”
“Oh I never really thought you were.”
“You didn’t?”
“No. I just didn’t want to make you uncomfortable.”
“Oh. I’m not uncomfortable.”
“Yeah. I think I know that now. I think I was just surprised you even respected me. I’m sorry I was kind of rude before.”
“It’s okay. I get it. I’ll see you in a little bit.”
“Sure.”
She leaves again.
ELIZA’S POV
Buck and Jules pick Wyatt and I up and we get to the church at around five. Everything is already set up for the most part when we get there, and all we have to do is get the snacks out of the church’s kitchen. At about six, people start to show up. Everyone’s dressed up and people are putting money in the offering plate that looks like it’s sat untouched for a couple decades. It’s sort of turning into a fundraiser. The only thing missing is Alex. I keep thinking about how good he would look in a suit. But he kept saying maybe when I texted him, so I don’t hold my breath. We play some get to know you games, which are fun, and I’m again reminded that these people aren’t as bad as I thought they might be. They’re like me. We’re all scared, we feel like outcasts, and we’re just looking for support.
At seven-thirty Alex texts me:
‘I’m just outside. Come say hi.
’
I smile and excuse myself.
It’s a completely clear, freezing night. My face is the only thing really exposed to the weather, but the wind is already biting it.
“Hey!” Alexander is standing by one of the church pillars. I say hi back, not nearly as cool as he does, and we hug.
“Are you gonna come inside?” I ask.
“Not exactly,” he glances toward the door I just used, “We’re getting out of here.”
JASON’S POV
I was trying to figure out why my house was so big when I cracked the first can. I hate being alone with my thoughts, because I've found that after long enough they’re never good ones. People judge others so fast for getting drunk when they’re emotional. Those people obviously don’t have PTSD. When I’m alone and sober I have dreams. I have dreams about Jerry dying. His death combines with the deaths I’ve seen from my job, and it tortures me. I’ve prayed. Of course I’ve prayed. But even reading about and worshiping God doesn’t numb me quite like the taste of alcohol does. I’m of course ashamed of myself, but at the time, I didn’t know what else to do. So I drank. That was a hellish night. At some point I started watching a romantic comedy on TV, my stupid body flung across my couch, and called Connie.
“Hello? Jason?”
“Hey, Connie.”
“Jason are you drunk?”
“Yeah. And yes I’m at home. I’m just calling to tell you something!”
CONNIE’S POV
“What’s that?” I’m sitting in the living room, Pride and Prejudice in hand. My thumb is marking my place. Jason’s on the other line. There’s a roaring fire across the room from me. Life is good.
“You’re so hot.”
“What?”
“You’re like… come on, Connie. We should get married.”
“Okay you’re definitely drunk.”
My throat feels like it’s full of acid. I stand up.
“I’m in love with you, Connie,” he slides into the sentence.
“Why would you say that?”
“Because it’s true,” he hacks.
“I’m getting Jeff.”
I put the phone on silent, and call for my husband. He’s at my side in seconds. I extend the phone, a sob accidentally slipping.
“He just said he was in love with me,” I bite my lip. Jeff’s face drains of color. He takes the phone.
“Jason where are you?”
“Jeff?”
“Yeah.”
“Oh. I didn’t know you were there. Can you put Connie back on the phone?”
“Jason are you at home right now?”
“Where’s Connie?”
“She’s right here, but I need to know you’re safe.”
“I’m safe. I’m safe. I’m watching a show.”
“Okay. I’m coming over.”
“Wh-”
He hangs up.
“Are you okay?”
I’m pinching my wrist.
“I don’t know.”
He hugs me.
“He’s not well. He hasn’t been in awhile,” he says.
“Yeah. I need to go to bed.”
“Alright.”
He kisses my cheek and hands me my phone.
I turn it on.
My stomach becomes a rock. I open the link, sit down, and gag against my hand in one motion.
“Connie?”
I reach for his hand, feeling slightly more stable, and hand him the phone.
