Today’s practice was pretty good. We focused on a lot of infield and outfield drills and I am a fucking mess. I play infield but I like to run both drills just because. The outfielders need fast burst stamina and it’s something I always lacked in. I still push through though.
After showers I find Kev sitting on the bench in front of my locker. His legs are spread and his arms are resting on his knees.
“I have a feeling I know what you want to talk about.” He mutters.
“Yeah?”
“Coach Halbert?” He looks up at me and I nod. “Yeah, I figured.”
“I found some shit at his house.” I say and his head snaps up.
“What shit?” He scratches his fingers through the growing beard on his face. “Videos?”
“Pictures.” I correct him and immediately start to wonder what the fucking perv had on tapes.
“Oh,” he drops his head again. “Of what?”
“Nothing really crazy, just that there were a lot of you… and me.”
He looks back up into my face and nods, “I thought so.”
“I was abused by him since elementary. I think he fucking followed me to this school.” I rest my head against the locker. It’s still hard to tell people this shit but Ember and Vin have made it easier. Especially since they have drilled into my head that I was a victim.
“It started in the seventh grade for me.” He starts quietly, “by grade nine he had taken it all from me and kept me quiet by threatening to expose my parents’ sham marriage.” He looks at me, “my father is gay but they stay married to hide that.”
“Fuck,” I mutter, “he was just plain evil.”
“Jeremy too, man. I think he may have had it the worst. Coach dated his mom for a few years in elementary.”
My stomach sinks at that thought and I mentally run through all the interactions I can remember between Coach and Jeremy. I realize that Kevin is fucking right. I need to speak to him.
“He changed a lot in grade nine,” I nod.
“Didn’t we all?” Kevin stands up and places his hand on my shoulder, “thanks for this. When you have that talk with Jeremy, let me know. We can do it together.”
“Okay,” I nod.
“Oh, and Travis?” Kevin turns back as he opens the locker room door, “whatever you did to make him leave this school? It saved us, thank you.”
I nod and watch as he leaves the locker room. When I confronted Coach during the summer before grade eleven, I thought I was the only one he was abusing. I knew he recorded and took pictures of others but I really thought I was the only one that was physically abused. Hearing from Kevin and about him and Jeremy really hits home that this town is fucking infested and it may be time to really join ranks with Ember to exterminate them all for good.
“Did you want us to come with you?” E asks.
We are all gathered in her family room and we just finished filling in a shell shocked Adrianna on the recent turn of events. It was my idea to bring her into the fold slowly, starting with my family and what they were. I left out the part where Ember killed my mother because when the time is right, Ember can tell her exactly what it is she does.
“I think it’s better I just go over there alone and maybe call you guys once I find her.” I nod, “that way we won’t be seen coming all at once. That would be suspect.”
“So, you found your mother dead a few days ago and didn’t call it in?” Adri scrunches her nose up in confusion.
“When she admitted about my father raping Sonja and impregnating her, then stealing her infant to raise as their own, I was fucking pissed.” Her eyes widen and her mouth falls open, “so when I came back that day to talk to Sonja, I found Christina hanging in the bathroom. I was still fucking pissed and yes, I left her there.” I shrug.
“I get it.” She whispers and pulls on the end of her ponytail.
“Come here.” Emmett says as he pulls her down onto his lap and kisses her cheek. I’m glad he’s here to comfort her because I don’t have any in me right now.
E looks at them and then directly at me. When she scrutinizes my face and finds whatever it is she was looking for, she sends me a rare sweet smile.
“How about I go with you?” Ember says. “That’s not far off.”
“Fine.” I shrug. I know she won’t relent.
I pull into my driveway, put the car in park, and look over to Ember, “ready?”
“Hell yeah,” she grins, “I’m hoping Chief Moore comes himself, then I can watch him squirm.”
“Let’s go.” I chuckle at her and we walk into the house.
The smell of rotting food and sour milk has made its way to the front foyer. It’s nauseating and I quickly cover my nose and mouth with the sleeve of my hoodie. Ember though waltzes through like it’s fresh as a flower.
“Still smells like utter shit in here.” She nods as she looks back at me. I can’t help it, I start to laugh and it just explodes out of me. “You okay?” She grins.
“I think I’m starting to be okay.” I nod and walk up to her. “Because of you.” And
