Page 58 of Catch Me

He blinks and looks taken aback. “I told you I would never hurt you.”

I take in a breath. Jesus. Oscar Drego is a conundrum wrapped in question marks. Does he even know why he does the things he does? “How’d you know Reid’s letter was a fake?”

His eyes widen, then they return to normal a second later. “You were in the supply closet, huh? Thought about taking Sasha in there myself.”

My cheeks pink, but I don’t confirm his suspicions. “How’d you know, Oscar?”

“I’m surprised Reid told you he faked it. I didn’t think he would since you were going to be pissed about it.”

“I was—am pissed.”

He looks me over. I realize I’m still standing in the exact same spot as when I first came in, hands clutched in front of me. I look around and spy a chair in the corner, so I slide it over and sit in it, raising my eyebrows to tell him I’m not going to let my question go, so he might as well answer it.

“I keep telling you to think bigger when it comes to Sasha. That same advice still stands.”

“Don’t talk around it, Oscar. How’d you know he forged the note?”

He laughs, the tone harsh, making me snap my head back. “You think I want to get involved in this anymore than I already am? Hell, we already lost our place to live. I got the shit kicked out of me. Now you want me to fuck with the big boys. No, not happening. I value myself above everything else, remember?”

I watch his face. When he looks away under my scrutiny, I realize he’s afraid. At least a little. “I don’t want to put you in any more danger,” I tell him. “I’m not like you.”

He winces. When he turns his gaze back on me, he looks sad. He looks like he doesn’t have any hope left. I can’t blame him. He’s in the hospital all busted up. His football season is over. He and his mom don’t have a place to live anymore, and she also doesn’t have the job Mr. Pontine gave her either. Basically, most everything has been taken away from him and his family. I guess that’s what you get when you’re in league with Sasha.

“At least you’re done with the situation now,” I tell him. “You don’t have to buddy up to Sasha anymore, and you could get away from the Heights.”

“There aren’t many options for poor people, Briar.”

I feel so small at that moment, like how I felt when Brady got taken away. I actually have very little power at all. I couldn’t help my dying brother. I can’t help people like Oscar who live in poverty and run with bad people. He’s right. How would he get out?

I stand, suddenly feeling awkward. I don’t know what to say to him, and it’s clear he doesn’t know what to say to me. “Bye, Oscar,” I say after we just stare at each other for a few seconds.

I turn to leave, but he calls out, “Hey, Briar?”

Slowly, I face him again. “Yeah?”

“I hope everything works out for you,” he says, and he sounds almost genuine.

“I hope the same for you, too, Oscar. I hope you heal quickly, and no matter where you play football next year, I’m sure you’ll kill it.” Satisfied, I turn and start to leave. I didn’t get what I came here for. I guess. Part of me was hoping he’d tell me what I feel like I’m missing with Sasha. The other part of me—the part that feels bad for him—wanted to help him, but I failed at both.

When I get to the door, I turn around one last time. “My parents own an insurance company. Sometimes they need extra people to file and do basic paperwork. If you or your mom ever get desperate, I can put in a good word for you. I can’t promise anything, but…” I shrug, leaving the offer like that. He won’t take it. He’s got too much pride for that.

He nods, and we lock gazes one more time before I leave.

I’m pretty sure that’s the last time I’ll ever see Oscar Drego. And I can’t say that I’m sad about it either.

25

Mom, Dad, and I are just sitting down to dinner when the doorbell rings. They all look at me since the only person who comes over anymore is Reid. I shrug, but get up anyway. When I look through the peephole, Reid’s standing there with a big smile. Like a coward, I texted him earlier that I went to visit Oscar in the hospital and have yet to get a response back.

I open the door hesitantly. “Hey.”

His grin widens, and he moves forward, picks me up, and holds me in the air for a moment. “I’m on the short list for the All-State Scholarship.”

I gasp. “No way. That’s awesome!”

He lets me slip back down to my feet. Behind us, my mom calls out, “Reid, is that you?”

“It is,” he says.

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