Chapter 5

Five-Liam
I went to her house after school and we talked for a while about little trivial things, things that didn’t make a difference. I held her hand until she thought she heard her dad’s car outside. It wasn’t him, but she told me to go home. I didn’t want to leave her alone, but she told me that everything would be fine. I really hoped it was true, I really did.
After getting home from June’s house that night I felt completely outraged and completely useless at the same time. I wanted to make her father pay for what he did, but I had no idea how to go about this. My mom poked her head into my room and asked if I was okay, she had heard me slamming doors and blah, blah, blah.
“No, Mom, I am not okay,” I said, “I started dating this girl today and she is going through a very rough time and I can’t help her. She’s stuck and I need to help her find a way to escape.” Mom looked at me.
“Stuck how?” Mom asked. I let out a heavy breath, I wasn’t quite sure June wanted me to broadcast her home life to my mother, but I didn’t know what else to do.
“Her dad is trouble, Mom. He hits her sometimes, and now he’s sending her younger sister to live with her grandmother. I mean, that’s good for her, but June’s still there. She has no way out,” I said. I was more than a little upset and my mom could tell. She sat down on my bed next to me and put an arm around my shoulders.
“Honey, that’s awful! Why hasn’t she called the cops?” Mom asked. I shrugged. I had no clue why she hadn’t tried to get the police involved.
“We can’t call the police now though, Mom. She doesn’t have anywhere else to go if they arrest her father,” I said. Not to mention, they didn’t have the money. Mom squeezed me close.
“You’re a good kid. I know you want to make sure she’s okay, but if it’s really as bad as you say, I have to call the police, it’s my duty as a mother,” she told me. This was not how I wanted this to go. Was it too much to ask for my mother to just listen instead of take action? I guess it was. I made sure I was on my phone before Mom picked up the other one to call the police.
“Hello?” June answered. I took a deep breath; this wasn’t going to be easy.
“Listen, something is about to go down at your house,” I told her.
“What do you mean? What happened?” June wanted to know. I paused.
“I told my mom about what happened and she might possibly be on the phone with the cops,” I said.
Three. Two. One.
“WHAT?! Are you insane?! I can’t stay here without him. I’ll still need to get a job, but now it will be full time instead! What the hell were you thinking?!” June yelled at me. I honestly wasn’t sure how to answer, so I told her the truth.
“I was worried about you and I felt there was nothing I could do to help. That scared me, and I had to do something. I don’t want you to get hurt,” I told her. I couldn’t hear sirens on her end of the phone, but after a few minutes of apologizing June stopped me.
“I’ve got to go,” she said, “they’ve come to wreak havoc on my life.” She hung up and I felt like scum. I couldn’t even sleep properly; the night was wracked with guilt dreams.
The next morning at school I watched out for her while Paul kept trying to talk to me. Then I checked the art room, but still no June. I sat through all my classes that day thinking about how I was a major ass. I was so antsy by last bell that I literally jumped out of my seat and ran to my car. Paul was going to have to find a different ride, because I peeled out of there like there was no tomorrow. I got to June’s house ten minutes later and her car was in the driveway. That was a good sign, right? I hoped so. I walked up to the door, knocked a few times and waited. Two minutes later she opened the door and my mouth started going at full speed. Everything I had been thinking all day was pouring out of me as though this were the only chance I’d ever get to say it and I didn’t have enough time.
“Listen, I am so sorry. I never meant for any of this to happen. I am the world’s biggest asshat and you have every right to hate me. I just really hope you don’t because I really like you and I was just trying to do what I thought was best,” I blurted this entire thing out before she had a chance to say anything. I looked up to see her face red and tear-stained. I bowed my head in shame.
“I know you didn’t mean for this to happen,” June told me. I looked up.
“You do?” I questioned. I was flabbergasted that she hadn’t yelled at me and told me to leave. She nodded.
“You’re a nice guy; you would never intentionally hurt someone. I don’t hate you at all. And trust me; you are definitely not the world’s biggest asshat. I’ve already met him,” she told me. I nodded. Then she walked into my arms and I wrapped them protectively around her. I wanted to cry so much because she had forgiven me so easily, even though she didn’t have to, even though she had so much else going on in her life. But I didn’t, I found myself taking control of the situation instead.
“Do you need a place to stay? I know we have an extra guest room, and I’m sure my mom wouldn’t mind. Even if we are dating,” I said, testing to see if we were anymore.
“Are you sure? I was out all day applying for jobs and finally got hired as a maid. I could pay rent,” June told me. She told me how social services had brought her to live with her dad’s sister, but she knew from just one night there that if she were to stay life would be pretty much the same. I brushed her hair away from her face.
“I don’t think my mom will make you pay rent. I’m sure she’d be fine with you being there. Just pack up all of your stuff and you can follow me back to my place,” I told her. She nodded and went inside. I pulled my phone out and called my mom.
“Hello?” Mom answered.
“Mom, is it alright if June stays with us for a while? She got a job and said if you wanted her to, she’d pay rent,” I told her, just in case.
“Tell her we’d be glad to have her. And don’t be silly, Liam, she doesn’t have to pay us a penny. I’m just glad she’s okay,” Mom said.
I told her we’d get June’s stuff all packed and then we’d be home. Mom made a comment about how we both had girlfriends moving in today and I hung up, rolling my eyes. I went inside and helped June with the rest of her stuff. Then I loaded the luggage into the car and she followed me home.
We were sitting around the table eating dinner, Chinese takeout picked up by Louise, when Mom gets the bright idea to bring up June’s day.
