Hurt: A Novel (Solitary Tales Series) by Travis Thrasher Read Free Book Online Page B

that.”
    “I know. I’m sorry. I’m not trying to be mean. You’re just so cute when you’re being shy.”
    “Sorry.”
    “See—like that. Don’t. Don’t apologize. Don’t be shy. You don’t have to anymore. This isn’t art class, and I’m not the new kid. Okay?”
    She nods, brushing her blonde hair back over her shoulder.
    “Look—you know this, but maybe I’ll remind you. I like you. A lot. Okay?”
    Kelsey looks up with innocent, sweet eyes that you could never paint if you tried a thousand times.
    “I didn’t forget about Chicago just because we’re not there anymore,” I tell her.
    “I didn’t either,” she says.
    Her comment makes me smile. It’s almost as if—as if she’s been waiting somehow to tell me that.
    I start to tell her more, about how worried I am about this semester, about how things might suddenly get tough and dangerous. I want to tell her to be careful and don’t talk to strangers and stay away from the dark woods and all that, but I don’t say anything.
    I don’t want to ruin this moment. This quiet, simple moment.
    “I want to see you this weekend. As much as I can. Okay?”
    She nods.
    A part of me knows that this is dangerous. For her. She’s not just playing with fire. It’s an inferno she’s dealing with. And she doesn’t even know it.
    At the end of the day I find a note in my locker. It’s a printout of a Word document in simple type.
    The only way to get help is to do so without another soul knowing or seeing.
    There are ways.
    You’ll hear from me soon.
    I fold up the letter and look around. Of course nobody is there watching me. Maybe someone’s hiding in a locker, glancing out the tiny slits at the top.
    Or maybe, seriously, this is from someone who overheard my conversation and is playing another mind game with me.
    Something tells me that’s not the case.
    I have a feeling this is from Mr. Meiners.
    What about Mr. Marsh? Huh? He could be M&M.
    I go to find Kelsey to tell her good-bye for the day. I try not to dwell on that last thought, the one about Marsh, but it stays around.

15. A Little Guidance
    “Okay, so Chris Buckwheat.”
    “Buckley,” I tell Mr. Taggart quickly.
    It reminds me of something my skinheaded friend Brick from summer school might say, but that’s just to joke around. Mr. Taggart doesn’t joke. He’s the butt of jokes.
    He nods and looks through the files on his desk. This office is more like a closet where people just toss in random folders and garbage. When I first heard I was supposed to meet with him today, I thought there was a mistake.
    “I had Ms. Tooney last year.”
    “Yeah, well, things change. Here it is.”
    I haven’t seen Mr. Taggart since summer school, where I met Lily and the rest of the gang. I miss those carefree days, when this guy across from me would stroll in with his shirt half untucked and his hair (what little he has) half combed and make a halfhearted effort at teaching.
    Staring at his unshaven face and glassy eyes, I see nothing much has changed.
    “So have you taken your ACT or SAT tests?”
    I shake my head.
    “Applied to any schools?”
    Once again, I shake my head.
    Mr. Taggart looks at the few things in my folder. It’s probably as pitiful as this blank vanilla office.
    “So are you planning on going to college?” he asks me.
    “Yeah. I guess.”
    “Kinda late to be guessing. You better get on it. And I’ll tell you this—just ’cause they got me being a guidance counselor this year doesn’t mean I’ll be riding your butt. I don’t care. Really. Kids these days are graduating with honors from amazing universities, and they still end up going back home to live with Mommy and Daddy. It’s a different world out there. Nobody is looking out for you.”
    “That’s truly inspiring,” I say with a totally straight face.
    Mr. Taggart looks at me for a second, a scowl on his face. Then he realizes I’m joking and starts to chuckle.
    “That’s a good one.”
    “I try,” I