Page 6 of The Catcher
“Go on. After what? After I lost my sister? Yeah, you’re right. You lost someone, so did I. But I’m not sleeping on her grave drowning my sorrows. This is not what Alicia would have wanted.”
“Oh, spare me the patronizing bullshit. You barely knew her.” He got up and brushed debris from his jacket.
“You’re right. But at some point, you have to crawl backto the land of the living. And this isn’t how you do it,” she said, turning away from him.
“You lost one person, Callie. One. I lost three — my brother, my kids’ mother, and now Alicia. So forgive me if I don’t meet your timeline of getting over grief or doing it in a manner that gets your approval. I think I’m entitled to wallow a little longer than you.”
She raised both eyebrows at him. “You feel better now?”
He stared back. “No. I feel like shit.” He looked off into the distance, bringing a finger and thumb to the bridge of his nose and squeezing it. “Look, do you have a Tylenol?”
“Yeah, in the cruiser. Come on, I’ll give you a ride to the school.” She raised a finger as she turned. “Though I think you should reschedule. You stink of alcohol and seriously need a shower. It’s not a good look.”
“No need. I drove here.”
“Yeah, well, you aren’t driving back. I'll have one of the guys drop your vehicle back at your house. I wouldn’t be surprised if you’re still over the limit.” She knew all too well how long alcohol could last in the system. The number of people she’d pulled over on the way to work the next day — who had taken a breathalyzer and claimed they drank the night before, but had blown over the legal limit — was staggering.
The High Schoolwas located in the heart of town, set back on the rise from Main Street and hemmed in bySchool and Cummings Roads, which were to the north and south. Nestled amid the landscape of the Adirondack Mountains, its exterior stood out with a blend of traditional architecture and modern design. It had always reminded Callie of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in the Big Apple, with large steps leading up to the entrance of monstrous Roman columns.
As the cruiser rolled up to the school, they were greeted by a sprawling campus framed by vibrant foliage in the fall. The main three-story building boasted a red-brick facade, with large windows allowing natural light to flood the hallways. The grand entrance adorned with intricate stonework welcomed students and visitors alike, while the school’s name was proudly displayed above the double doors in bold lettering.
Surrounding the main building, lush green lawns stretched outwards, dotted with towering trees and manicured shrubbery. A flagpole stood tall in the courtyard, the Stars and Stripes fluttering proudly in the breeze.
Nearby, athletic fields sprawled across the landscape, offering space for football games, track meets, and soccer matches. On game days, the sounds of cheering crowds and the echo of whistles could often be heard drifting across the campus, adding to the lively atmosphere of the school.
Callie parked outside and let the cruiser idle.
“Here, have one of these,” she said, handing him a stick of mint gum. “You want me to stick around?”
“No,” he said, popping the gum in his mouth andchewing rapidly as he looked up at the school. “But thank you.”
She nodded. “You going to be okay?”
“I’ll be fine.”
She turned in her seat, resting one arm on the steering wheel, making it clear that her question wasn’t an off-the-cuff remark but that she genuinely cared. “See, that’s the thing, Noah. Will you?”
He didn’t answer immediately but instead got out and closed the door. He looked away before leaning down. “What?”
“I’m not here to ride your ass. Okay? I’m doing this as a favor to Mia. And if you don’t want to talk to me about what you are going through, that’s fine. But talk to someone,” she said. She reached into her pocket and handed him a white business card.
Noah looked at it and then scoffed. “Dr. Olivia Newbury?”
Callie nodded. “She’s actually good. I started seeing her. You should speak to her.”
He chuckled as he handed it back to her. “I already do.”
With that, he walked away.
As Callie was about to respond, an urgent call came in over the radio.
Noah swallowedhard as he entered.
Inside, the hallways buzzed with activity as students hurried to and fro between classes. Locker doors linedthe walls, adorned with colorful posters and stickers that reflected the diverse interests of the student body. Bulletin boards displayed announcements for upcoming events, academic achievements, and extracurricular activities, serving as a school community’s information hub.
Noah glanced into several classrooms equipped with state-of-the-art technology, interactive whiteboards, and multimedia projectors. All of it was a vast improvement intended to enhance the learning experience. Comfortable desks and chairs filled each room, providing students with a welcoming environment to engage in their studies.
It had come a long way from when he’d studied there.
