The Path To You

47. Two truths and a lie

"Just because you have like one zero in your bank account doesn't mean you're rich. I still think I win that one." Reid argued.

"Don't be jealous babe." Cass grinned.

Reid slumped back onto the couch and pulled out his phone. He had given up, gave into Cass and her antics. It was hard to win anything with Cass, she just had a way about her and she steamrolled almost every conversation she was in.

I'd grown to love that. It was why we became friends, I barely did anything and she was suddenly there. I didn't have the energy then and even now to try to make friends. Cass had taken it on herself to become my best friend and I did nothing to stop her.

"Did you know about this?" Reid turned to me showing me his phone.

I looked to see my school. It was another article and this time I hadn't been the one behind it. There had been a walk out, a bunch of students even most of the football team had protested in response to my article. They were calling for my coach's resignation. I couldn't help but smile at the news.

I just shook my head at the screen as Reid turned his phone back to himself. I was shocked. I'd spent so much time feeling like no one would believe me but now here I was. People were reading my story and they believed my word.

Reid continued to scroll through the article and part of me wanted to pull my own phone out to read it myself but I couldn't quite get myself to do it.

"Holy fuck." Reid muttered.

"Share with the class." Cass said.

"Someone messed up his face." Reid passed the phone to me and I held it so Cass could see too.

The first thing I saw was the picture of my former coach and Reid was right. His face was totally fucked, I could see the bruises and the split lip. The second thing I noticed was the caption.

Head coach of high school football team fired after article released about accusations of abuse and protests led by students.

I had done it. I had won.

He was out of that school and this was just the first step to getting the justice I needed. And with a win like this I let myself relax. I had survived and it felt like I had a chance of finally living again.

"Damn that had to hurt." Cass didn't look too sad about it but I had to admit it definitely looked like it had hurt.

I wondered who had gotten their hands on him. I couldn't help but imagine my own father. The way his eyes had turned deadly. The threats he had made and the anger he never seemed to be able to hide. I wouldn't put it past him to take things into his own hands.

It was like the thought had conjured him as my dad walked through the front door.

I was too curious. I couldn't stop the question.

"Did you beat up Coach Harris?" I blurted out.

My dad turned to look at me a questioning expression on his face. He definitely hadn't expected the question instead of a hello.

"No, if I got my hands on him he'd be dead not beat up."

That was fair. My dad had been angry enough to warrant murder and if my coach ended up dead I'd know who to look at. Also who to give an alibi.

"Fuck that was hot." Cass muttered next to me.

When I turned to look at her I saw she was eyeing my dad in a way I wish I could unsee. But I knew enough now that it was better to just ignore Cass' antics. If I tried to question it she'd probably say something even worse.

My ears could only survive so much.

So instead of entertaining Cass' comment I thought about if it wasn't my dad then who had beat up my former coach.

But even still that mattered less than the fact I'd finally won. I could throw in the towel and let myself be free of this. I could let the rest of the town carry the burden of what came next.

I didn't need to be the only one fighting anymore.

A/n:

I have a job interview next week and I'm really excited. I've been dreading having to go back to my job so I'm excited at the chance to find something new that I might enjoy more. My current job has honestly been very terrible for my mental health, It was causing my anxiety to go up and I was losing sleep due to stress. It was one of the reasons working on this book had become so hard, I just didn't have any energy to put into anything other than my job. I'm really hoping that I get this new job and I can take some stress out of my life.

Anyways I hope you all enjoyed this chapter!

-Cora Leigh