Page 92 of Creeping Beautiful

What does that have to do with anything?

I’m just curious. Which clubs did you join?

Fuckin’… debate and the school newspaper.

Good choices.

That’s not why we’re here. Who cares about the stupid clubs?

I’m just catching up, OK. So how was school?

How was school? How the fuck do you think school was?

Did you like it?

I was pretending to be someone I wasn’t. So no. I didn’t like it. And now I learn that it was all fake. Adam sent me to boarding school to keep me away from Nathan.

Did you ask him why he did that?

I don’t care why! It’s not his decision to make!

Well, it kinda is. He’s your—

He’s my… what? He’s nothing. He’s not even my legal guardian!

Jesus, Indie. You are fuckin’ moody today. Do you want to go to your room and think about things and I’ll come back later?

Ha! Oh, that’s almost funny. Newsflash, Donovan. The days of sending me to my room are over. I’m seventeen—

Exactly. You’re seventeen.

—and I’m not a kid anymore. You guys aren’t in charge of me! I’m in charge of me. And I don’t want to go to school!

You do realize that sounds pretty childish, right? I mean, every kid goes through a phase where they don’t want to go to school.

I’m going to choke you if you keep patronizing me like that.

Good word, by the way. I like that one. Patronize. I’ve never heard you say that one before. Is it new?

Fuck you.

Look—

No. You look! It’s not funny. Stop laughing at me.

I’m not. I’m just kinda enjoying this a little.

Asshole.

I mean… I’ve missed you, Indie. I’ve missed this. Adam called me last summer and he was talking about you.

What about me?

Just… you know. How you were growing up and what comes next.

It’s not his decision. It’s my decision.

I know. He knows. But he wanted to talk about it with me so we could be ready. You know? For that day when you walked out and never came back.