A couple days later, I ran into Trey outside of Catlett’s Coffee. “Hey.â€?

“Um hi.â€? I whispered.

“What’s up?â€? he asked me conversationally but I couldn’t look him in the eye.

“Um nothing. I got to go.â€? I started past him but he pulled me back, lifting my chin. Trey stared into my eyes for a long moment.

“It’s like … he’s done something to you. Hurt you or something. Did he?â€? And that was when I wanted to tell him all about Jack. Something was just stopping me though.

I just couldn’t bring myself to explain the whole problem to him. It was almost if I didn’t say it out loud, it wasn’t real. After all, Jack had only done one horrid thing and that was it. It’s not like he’s going to show at my house again…

He couldn’t, he wouldn’t now that Trey is back in town. Now Jack might even just leave me alone. I really shouldn’t get my hopes up though. And so right there on the sidewalk, I lied to Trey. “No. I’m fine.â€? I reassured him, “I think you worry too much.â€? I laughed but it came out hard.