Page 95 of For Your Own Good

“Before you ask, yes, that’s my real name,” he says. He’s a tall guy with glasses, and he’s wearing a Dartmouth sweatshirt. “And, no, not because my family is religious.”

Zach thinks for a minute. “Shakespeare?”

“Yes.” Titus rolls his eyes. “My parents met at a Shakespeare festival. DuringTitus Andronicus.”

“Yikes.”

“Tell me about it.”

Zach feels like they’re going to get along just fine. Anyone with that much scorn for their parents is okay in his book.

They go into the kitchen, where Zach grabs a bag of chips and a couple of waters.

“If you don’t mind me asking, what happened to you?” Titus says. “Did you get in trouble?”

For a few hours, Zach had managed to forget everything happening in his life. The felony bribery charge. The murders. Courtney. It all comes flooding back. “Something like that,” he says.

Titus nods and sits down at the table, opening up his backpack. He pulls out a laptop, five books, and a notepad. “Ever been homeschooled before?”

“Nope.”

“Here’s the deal. I give you assignments, you email them to me. We meet in person once a week to review. For tests, I’ll be in the room with you.” Titus pauses to look at Zach, who says nothing. “I’ll be straight with you. Your parents are paying me, which means if you miss any assignments or start screwing around, I’m telling them. No question.”

Zach is impressed. Titus is straight-up and fair, which he appreciates. It’s always easier to deal with a situation if you know the rules up front. “Got it,” he says.

They start to work, not breaking for almost two hours. His mom texts once to make sure Titus showed up. She texts Titus twice to make sure Zach is doing what he’s supposed to. He is. The work is just as difficult, if not more so, than it was at Belmont. Zach doesn’t mind. It keeps him from thinking about everything else.

During their break, they eat a couple of the premade meals Zach’s mom has delivered every week. Zach has a chance to learn more aboutTitus, who just started graduate school and tutors for extra money. “My parents think it’s a good idea,” he says, rolling his eyes again.

And, yes, Titus did go to Belmont.

“I’m sorry,” Zach says.

“Yeah, it sucked. What the hell’s happening over there, anyway? People are getting murdered?”

Zach nods, remembering what Ezekiel and his mom had said.Not one word. Not to anyone for any reason.“Did you know Mrs.B?”

“Oh yeah, she was nice.”

“She was.”

“I heard Fallon came back to take her place,” Titus says.

“Fallon?”

“Fallon Knight. She graduated the same year as me.”

“I think I’ve seen her around,” Zach says. “I’m in Crutcher’s class this year. Or I was.”

“Crutcher.” Titus shakes his head. “Fallon hated him so much. I’m surprised she’d go back to Belmont, even for a job.”

“She was on his shit list?”

“Apparently.”

“Me too.”

“Sucks for you,” Titus says.