"Jackson? You okay?"
A hand touched my shoulder.
I jumped, leaning far against the door of his car, startled. I tried to keep my voice calm. "Thank you for coming to get me, Nathan."
"No problem. Melissa told me you were in jail and that she wasn't gonna get you, so I came. I put up a property bond, so make sure you go to court Tuesday, or I'll loose my house."
"I will. Do you think you could take me? There's no gas in me and Mel's car."
"Yeah. What time?"
"Nine."
"Okay."
There was a long silence.
I was trying to control my trembling, trying to stop the tears.
Nathan glanced at me. "Jackson, what happened to you?"
I broke down again. I looked at him. Shakily, I said, "Nathan? I need to talk to Daley."
I sat on the couch, my head in my hands, my leg jumping up and down. The tears were falling uncontrollably. I was shaking madly.
How was I supposed to tell Daley this? I couldn't tell her. I couldn't tell anyone. What am I doing here? I can't do this.
I got up to leave.
Just as I reached for the knob, Daley stepped inside. "Sorry I'm late. I had to get my notebook. Then I couldn't find…" She trailed off when she looked at me. "Jackson, what's wrong?"
"I'm sorry, Daley. I can't do this."
"Yes, you can, Jackson. C'mon. Tell me." She pulled my arm, leading me to the couch.
I took a seat.
"Jackson, you know you can trust me."
I sighed, then began telling her everything that that happened to me while I was in jail.
"A cop pulled him off me just in time, or else I would've been…" I trailed off.
"Jackson, I'm so sorry."
"Yeah. Me, too." I broke down, shaking and sobbing.
Daley took a seat next to me, comforting me. She wrapped her arms around me, rubbing my back.
I cried into her shoulder for a long while.
After several minutes, I said, "I love you, Daley."
She didn't respond.
But someone else did. "What?!"