Page 21 of The Design of Goodbye
Since we’d arrived, Spencer and Bruce had bobbed for apples, spent far too much time at the dunk tank, and ordered enough food to feed an army. We’d just moved off the crowded Main Street and onto the sidewalk near all the closed businesses so Bruce and Spencer could eat their fourth snack—fries and a pop. Since they were throwing fries at each other like they were five, Jules and I lingered a few feet away to avoid getting hit.
“They aresoimmature,” said Jules. She took a picture of Spencer anyway and posted the picture to Whirl with the caption:Apple festival with my Spence♥
She’d been posting pictures and captions like this all day in hopes it would make Tanner jealous, but he’d yet to show up, so I was pretty sure it wasn’t working.
“This shouldn’t surprise you,” I said as I drank the last of my apple cider. “They’ve been like this for years.”
Jules lowered her voice. “I don’t think Tanner is going to show up. Let’s come up with an excuse to go to his house later.”
“Oh my god, Jules.No,” I said. “Have some dignity.”
She pouted. “But I miss him.”
“Let him miss you.” I threw my empty cup into the nearby trash can.
“But that’s too—”
“Hey!” Bruce suddenly called, cutting Jules off. “Hey, Roo!”
I glanced in Bruce’s direction and froze when I saw Liam being cornered by Bruce and Spencer in front of the local food bank.
“Apple festival is this weekend,” said Spencer as Jules took advantage of my shock to move us closer to the commotion. “Food bank is closed, dude.”
“I gathered that,” said Liam, his gaze momentarily flickering to mine, “given the locked door and all.”
“Are you going to be okay?” asked Spencer mockingly. “You’re not going to starve, are you?”
“I’ll survive,” said Liam.
“You sure?” asked Bruce. He stepped forward, his stance intimidating, but Liam didn’t falter. “I’ve got some fries. I think I can spare some. Wouldn’t want our wittle Roo to go hungry.”
I should do something. I shouldn’t be standing here watching them treat Liam like this...but what could I do? If I stood up for Liam,I’dbe the one getting made fun of.I’dbe the one getting bullied at school come Monday.
Fists clenched, Liam said, “No, thanks.”
“No, really,” said Bruce. “I won’t sleep tonight knowing you’re hungry.” Bruce flicked a fry at Liam. It hit him—ketchup and all—on his shirt, leaving a dark-red mark on the gray fabric as it fell to the ground. “There.”
“I think he needs more than that,” said Spencer. He attempted to toss his entire basket, but Liam was ready. He pushed Spencer’s arm out of the way, causing Spencer to drop his fries and pop in surprise. The pop busted open on the sidewalk, and its contents splashed onto Bruce’s white shoes, staining them a light brown.
“What the hell, dude,” Bruce roared. The one thing Bruce loved more than girls was shoes. “These are Nike Off-Whites!”
“Well,” said Liam, “they’re definitelyoffwhite now.”
Bruce lurched for Liam, fist raised. For a second, I was worried he was going to hit him, but Spencer pulled Bruce back, saying, “Dude, chill. I know it sucks, but there’s a lot of people here. Get him back on Monday or something.”
Spencer’s eyes narrowed to slits as he said to Liam, “Plan on it.”
Liam rammed his shoulder against Bruce’s as he left. He didn’t look back as he disappeared into a group of people.
“He’s going to pay for these,” growled Bruce as he shook the excess pop off his shoes.
“Good luck with that,” said Jules as she pulled out her phone. She was probably about to post what happened on Whirl. “He was just trying to get into a food bank.”
“I guess this proves he does eat,” I said, hoping this would change everything. That she’d call off the blackmail, forget about the pictures...
“Maybe.” She shrugged. “I still want to find out where he was, though, so it doesn’t really matter.”
I was fuming at how my friends could so carelessly bully someone. At their complete lack of compassion. At myself and how I was just as much to blame.
