Harmonic Feedback

“Why don’t you call him later, Naomi?” Justin asked.

“No, he needs to know.” She dug her nails into the back of the couch. “He needs to know he can’t just treat me like I’m nothing.”

Justin lowered his voice. “The guy’s a dealer. Were you expecting love poems and walks on the beach?”

Naomi clenched her jaw again. “Just go. I’ll be fine.”

I looked at her twitching face and hands. In that moment, she looked like a scared child. “I’m not leaving you here alone,” I said.

Beanie and Frizz headed for the door, telling Scott it better not be crap like last time. Scott assured them it wasn’t and escorted them out.

He looked at Justin after he shut the door. “You buyin’ something?”

Justin pulled back from me and leaned against the couch. “No—just waiting on Naomi.”

“Then get out. She’s crashing here.”

“I want you to apologize,” Naomi said.

“For what?” Scott asked.

Justin stood up. “This isn’t going anywhere.” He put a hand on Naomi’s shoulder. “Let’s go.”

Naomi moved away. “Back off, Justin.”

Scott walked closer to him, but Justin didn’t move back. For a second they looked like they might kiss.

Justin looked down at Scott’s clenched fists. “Maybe you should stay out of your own stash.”

Scott shoved him into the couch. “Get the fuck out.”

Justin straightened and held his hands up.

Naomi tugged at Scott’s elbow, pulling him away. They moved into the bedroom and left the door open. She talked in a loud whisper, but I couldn’t make out most of the words.

“Because you’re up my ass twenty-four seven,” Scott said.

“Scott, I need you. Scott, come over. Were you checking her out?”

“First you tell Roger you want to hook up with Drea.” Naomi’s voice cracked. “You told me it was a joke—fine, whatever. Then I hear about Kelly.”

“And? We weren’t together.”

They continued to fling words back and forth, voices rising and falling. And then they fell into low whispers.

Justin leaned back against the couch and shut his eyes. His fingers tapped sharply against his jeans. “We can’t make her go.” He brushed his other hand against mine.

That’s when we heard a crash against the bedroom wall. Naomi screamed. We ran around the couch and into the bedroom in time to see Scott slug her. His knuckles made a loud, popping sound when they hit her jaw, and he shoved her to the ground.

“You pushed it too far.” Scott jabbed a finger at her. “Too far!”

Justin lurched at Scott and twisted his arms behind his back. He shoved Scott against the wall, struggling to keep him contained. “Get her out of here, Drea!”

I helped Naomi off the floor. Her lip was cut and her face was stained with tears.

Scott pulled out of Justin’s grip and sent a fist into his face. Justin punched Scott’s nose and rib cage, his features contorting into a mess I didn’t even recognize. The sound of cracking knuckles and struggling feet echoed in my head. Naomi yelled for them to stop. I dropped my lunch box and covered my ears, taking fast breaths.

Scott protected his bloody nose with one hand and kicked Justin in the gut. Justin winced and clutched his stomach. But Scott raised his fist again. He wasn’t going to let up.

I ran at Scott. Mom always said if a guy attacked me, go for the balls. I brought up my foot and kicked him twice, as hard as I could. I just wanted it to stop. It had to stop.

Scott hunched over and screamed a bunch of stuff that blurred together. Justin moved between us and spread his arms wide, shielding me. The room became silent, except for heavy breaths. Sirens wailed in the distance, barely audible over the ringing in my ears.

Scott cursed and scrambled over to his bedroom window.

“I gotta get out of here,” Justin said, heading for the door.

I grabbed my lunch box and ran after him. I thought Naomi was behind me, but I wasn’t sure. The world was nothing but a throbbing pulse in my ears and the impact of my footsteps on the pavement. It felt like a dream. Like nothing was real. All I knew was I didn’t want to stay there.

We piled into Justin’s car, and he took off with the same vigor Scott had during the race. I could see flashing blue and red lights several blocks down the street. The sirens were loud enough to be heard over his music. It was even a song I liked. And then I started laughing. Couldn’t stop.

“Are you laughing?” Naomi asked from the back seat.

Justin shifted with a jerk and tore around a corner. He backed the BMW between two cars on a nearby residential street and cut the engine.

“What are you doing?” Naomi asked him.