Chapter 32

Brianna

Caleb and his partner conduct the interview, and it's the least painful one I've been through with Caleb's gentle sureness. Still, it feels like I could die from shame alone. I keep my head down the entire time, my arms wrapped around my trembling body.

Toby is beside me the entire time, with Joel and Luke on the other side, Toby's hand on my shoulder. Across from me over the desk, both of Caleb's rest over one of mine. I'm so raw that I answer all of their questions honestly.

And finally, it's all too much, and I melt. I don't have the moisture left in me to truly cry, but tiny tears rest on my eyes as I drop my head to my hands.

Toby rubs my shoulder helplessly, but it's clear he feels lost and out of his depth.

Suddenly, I feel a hand on my other arm, and look over to see Joel, his gaze drawing my eyes to his, and the heartbreak written there.

"Darling," he says quietly, "you have been taught a lie." I recognize it as similar to the beginning of a version of his speech. "You've been told, treated like, convinced, that you are cheap." I want to look away, but I somehow can't. "But, Bri? I have something to tell you. Not on my own honor, but on that of Someone so much greater. You are priceless. Out of seven billion people in the world, there is only one you. You are unique, you are special, you are beautiful, and you are priceless. You deserve to be treated like a princess. And I know you haven't been, my dear."

But that doesn't change who you are. He reaches up to his neck, pulling out that familiar necklace.

"You know what this is, don't you, Love?" he asks quietly.

I nod, finally tearing my gaze away from his. "I... had one... have one... I just... after Lincoln..."

"I know, Bri," he murmurs. "I know. And I know it doesn't feel like this, but I also know that he didn't even scratch your worth. Alright?"

"Joel, I..."

But I stop, looking up, to see him unfastening his necklace and reaching around to clasp it around my neck instead.

He doesn't say anything else, just offers me a sad smile, and rubs my shoulder before letting me go.

I stare down at the penny around me neck for a long moment, and everything wells up inside of me at once. I melt onto the desk with my head in my arms.

"I don't understand," I whisper.

This time, it's Caleb's voice, and his hand on my arm. "I know," he murmurs. "I know. But that's why were here, alright? I don't want to send you back to treatment, Bri. And I know Toby doesn't either. So we're gonna see if we can avoid it. But even if you do have to go, we're gonna be right there next to you the entire time. And we have your court date tomorrow, and everything that you've been dealing with is gonna go away, and you're gonna be safe with Toby. Okay?"

"Do I have a choice?" I ask, hearing the brokenness in my own tone and not being able to do anything about it.

I can feel the sadness in his gaze. "It's just because we love you, Bri."

Time-Skip Sponsored by Flynn Rider

Brianna

I don't know how they do it, but they make it so that I don't have to go back to treatment. Becky and Jace show up too, hug me and share their side of the story, and Caleb says he'll push the school to deal with the boys who beat Jace up and have been torturing me. But I know in my heart that this is it and on Monday, I'm gonna walk in just to be sent away again.

But I can't even find it in me to care. I'm too empty to feel anything.

At the end of it all, Jace is hugging me again, then Joel, and Luke, and Becky, and Caleb. I inhale that comforting scent, trying not to melt again.

"I'll see you tomorrow," he whispers. "And you can call me, text me, no matter what time it is, no matter what it's about. Not only as an officer, but as a friend, and someone who loves you. Okay?"

I don't have the strength to answer, finally pulling away and slinking back to Toby's side. "We'll see you tomorrow too, Darling," Luke tells me, looking at me sadly. "Don't ever forget how priceless you are."

And, at last, Toby's arm wraps around me and leads me back to his car.

We get in, and he looks down at his phone for a minute, texting someone, no doubt Amanda, before doing something else. I know what as soon as I hear "Atmosphere" starting from the car speakers.

"I love you, Bri," he whispers, just before his voice is singing to me.

I know you keep a journal, and every page is wrimpled (don't ask me if that's how you spell that)

From the tears that you cry, ain't no meaning to your scribble.

Cuz words can't describe what you've been feeling inside.

It's like thousand-foot walls, and they're still on the rise.

But look up! To a beautiful sound.

And see for yourself you're not that far down.

And know this! I cannot love a little.

My promise to you is unconditional.

And I'll keep the light on, Baby.

Just keep the course, you can weather the storm.

I'll keep the light on, Baby.

You've come this far, don't you ever lose heart now.

Just turn around and I'll be there.

I'm moving into your atmosphere.

Just turn around and I'll be there.

I'm moving into your atmosphere.

I know you're all alone, in a crowd full of friends.

I can see it in your eyes, that you're fading again.

Checking out, moving into your hole,

Where the light can't touch any part of your soul.

But hold up! And let the river rush in.

You can turn around and start living again.

Cuz your life is a beautiful bloom

In the image of the One who created you.

And I'll keep the light on, Baby.

Just keep the course, you can weather the storm.

I'll keep the light on, Baby.

You've come this far, don't you ever lose heart now.

Just turn around and I'll be there.

I'm moving into your atmosphere.

Just turn around and I'll be there.

I'm moving into your atmosphere.

I'll be there.

I'll be there.

Said I'll be there,

Said I'll be there,

Said I'll be there, always, forever.

Said I'll be there,

Said I'll be there,

Said I'll be there, always, forever.

Just turn around and I'll be there.

(Said I'll be there, always, forever)

I'm moving into your atmosphere.

(Said I'll be there, always, forever)

Just turn around and I'll be there.

(Said I'll be there, always, forever)

I'm moving into your atmosphere.

(Said I'll be there, always, forever)

I'll be there.

I'll keep the light on, Baby.

I'll be there.

I'll keep the light on, Baby.

I'll be there.

I'll keep the light on, Baby.

I'll be there.

I'll keep the light on, Baby.

I'll be there.

Just turn around and I'll be there.

(Said I'll be there, always, forever)

I'm moving into your atmosphere.

(Said I'll be there, always, forever)

Just turn around and I'll be there.

(Said I'll be there, always, forever)

I'm moving into your atmosphere.

(Said I'll be there, always, forever)

If I could cry, I would be again, but thank the Lord, I can't, so I'm not.

"I'm gonna be there too, Baby," Toby whispers as the song ends. "Always."

We pass the rest of the ride with more music that would make me cry if I could, until we're pulling into the driveway again.

I dully follow Toby up the walk and through the door, my head down in shame.

The moment I'm inside, arms are wrapping around me and spinning me around, and I look up, shocked, to see Truett.

"Bri," he chokes out as he sets me down, "I'm so glad you're alright. I'm so sorry... I love you so much."

Judah runs out from the back, and in a moment, he's hugging me too. "I'm sorry you're sad," he says quietly. "I'm sorry they're so mean to you. I love you, though."

Somehow, I feel a tear leap to my eye, and even more impossibly, a trembling smile touch my face.

Moses and Marlee appear from the hall, followed by Leo, and then Amanda from the kitchen, and everyone has the same thing to say. That they're so glad I'm alright. That they love me. That they're so sorry.

And, just like I said back at the station, I just don't understand.

A day late, and absolutely pathetic at just over 1400 words. I. Suck.