Little Do We Know(70)

“I knew your experience would resonate with people and I was right. We’ve been getting calls all day from pastors around the country. They’re all asking me about you.”

I watched Dad, pacing excitedly, and suddenly, this whole thing made sense. Pastors were calling him. They wanted something he had for a change. He felt important, I could see it in his eyes. It wasn’t just about Admissions Night. Because of Luke, Dad mattered to them again.

“Everyone wants to meet you,” he continued. “They want to hear what you have to say.”

“Me?” Luke yelled, pressing his fingertips into his temples. “Why? I said everything on that video. I don’t have anything else to say!”

“Oh, I doubt that,” Dad said. “Look, I’m sorry your friends at school saw it. I really am. But since people know anyway, maybe you just…make the most of it.” Dad made it sound like it was no big deal. “There are a few local TV channels that want to talk to you.”

I glanced over at Emory and watched her, watching my dad. And suddenly, I was hearing this whole conversation through her ears instead of mine. Dad didn’t sound like he was in this for Luke. He sounded like a shepherd, leading a stray member of his flock where he needed him to go.

“I think it could do some good,” Dad continued.

“Some good?” I blurted out. “For who? Not for Luke.”

“Yes, for Luke,” Dad said to me. “And also for all those people who wrote to us, and the thousands of people who clicked ‘like’ on his video, and everyone else who hasn’t heard him yet.” He turned back to Luke. “You could do the interviews here on campus if you want to.”

Dad probably thought that would be enough to keep me quiet, but I wasn’t finished. “Where, Dad?” I asked with a huff. “In front of the Covenant Christian School sign? Maybe he could shout out the details of Admissions Night at the end.”

My dad opened his mouth to say something, but I didn’t give him time to speak. I turned to Luke. “Don’t do this.”

His gaze was fixed on my dad. I tried to figure out what he was thinking.

Dad kept going. “There’s also an invitation for you to appear live on one of the local LA morning shows on Thursday. They’d cover all your expenses and put you up in a hotel the night before. You’d miss a day of school, of course, but I’d be happy to call your parents and chat with them about everything…if you want me to.”

Luke stood and paced the room. “This is totally insane. I don’t get any of this. Why do the TV stations care? Why would they want to talk to me?”

“You’re inspiring. You’re genuine. You’re a star athlete, but also a totally normal kid who experienced something extraordinary. What happened to you gives people hope.”

“Hope for what?” Luke asked.

“Everything.”

Emory had been uncharacteristically silent, sitting next to Luke with her arms crossed, glaring at Dad and me. She finally spoke up. “You’re not actually considering this, are you, Luke?”

Luke reached for the doorknob, but that didn’t stop my dad. “I completely understand,” he called out. “I don’t blame you for leaving. I wouldn’t be surprised if you left this room and never spoke to any of us ever again.”

Luke didn’t turn around, but he rested his hand on the door frame. He was listening.

Dad continued. “You’re under no obligation to do anything for any of us, but if there’s a part of you that enjoyed telling your story on camera the other night…if you felt better when it was over, like a weight had been lifted…if there’s even a tiny part of you that thinks telling your story to more people would make a difference in your life, and in theirs, you owe it to yourself to consider this.”

“Luke.” Emory took his face in her hands, forcing him to look at her. “This isn’t you. This isn’t what you need.”

He pulled her hands away. “How do you know what I need?”

Emory reeled back like he’d slapped her.

Luke looked back at Dad. “It’s only a couple interviews?”

Dad looked like he was holding back a smile. “A few here on campus tomorrow, plus a short trip to LA on Wednesday night. You’ll be on Good Day LA early Thursday morning, and back home before lunch.”

Luke pressed his lips together. “And that’s it?”

“That’s it.”

Luke crossed his arms. The room was completely silent. And then he turned to me.

“I need Hannah there, too.”

Emory’s jaw dropped open. She started to say something but changed her mind.

She stood and stormed out of the room instead.

I ran after her, calling her name, but she wouldn’t stop.

“I have nothing to say to you,” she said.

She turned down the hall, quickening her steps. I finally caught up to her when she got to the faculty lot.

“Please,” I said, grabbing her arm. “You have to believe me, none of this was supposed to happen. I’m so sorry.” She pushed me to one side and kept walking toward Luke’s car. “I swear. I had nothing to do with this. Luke and I made the video for him…for you. Luke made it so he could tell you his story. All I did was help him tell it.”