Chapter 3

3: 3

The second I sent it, Coach Head shot back a quick 【OK!】

【But be sure you're certain. We're going for the championship in this one. The training will be brutal, and it's closed-camp, so prepare yourself mentally.】

I replied: 【Yes, Coach. I'm not afraid of hard work.】

【Don't worry about school, I'll handle that. You can let your parents know so they don't worry when you disappear.】

【Okay, thank you, Coach.】

After I sent it, I stared at that last line.

Would they even worry about me?

I turned onto my side on the bed, my cheek against the damp, split-seam pillow.

The memories rose up like a tide.

The year I was in ninth grade, I was walking home alone the way I always did.

I faintly heard soft, scattered footsteps behind me.

Without thinking, I broke into a sprint and ran home as fast as I could.

I made it to my own door thinking I could finally breathe, only to find it locked tight.

My parents had never given me a key, so I had no choice but to knock on Ralph Fox's door across the hall.

I borrowed Grandma Winfield's phone to call my parents and tell them what happened, my voice still shaking.

All that came back through the receiver was one weightless line: "You're a big kid now. You need to learn to be independent."

The words landed, and the call was cut clean, nothing left but the cold busy tone ringing in my ear.

That night, I saw my sister's post.

【Even if it's only a dream, there will always be someone who takes my fear seriously.】

That was how I found out Serena had had a nightmare, and the whole family had flown overseas to be with her.

So it turned out that big kid or not, they only ever cared about the people they wanted to care about.

I wiped the tears at the corners of my eyes with the sheet washed pale, switched off the phone, and closed my eyes.

Then a sharp burst of knocking came at the door.

A roommate who'd been napping woke with a start and grumbled, "Who is it? In the middle of the day."

Felicia got up and opened it, and the next second a familiar, grating voice cut in:

"Go get Lola Garner out here!"

I looked over at the sound. Serena was standing in the doorway, arms crossed.

I scrambled down quickly and hurried her away from the dorm.

Her voice didn't drop even a little as she went on:

"Ralph brought me some stuff. He's waiting at the gate right now. Go get it, don't keep him waiting."

She waggled her phone at me and ordered,

"Come straight back after, then go pick me up six meals. I already texted you the list."

She turned to leave, and I put out a hand to stop her.

"Where's the money?"

She blinked, then said,

"You've been living right there with Mom and Dad this whole time, and I never asked you for anything. Now you're the one asking me for money?"

I stayed planted in front of her and said again,

"Money. No money, you go yourself."

She rolled her eyes and pulled a thousand out of her pocket.

"Here. Consider it a tip. Now move!"

I watched her walk away, then looked down at the thousand in my hand.

What my sister tossed off without a thought was more than what Mom and Dad gave me in a whole month.

I went downstairs and out to the gate.

Ralph was leaning against a tree, his eyes fixed the whole time on the dorm entrance.

When he saw it was me, I clearly caught the way he froze for a second.

I pressed down the ache in my chest and walked up.

"My sister said you brought some things. Give them to me."

A little awkwardly, Ralph lifted a big bag of food and handed it over.

Then he scratched his head, dug around in his pocket for a long time, and finally came up with a box of chocolate.

He pushed it into my hand and said quietly,

"I'll buy you more next time. Make do with this for now."

The words were barely out before he hurried off.

When I made out the wrapping on that box of chocolate, something jammed hard in my throat.

It was the imported chocolate a student's parent had given me over the summer while I was tutoring.

I'd never been able to bring myself to taste it. In the small hours of Valentine's Day, heart full, I'd given it to Ralph.

I tore open the wrapper. The chocolate had already melted a little.

I dabbed a bit onto my fingertip and pressed it to my lips.

It really was good.

From now on I'd buy plenty of it. So much.

Only for myself.