Getting Schooled (Getting Some #1)(59)

David lifts the carrier in his hand—a hamster cage—and sets it on the patio table. I spot the telltale ball of black and beige quills in the corner, peeking out from the pile of shredded newspaper bedding.

“Her name’s Pisser.”

“Pisser?” I ask.

David lifts one shoulder. “It seemed right. She pisses on me every time I hold her.”

“Oh.” I nod. “Okay. Yes, of course I’ll take of her for you.” I sit down in the chair and gesture for him to sit next to me. “Do you want something to eat?”

“Nah, I’m good.”

“Where . . . where are you going?”

“Where they can’t find me. North Carolina maybe or—”

“No. No, listen to me, you don’t have to do that. I’ll stay with you, okay? We’ll go together and we’ll explain to the police that you didn’t do this. We’ll make them understand.”

David looks at me, and the floodlight above him gives his face a pale, ethereal glow, making him seem even more fragile. Childlike.

“But I did do it, Miss Carpenter,” he confesses softly. “I set the fire.”

And it feels like I’ve been punched in the stomach. Because . . . that never occurred to me. I was so sure they had it wrong, just rounding up the usual suspects. The David I’ve come to know is kind and talented—protective of his friends. I can’t imagine him being so . . . destructive.

“Oh.” I shake my head. “David, why?”

He looks down, kicking a pebble with the tip of his sneaker, looking small and lost.

“I don’t know. I wish I didn’t. I don’t know why I do the things I do sometimes.”

And I just want to hug him. Keep him safe, tell him it will all be okay and not have it be a lie.

He rises. “I gotta go, now.”

I dart out of my chair. “No—wait—listen to me. David, there will an after . . . an after this. This will pass. But the choices you make right now will affect the rest of your life.” I hold out my hand to him, begging. “Please, trust me. We can get you a public defender or a pro bono attorney—that means they’ll work for free. I can help you. Let me help you.”

“They’re going to send me to jail, Miss Carpenter.”

“I know you’re scared, but you can’t run. You can’t run away. That will only make it worse.”

He shakes his head. “Miss Carpenter—”

“There’s so much you can be, David. So much you can do with your life. It’s not too late, I swear. Please don’t throw that away. The other kids look up to you—I saw it the very first day. They believe in you . . . and I believe in you too.”

His eyes jump to mine. And I wonder if anyone in his life has ever said those words to him. Did anyone stick with him, support him, or did they all just cut and run?

“You do?”

I nod. And my voice is firm, insistent . . . willing him to believe it too.

“I do. I think you are capable of doing wonderful things. Some incredible things with your life. You just have to . . . wait, take a breath . . . and make the right choice. To do better. And I’ll be there to help you.”

“Do you promise?” David asks hesitantly. Hopefully.

I take his hand. “I promise.”

David comes inside after that. I make us sandwiches and tea, and we talk. And then an hour later, I call Garrett. He comes to pick us up, and together we drive to the police station.



~



Garrett calls his brother and Ryan meets us in the lobby of the police station. Before Ryan takes him in the back, David turns to me.

“Miss Carpenter?”

“Yes?”

“I just want you to know . . . you’re a really good teacher.”

There’s a pressure in my chest that makes my bones bow, like I could break open at any moment.

I hug him, wishing I could do more. “Thank you, David.”

“Watch out for Layla, okay?” he says against my shoulder. “She gets sad sometimes.”

I nod. “I will.”

Then we part. Garrett puts his hand on David’s shoulder, squeezing. “You’re doing the right thing, David, and I know it’s not easy. I’m proud of you.”

David nods, his face tight.

Ryan smacks his brother’s shoulder and Garrett nods. “I’ll talk to you soon.”

I take a step towards Ryan, dropping my voice so only he can hear. “You make sure he’s okay.”

His eyes are kind, understanding. “I’ll do everything I can for him.”

Then he turns around, takes David by the arm, and guides him through the door.

I stare at the spot where David just stood and my vision goes blurry. Garrett is right behind me—I feel the heat of his chest, his presence . . . his strength.

“Callie?”

“I didn’t think it would be like this.” My throat is closing, my voice raspy and strangled.

“Like what?” Garrett asks gently.

“I thought teaching would just be a job. I’d do the year and go back to California. Simple.” My chest tightens, crushing me. “I didn’t think I’d care about them so much.”

Garrett holds my hand, threading our fingers together. “Kids sneak up on you. They have the uncanny ability to be amazing . . . when you least expect it. They’re easy to care about.”