Flee by Keely James Read Free Book Online Page B

“That’s the Blakesy I remember.” My heart constricted when he used the nickname Dad had created, but I smiled timidly and decided to change the subject.
    â€œI’ve made a decision, Joe. I’ll continue to be trainer for the team this season. I think it would make… well, he would be… I think Dad would be proud.” I finished quickly.
    â€œHe already is, honey, he already is,” Joe said quietly. Joe and Mary exchanged a quick, triumphant glance over my decision. Other than determining to keep everyone at arm’s length, it may have been the first one I’d made in six months.
    I planned my arrival at school carefully, with just enough time to walk into homeroom and not be tardy. The drive there was much too short. I didn’t have time to compose my fragile nerves, and driving the car that was the last present my parents would ever give me always made me cry. So much for my make-up . I refreshed my lip gloss as I got out of my Mini Cooper, wondering how I was going to do this. Then Callie appeared out of nowhere, grabbed my hand, and walked quietly in with me. She knew how hard this was. I stiffened a little when I saw Wade waiting by a door. He smiled.
    â€œYou look pretty today, Blake,” he said, and I was instantly annoyed. I knew he was just trying to be nice, but I didn’t like it. Do not draw attention to me, Wade , I screamed inside of my head. Just let me get in the door and to my seat. I’ll talk to you when I want to, like maybe next year.
    Okay, so I was a little edgy today. Looks like I’ll have to wean myself into this talking thing . Maybe at first I should just keep my mouth shut. I really did not have anything nice to say.
    By first period I was a little more relaxed. It looked like, other than Wade and Callie, everyone had gotten the message I had mentally sent requesting to be left alone, including the staff. No one spoke with me, no one called on me in class. Perfect. I can do this . I even found myself listening in on conversations. All of the buzz seemed to be about some new guy, a soccer player from Mexico. I heard Abby Smith, giggling, declare him to be “ muy, muy bueno. ” Poor guy, I thought. Someone should warn him about Abby. She’ll be pulling out all the stops to get his attention. He should be told not to bother. She’s high maintenance.
    It wasn’t until second period’s AP English class that I saw him. I followed him into the room, noting that from behind at least he appeared lean and fit… and something else? Confident, I decided. He moved with deliberation and confidence. I sat in the back while he moved to the front, talking with the small crowd gathered around him. He turned to maneuver into his desk, and that’s when I caught sight of his face. I gasped quietly. Thank goodness no one was close enough to hear. Abby hadn’t exaggerated. He was beautiful. But what caught my attention was the character of his face. Confident, yes, but also gentle, and judging from the weary look that quickly flashed across it when he thought no one was looking, he was no stranger to suffering. Takes one to know one . I wondered what his story was? I wanted to ask him, which surprised me. I hadn’t wanted to ask anyone anything for a long time. I survived my first day of school by silently watching him, glad for the distraction. One day down, 179 more to go.
    ****
    I arrived home after the first day of school and practice oddly relaxed. Mateo. What was there about him that made thirty minutes spent in his presence worth more than seven months of counseling? It had been oddly hard to walk away from him and come home, but I knew better than to argue with Joe. Mary was watching for me at home, so Joe must have called and alerted her that I was coming.
    The Williamses lived in a more modest neighborhood than the one in which I had been raised. High school coaches weren’t in it for the money. Their