Page 4 of Wrecked
Me: He'll be out later today because he didn't fuckin' do it.
Jason: Agreed.
Mase: We'll see.
How the hell can Mase sit there spouting off shit about Jacob being guilty after spending the last few years hanging out with him? Sure, I've known him longer, and we've always been closer, so naturally, I'd know him better, but for him to actually believe that he did it? Unbelievable.
I drop my phone to the floor and fall backward onto my bed, staring up at the ceiling. This is such bullshit. Now I wish it was the alcohol that my parents wanted to talk to me about. I would've taken the punishment for that over this happening any day.
Stabbing the palms of my hands into my eye sockets, I blow out a breath. Neil asked if I wanted to go to that party, and we should have fucking gone. But, of course, I was the one who said no.
I wish I could go see him now. All I can hope is that I'll get to see him tonight after he's out.
CHAPTER 2
CAMPBELL
It's funny how slowly a month can crawl by and yet be over in the blink of an eye simultaneously. That's what this past month has been like. It's been one of the shittiest months I've ever had.
School finished two weeks ago, and I haven't been able to do anythingbut hang around the house.And I haven't been able to see Jacob at all, either. Not that I haven't wanted to, but my parents said it was best to keep a low profile.
Thump.
He wasn't immediately released like I thought he would be, but instead, the case has gone to trial, with the hearing coming up soon. The whole situation has been eating away at me because I feel helpless and guilty at the same time. I just hope that by the end of all of this, he's okay and understands that I did want to visit him.
Thump.
The worst part of all of this is how quickly everyone was to believe the worst of Jacob. All of the other students' parents are friends or at least know each other, and Jennifer's parents are wealthy, therefore, more influential, so the community seems to be on their side.
The friendships between the other guys and me have only become strained and gone downhill. You'd think that with a situation like this, we'd stick to each other for support and maybe even grow closer or some shit. But we've only talked over the phone once in a while, and we've all been too lost in our own minds while trying to navigate this situation, which has only led to us drifting apart. Mase and I haven't talked at all since I told him to fuck off after he kept questioning what happened.
Thump.
My eyes drift to the photos pinned to my wall, pictures capturing the fun we've had together over the years. Most of them include Jacob in them. One, in particular, catches my eye, and I linger on it. It's of all five of us from only a couple of weeks ago, taken in Jason's backyard. It feels like it's from a different lifetime, one where we're all happy and carefree. Jacob is pretending to punch me, and Mase just said something inappropriate as usual, making us laugh.
A knock on my door jolts me out of my thoughts, and I let my head flop to the side. “What?” I yell.
Thump.
The door opens, and my mom peeks in. “Get some shoes on. We're going to get some groceries.”
I raise my eyebrows at her. “You're actually letting me leave the house?”
“Well, I thought you might like to get out for a bit.”
Going to get groceries is equivalent to watching paint dry for me and one of the last things I want to do right now, even if I have been trapped inside for what feels like foreverandhaven't spent much time with my mom.
Thump.
“Why don't you take Janie with you if you want company?”
Mom runs a hand through her graying hair, straightening out some non-existent frizz or something. “Your sister has some dance she wants to practice in the basement.”
“Okay, well, I don't mind staying home with her,” I offer. “Dad's not home yet, is he?” I've called him dad since I was a kid, and he married my mom, but lately, the distinction between dad and stepdad seems to be more apparent.
Thump.
“Will you stop throwing that ball at the wall,” she answers instead, her tone slightly irritated. It's quite a difference from how she would have talked to me in the past. “I'd prefer if you came with me.”
