Chapter Twenty-Three
Mason and Kelley fell into a brotherly routine in the weeks that followed. Nobody seemed surprised or fazed by the knowledge that Kelley was now living with Mason and his mother. They took turns with the Escalade and Mason’s Ford F-150 truck to drive to school. He was no longer the Elite boy slumming it in Public for a year, he was one of them, a friend and a brother.
After school, Kelley would stand on the sidelines while the rest of the guys practised football and he found that he actually liked helping the Coach. He gave advice when he saw mistakes and gave them the rundown on each and every team they’d play that season. Kelley became the unofficial third coach for Public's team and he spent a lot of time with Andrew, the new quarterback.
Kelley found that he could remember mundane little things about different players and coaches from previous games and his knack to recall game details proved invaluable. It was a week later when Kelley sat at the kitchen table in their house and drew up old game plans of every other Coach’s gameplays.
Coach Maxwell sat in silence as he watched Kelley. Lee and Mason spoke in low voices. “That’s everything I remember.”
“Kelley, this is amazing.” Kelley grinned at Coach Maxwell.
“This run I remember from Heathcliff High. They beat us last year in the finals with that run.” Mason pointed at the page Kelley had just finished.
“Now I can work on counter moves for all these runs.” Coach Maxwell looked like the cat that got the cream.
“At least I’m helping the team in some way.”
“I think you have some type of photographic memory.” Lee looked stoically at him, never one for smiling.
“Definitely.” Mason agreed and Coach Maxwell also nodded his head.
Coach Maxwell left after another forty minutes of discussing the plays. Lee moved to the living room and pulled his jacket on. Mason looked at Kelley and shrugged his shoulders. Lee was the odd one in their threesome, leaving at odd times, sometimes without even saying a word.
It was Thursday night and they didn’t have a game the next day. They could rest for the weekend and Kelley planned on doing just that. Kelley and Mason split ways in the hallway and Kelley went to bed feeling like he finally had a place in the world, somewhere he belonged.
Carey had practically adopted Kelley and he got a kiss on the cheek goodbye in the mornings just like Mason got. Mason and Kelley probably could have been brothers with their tanned skin, Mason’s blue eyes and his green ones and their very dark brown hair. They were the same height and had similar physiques and much to their amusement, found that they also shared a birthday.
Mason drove the Escalade and Kelley fiddled with the radio as they drove to school. He was laughing at something Mason had said when he glanced out of the window. “Pull over!”
“What the hell …” Mason pulled the Escalade over and Kelley jumped out of the car the moment Mason had stopped.
Mason got out of the car and saw Kelley on the sidewalk with someone in his arms. Kelley was rubbing his hand over her back and the girl’s shoulders shook. Mason stood there not knowing what was going on when Kelley finally turned towards him.
“We need to get her out of here.”
Kelley picked the sobbing girl up and walked back to the Escalade while Mason opened the rear door for him. He climbed in with the girl and Mason shut the door as Kelley kept his hold on her. Mason had yet to see her face but her torn clothes told him most of what he needed to know. She needed help and Kelley knew her.
“Where to, Kelley?”
“Take us home.”
They drove in silence and Mason kept glancing in the rearview mirror as Kelley spoke softly to the girl. His hands clenched on the steering wheel until his knuckles turned white. Kelley’s reaction also told him volumes.
Mason was relieved when he parked in the driveway and saw that Carey’s car was gone. He didn’t want to explain anything right now, not that he knew anything. Mason opened the door for Kelley again and unlocked the front door as Kelley carried the girl inside and up the stairs.
Kelley placed the girl on his bed and Mason stood in the doorway. When Kelley moved away from her Mason’s anger reached new levels. Her left eye was swollen shut, black marring the whole of it. Her lip was busted and blood stained her lips. Her cheek was also split open on the right side and she held her arm close to her ribs on the same side.
“Mason …”
Mason realized then that his fists were clenched and he relaxed his hands as the girl looked fearfully at him. “I’ll get the first-aid kit.”
Mason left the room and Kelley sat down in front of her. She looked down and tears started running down her cheeks again. “It’s okay. I’ve got you.”
Mason returned and sat down on her other side. Kelley watched in silence as Mason started cleaning her wounds and then turned his head at the loud thumps coming up the stairs. Lee appeared in the doorway seconds later.
“Marella,” Lee whispered but nobody heard him.
“These are painkillers, you’ll feel better if you take them and rest for a bit.” She looked at Kelley who nodded his head and took them. Kelley pulled the bedcovers over her gently as she lay down on her left side.
Kelley closed his bedroom door and followed Mason and Lee downstairs to the kitchen. Lee switched the kettle on and Mason took cups from the cupboard. Kelley took a seat at the table and knew that he’d have to tell Lee the whole sordid tale.
“What the hell is going on?” Lee crossed his arms over his massive chest once they had coffee and had settled down at the table. His normally dead eyes were murderous.
“Her name’s Marella. She’s Private and a friend. She came to warn me that night when I was attacked. Two of Hanson’s friends went after her but I had no idea they’d do something like this to her.”
“Why would they hit a girl?” Lee looked questioningly at Kelley.
Kelley had never seen Lee display his emotions like this and for a minute his anger felt almost suffocating. He knew Lee deserved to know the truth since he had accepted him as a friend alongside Mason. Even if he was emotionally stunted, Lee was still a good friend.
