“Dad, did you ever know a secret?And you were the only one who knew—I mean, really, the only one in the world – and if you don’t say anything about it, someone’s gonna get hurt, but if you do say something, someone’s definitely gonna get hurt.”
His father frowned. ”Bright, if there’s something dangerous or illegal going on—“
“No, Dad, nothing like that.”He pushed back his shoulders, trying to work out the stiffness in his back.He’d had a headache for days.
“Is this about your sister and Ephram Brown?”
His head jerked up.“What?”
“I know Amy was getting close to him while Colin was… still in the hospital.But I thought that ended when Colin woke up.”
“No.I mean yes, but it’s not that.I mean, it’s sort of like that, but it’s something else.” He shook his head, frustrated.“You know what?Never mind.I’ll figure it out.”
His father got up, laid his hand on Bright’s shoulder.“Secrets are dangerous, son. Be careful which ones you agree to keep.”
Two days ago…
Bright drummed his thumbs on the steering wheel of the truck.“What’s taking her so long?”
“She’s right there.Talking to Ephram.”Colin was staring out the window, eyes narrowed.
Tracking Colin’s line of sight, he spotted them on the front steps of the school.“Oh.”
His gaze returned to Colin.He kept drumming the steering wheel until Colin sat straighter in his seat.Amy was running to the truck, but Colin hardly seemed to notice. His eyes were still locked on Ephram, who was walking in the other direction. Bright looked away.
When had Bright become the guy who knew everything?He’d trade for Colin’s amnesia in a second.He’d trade for Colin’s less-complicated sister even faster.Then none of this would be his problem.
“Hey,” Amy said, opening the passenger door with a smile set on her face. Bright looked past her, heat creeping into his face. Her eyes flickered over Colin, scared and annoyed like she always looked when Colin caught her within ten feet of Ephram.But Colin only started, then returned her plastic smile and made room for her to get in.
Bright had confessed everything about the accident, to everyone he had hurt, about everything they had done.All but one thing that was nobody’s business.Especially, he thought, his.
Six months ago…
His hands clenched tight on the steering wheel; the alcohol oozed through his body, warm and insidious. He shouldn’t be driving, he shouldn’t be here at all, he told Colin he shouldn’t—
“Dude, I know this probably wasn’t the best time.It may just be the booze talking. But you're my best friend, you should know, and who else am I going to tell?”Colin rattled on next to him.Colin needed to shut up; he needed to let Bright think.And drive.
“I mean, I sure as hell can’t tell Amy, right?”Colin’s nervous laughter twanged on Bright’s nerves.Wasn’t drinking supposed to relax you?
“Look, maybe you really shouldn’t be talking about my sister, who you’re dating, in the same breath you tell me you think you’re gay.”
Colin flinched back, bravado dissipating. “Hey, sorry.Forget it, okay?Like I said, I don’t even know if it means anything yet.”
“Yeah. Maybe it doesn’t.”He should be saying something nicer, but what the hell did Colin expect, springing something like this on him when his head was so muddled, when he was driving this damn truck.
“Let’s just have fun, okay?”Colin’s foot slammed down over his on the gas pedal, and then his heart was in his throat, and all he could hear were Colin’s whoops, and then the world shattered into sparkling glass and pain.
END
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