Page 80 of Wherever You Are

Huntersitson me. I grit my teeth and try to rise, but Hunter is really heavy. He braces a hand on the back of my head, pushing my face into the slit of the cushion. It smells like moldy cheese, and my lip brushes something harry or furry or whatever the hell…

All I hear is laughter.

I try to push him, and he catches my arm with his other hand and stretches my limb hard across my shoulders. Imprisoning me.

“Get off!” My voice is muffled and lost in the cushion.

Hunter pushes my head more forcefully, extending my neck.God, my neck hurts.I try to kick out, and Hunter goads me, “So now you want to fight? Or are you still going to run away like a little bitch?”

“Fuck you!” I yell, my face hot.

“What was that?” he sneers and purposefully sitsonmy head now. “I can’t hear you, Garrison. Speak up.”

I can’t breathe.

I can’t breathe. I can’t fucking breathe.I choke for air.Stop. Stop.

Stop!

My pulse thrashes off course, and if I can just…not panic, for one second. I try to tame my fear.I’m okay. I’m okay.My heart rate slows a tiny fraction.

I gasp into the cushion. A little air fills my lungs. I think I can breathe.

“Are you playing video games now?” My mom’s voice nears the living room, and Hunter slides off my back. I immediately lift my head and then sit up, gasping for more air.

“Yeah.” Davis squats beside me and rubs my head playfully. Like we’re best friends.

My mom smiles from the archway and gives me a look likesee, Garrison, they’d even be willing to play video games with you.

I shut down again, numb inside.

She says that she’ll be visiting Rachel’s mom a few streets over and to call if we need anything.

With that, she leaves.

And Hunter wrenches me onto my stomach again.Shit.

“Get off, dude,” I snap, shoving and kicking him as hard as I can. Hunter curses at me all the while, calling me names, shouting his usual commentary about me needing to grow up. Fight back.Be a man.

I almost roll onto the floor, but Davis grabs me by the neck. So painful that I concede like a wounded animal. Hunter pushes me again, my stomach thudding to the cushions, and then he plops hard on my back.

I wince.

“Move over.” Davis passes Hunter a game controller, and he makes room. Davis sits on my upper back, his controller in hand. Their weight crushes me.

In more ways than one.

18BACK THEN – December

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

GARRISON ABBEY

Age 18

Merry Christmas :) Meet up later to exchange gifts?

I send Willow a Twitter message and descend my staircase. Already dressed, I’m scheduled for an afternoon shift at Superheroes & Scones, and I’m dying to get there. Holiday traffic has been crazy, but on Christmas Day, I actually expect it to be slow.