“My son tells me you got a job today, what exactly are you going to do instead of going to school?” Mom asked. I mouth an “I’m sorry” across the table and June waves it off before answering.
“I’m going to be a maid. Actually, the people that hired me live only a few houses down from here. This is even more convenient than I thought. Thanks again for letting me stay here, it really means a lot to me,” June said. Mom laughed.
“Don’t you worry about it, although, I do wish you would at least try to get your GED. I mean, dropping out of school doesn’t seem like the way to go.” She waved her own thoughts away. “Anyhow, I was just saying to Louise how funny it is for a mother and son to both have girlfriends moving in on the same day. You just don’t see irony like that anymore,” Mom said. I wanted to die of embarrassment. No parents should ever be that cool about a girlfriend moving in. Louise touched my mother’s hand.
“Now, Trudy, don’t embarrass the poor kids, look he’s blushing,” Louise said, pointing at me and I got up to clear the table.
“Now, don’t be like that, Louise was only kidding,” she said before stage whispering to Louise, “he can be so sensitive.” Louise shrugged and I left the room to throw the boxes away in the kitchen. June followed me.
“Wow, that is one harsh couple,” she said. I nodded.
“Yeah, gosh, we must look so uncivilized to you,” I said. She shook her head.
“Oh, god, no, that was one of the most civil dinner conversations I have witnessed in a while. Your mom jokes, my dad insulted. There’s a major and obvious difference,” June said. I put an arm around her.
“Don’t worry; you will be safe from insult here. So, the people you work for live close, huh? Well, that’s good, a short commute is the best kind,” I said trying not to sound like a nerd. It wasn’t working. June smiled at me, the first smile I’d seen all day from her. It made my heart do cartwheels. “What’s the name of the people you work for?” I asked.
“It was Dr. and Mrs. Lepolsky,” she said. My jaw hit the floor.
The Lepolsky’s had a son our age. He didn’t go to our school, but Owen and I had been friends since we were seven. Owen was way more athletic than I was and therefore had built up muscles while I remained lanky. I had heard rumors about him at our school and he was very popular with the girls.
“Did you meet Owen?” I asked her. She shook her head.
“No, they mentioned they had a son, but he wasn’t home. Why? Do you know him?” June questioned. I nodded.
“Yes, he and I have been friends for over ten years,” I told her. This seemed to surprise her. Owen and I did have a long past together. I remember parties his parents would throw where we would run across the neighborhood in our suits so we could sneak over to my house and play soccer together. Or when my dad would let me down and I’d need someone to talk to…Owen always knew how I felt.
“You’ve had a friend for that long?” she asked, eyes wide. I nodded.
“Yeah, his parents and my mom had been friends in high school. They’re the ones who told her about this neighborhood when it was built,” I told her. She looked dumbstruck.
“Wow, the longest friend I’ve ever had was Elaine. Before that it was this girl I went to grade school with. But that doesn’t really count,” June told me. I was a little puzzled.
I picked up some plates and started to wash them; June picked up a towel and dried them as I handed them to her. We started talking again after we fell into rhythm.
“Why doesn’t grade school girl count?” I asked her. She didn’t answer for a while, picking at a spot on one dish. She looked up as she answered.
“She was telling everyone the secrets I told her. I had always wondered how the other girls knew who I was crushing on. She pretended to be friends with me and made fun of me behind my back,” June told me. I kissed her cheek.
“I would have stuck up for you. I wish we’d have gone to school together. I could have rescued you sooner,” I said.
She shook her head, like it wouldn’t have mattered. I felt very protective of June even though we’d only started dating. Somehow, deep down, I knew we were meant to be. The first time I saw her something inside of me clicked. She was the one. I had never said as much to Paul, though he did know I had been crushing on her bad. You don’t say that love stuff to your guy friends. It makes things weird.
“Thank you,” June said. I looked over at her.
“I didn’t do anything,” I said. She shook her head and we put the dishes away.
“You did so much. If it weren’t for you, I’d still be trapped in that house, no Jillian, nothing. Now I have hope. I haven’t had that in such a long time. Really, I’m so grateful,” she said, wrapping her arms around me. I kissed her for real this time. It was the best kiss ever; her lips were soft and tasted of sweet and sour chicken. It was the perfect kiss. I wondered if she felt the instant fireworks. We pulled apart and she let out a breath.
“Wow,” she said simply. I smiled and stroked her hair as I pulled her closer to me, her head resting on my chest.
“I know exactly how you feel,” I said. We spent an hour standing there. Or maybe it was minutes. I had no concept of time anymore. The whole world seemed to revolve around her.
“Break it up, you two!” Mom yelled as she walked in. We pulled apart, but were still grinning like the Cheshire cat. Mom laughed when she looked at me.
“What?” I asked with a goofy smile. She shook her head and ruffled my hair,
“You two are so in love,” she said. And I knew it was true. I blushed and headed up to my room. I picked up a paint brush and started to paint. I was excited and happy and glad and scared and nervous all at once. It was the strangest mixture of emotions, but I couldn’t contain myself. I stayed up half the night as I painted, and it wasn’t nearly finished when I was too tired to stay awake. I had started to paint June’s face. I had the hair outlined and her eyes weren’t filled in yet, but if you looked closely enough you could tell it was her. I wanted to give the painting to her as soon as I was finished. I wanted her to see how much I felt for her. How strongly I thought of her. I mostly just wanted to kiss her again, though. My lips longed for the touch of hers and I found myself just looking at the painting as I smiled and fell asleep.