Papa looked over at her, "Are you sure you want to go?"
"I have to, Papa. It's school. It's been over a week. We should have gone back sooner." She answered, staring at the school. She could see Nolan and Gareth waiting for her.
"Fine, but if you need me—"
"I know, Papa," She interrupted, "You're just a call away."
He kissed her cheek, "Love you, Echo."
"Love you too." She got out and went up the steps to where Nolan and Gareth were talking.
Nolan saw her first and gave her a smile, "Hey, glad you're back. It was getting lonely at lunch."
She smiled at him, "I'm sure. How bad has Ross been?"
"Oh, well, it's…not good." Nolan shrugged, "It's fine though. I'd rather they were throwing punches at me than at you right now. You shouldn't have to deal with that and…"
"It's okay, Nolan. You can mention my brother. I loved him dearly, but our time together had to end. If he had lived he would have been in more pain than anybody should be. Honestly, I'm just glad Dad is doing better. And Ana, I was worried she would be permanently broken. But she teased Rory about her outfit this morning. And she was smiling."
Gareth gave Echo a hug, "You really are a mother hen, you know."
She smiled, "I do know. I've decided to embrace it."
Nolan's grey eyes snapped toward the road, "Ross is here. We both better get to our classrooms, at least there it's safe. I'll see you at lunch, Echo." He disappeared into the school.
Gareth's caramel eyes narrowed, "Come on, I'll walk you to class."
"Don't you want to go hang out with your friends?"
"You are my friend."
"You know what I mean." She nudged him with her elbow.
He rolled his eyes, "My classmates are clueless. My friends are the people who actually know me. Who know what kind of life I lead."
"So anyone with connections to camp?"
"Si, hermana." He grinned at her, "Besides, you're practically my sister. If anyone thinks me hanging out with you is weird, just because we're in different grades, they're a little loca. We grew up with each other. To pretend we aren't friends would be like pretending the Titanic didn't sink."
"Stupid and pointless?"
"Exactly," He stopped at the door, "We walking home from school?"
She nodded, "I told Papa and Mrs. Jackson that we would be walking. Papa has to get the girls because they have dentist appointments."
He nodded, "See you around, then, Echo."
"See you, Gar."
He grinned and disappeared into the crowd.
Echo steeled herself and went into the classroom, waving to her teacher and then taking her seat. People were murmuring and glancing at her. She focused on getting her notebook and pencil out. She knew that she was in for a long day.
Especially when Ross came in and grinned maliciously.
Echo sighed to herself and waited anxiously for class to start.
"So, I heard that your brother died. Poor kid not live up to the expectation of being gay?" Ross asked, getting a little too close to her.
She glared at him, but didn't respond.
"Or did your gay parents just decide that having a son was just too tempting?"
She felt her eyes narrow, her body tense, ready to spring at him if she decided she wasn't going to take his crap.
"What? Did they threaten you? Tell you not to tell anyone? Too afraid they're going to lose the rest of their bastard kids?" His voice had lowered to a threatening whisper.
She suddenly realized that he wasn't going to back off. Ms. Madden wasn't here. The other students wouldn't intervene. He was going to do whatever he wanted, say whatever he wanted. And he wouldn't get in trouble for it because Echo was the only one who would dare say anything.
His threatening tone was sincere. The hatred she saw, pure.
"I'm pretty sure you're in her space bubble, and that you should back off." It was one of the sporty girls, stepping forward and glaring at Ross.
"I think it's none of your business." He growled, still too close.
Echo blinked, "I'm pretty sure she's right. In fact, if you don't get out of my space, I'm going to hit you where it hurts the most. Because that's one of the things my fathers taught me, how to discourage guys from getting to close."
He sneered, "Really? Little miss sunshine is going to hit me?"
"I already broke your nose once, why do you doubt that I would do it again?" Echo asked in a sweet voice. "I just buried my little brother, I'm getting a little sick of your voice, and your attempts to try and make me and my friends miserable. So, do you want to find out what I'm capable of? Because I'd really love to show you." She was getting in his face now.
He glared at her, "You can't do anything to me." He swung at her.
She caught his punch, twisting his arm as she stepped in and punched him in the diaphragm. She stepped back as clutched his stomach. "Next time, I hit you where it hurts." She sat down, acting like nothing happened as Ms. Madden came back in.
"In your seats everyone, and we'll begin."
Ross glared at her again, lip curling slightly.
She had a feeling she would regret hitting him, or not hitting him harder.