ELIZA’S POV
He opens the door to the passenger seat of his car, and we drive to McAllister park. It isn’t far, but I never realized how beautiful the park was around Christmas time. Maybe it’s about who I’m with when I see it. Alex parks in front of the pond, which is frozen. No one else is around really. There’s a park ranger car on the other side of this fairly large parking lot, but I don’t think anyone is in it. Alex turns on the overhead light. He turns to me and smiles.
“You can take off your coat if you want.”
“Oh sorry.”
“Don’t apologize, you’re probably just uncomfortable in it.”
He’s kind of right.
He helps me take it off, and put it in the backseat. I’m suddenly very aware of what I’m wearing. It’s a tulle and silk, long-sleeved dress. The collar is basically a turtleneck, but I feel exposed anyway.
“Wow.”
I actually make him nervous. He laughs.
“You’re so beautiful. Wow.”
I smile and my face starts burning.
“Thanks.”
Alexander is wearing a collared shirt. We probably look like a strange couple, since I look so formal. He always looks nice though. With his curly hair and dark eyes and his lips are never chapped. I could stare at him for hours.
“Can I kiss you?”
He breaks me out of my daze with the question.
“Yeah,” I whisper and smile. But I start giggling. “I’ve never been kissed before.”
He takes my hand.
“You don’t have to be nervous.”
“Okay.”
So then his lips are on mine all of the sudden. I sort of expect them to leave, but they don’t. They stay and keep moving and I’m trying to keep up, but it’s hard to catch my breath.
“Wait,” I get out.
He breaks our touch.
“What’s wrong?”
“I-” I think I’m in shock, “That was just… fast.”
“Sorry.”
“No I’m sorry. I’m terrible.”
“What?”
“I’m- I ruined your kiss.”
“Elizabeth, you didn’t. Some people aren’t ready to make out. That’s okay.”
These sentences are really comforting. I’m realizing now how fast my heart is beating. I let it beat.
“I didn’t tell anyone I was leaving.”
My hands are damp.
“That’s okay. They won’t notice, right?”
“They probably will.”
And right on cue, my phone starts buzzing. I answer it.
“Elizabeth where are you?” It sounds like Jules is crying.
“I’m sorry. Alex got here and we went on a drive.”
“What? Did you tell anyone you were leaving? Where are you? Come back, now.”
I clench my fist. She doesn’t have the right to tell me what to do.
“We’re just at McAllister park. I don’t wanna come back yet.”
“No we need to know you’re here and safe,” she sniffs, “I know there’s a lot to take in right now, but you need to be with your family. Alex should go home too.”
“What?”
“In fact everyone has gone home.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Oh my god,” she breathes, “Sorry, I’m just watching- just please have him bring you to the church.”
She hangs up.
“She’s so overdramatic,” I chuckle. I look at Alex. He’s staring back at me, his eyes full of tears.
“What’s wrong?” I ask, half-smiling. He’s grasping his phone. He looks at it for a second, then back up at me.
“There’s a riot.”
“What do you mean? There are riots everywhere.”
“No. Look.”
He hands me his phone. The headline reads,
‘BREAKING: DC UPROAR, RIOT TURNED WAR’
I scroll through it.
“Registered Christians.... mass slaughter...”
“Set off...home made bombs….”
“...helicopter crash...”
“Suicide bombs...”
“...White House.”
“...vandalism...”
“...Washington Monument now collapsing.”
“Estimated 5,000 dead.”
“You can take me back to the church, right?” I sob.
He takes my hand.
“I can,” he takes a long breath, “Do you see though? You see it now, right?” He’s angry.
“See what?” More tears are pouring than I can wipe away.
“Eliza, they’re killing thousands of people. Christians are doing that.”
“I just want to go home,” I sniff.
“I know I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have brought it up.”
He shoves the car into reverse and we leave the parking lot.
JEFF’S POV
“I should really be home with my family,” I say.
Jason is sitting on the couch, watching the news and crying silently. He’s holding a can.
“You should give me that.”
“No it’s good,” he slurps.
“This is not good, Jason. You’re unwell. Maybe you should go to sleep. Just, yeah, just sleep it off, you know?”
“Hm. We’re screwed, Jeff. This is it. This is the straw.”
“What are you talking about?”
He points to the television.
“The camel’s back just broke.”