The Unearthed: Book One, The Eddie McCloskey Series by Evan Ronan Page B

because you spend all day making stuff up.”

Fifteen
     
    Bill y was playing one of his video games, racing through the streets of some generic metropolis with the cops in hot pursuit of his souped-up vehicle.
    It had been with him all day long. Billy was annoyed. Sometimes he just wanted to be alone.
    I know how you can scare him.
    “Huh?”
    How you can scare him.
    “What the hell are you talking about?” He didn’t want to scare anybody. He just wanted to be a normal kid, have friends, maybe kiss a girl ...
    So your dad believes you about me. Then he won’t talk down to you like you’re a fucking idiot.
    “He doesn’t talk to me like I’m an idiot.”
    Dude .
    “Whatever.”
    Just listen.
    “You listen. I need some time.”
    What the fuck, man?
    Billy paused his game and jumped out of his seat. “Dude, for real, I need to be alone.”
    There was a knock on Billy’s door.
    “Son,” Dad said. “I’d like to come in and talk to you if that’s okay.”
    You’re a dick. Just like your old man.
    Billy felt It going away.
    “Come in.” Billy wondered what Dad wanted to talk about. Probably time for another lecture.
    Dad came in and sat on the edge of the bed. Billy picked up his controller to play more, but Dad said, “Could you put that down for a minute?”
    Billy did and faced Dad.
    “I want to talk to you about yesterday.”
    Billy steeled himself. He’d been hoping against hope that Dad would have just smiled and told him he’d done the right thing with Ryan Kenner. Wishful thinking.
    Billy said, “I did what you told me.”
    Dad hesitated. “I like that you stood up for yourself.”
    Billy knew there was a “but” in his near future.
    “I know you must have been afraid—”
    “I was not.” That was what he was supposed to say, wasn’t it?
    “It’s okay if you were. It’s normal.”
    Billy leaned way back in his chair and said nothing.
    “It must have been very hard with all the kids there, watching,” Dad said.
    Billy felt tears coming. He didn’t want Dad to see him cry.
    “If you’re going to stand up to a bully, you stand up to him, though. You don’t wait for his back to be turned. Know what I mean, kiddo?”
    He knew it. He knew Dad would find a way to be upset with him. He never did anything right. He’d stood up for himself, in front of the whole school, and now Dad was giving him a lecture?
    “I’m talking to you, Billy.”
    Billy tried to swallow, but his throat was dry. 
    “I understand.”
    Tears hung on the precipice of his eyes.
    “This is important, son. Do you understand what I’m telling you?”
    Billy felt the shaking in his hands first. He realized it was rage. He exploded out of his chair. “I said I fucking understand!”
    He seemed to step outside of himself then. He was crying, but didn’t feel it. He was running out of the room but didn’t know where he was going. He bounded down the stairs and tore ass through foyer. Through the family room to the sliding glass door. Out into the backyard.
    Dad yelling his full name: “William Rosselli.”
    And he heard Mom yelling, too. She’d been working at the sink when he’d cut through the family room. He had no idea what he was doing.
    He sprinted into the woods beyond and put some distance between the house and himself. No going back right now. Maybe not ever. Dad would be too angry. Dad wouldn’t understand. Dad would probably hit him.
    * * * *
    “Billy!” Jackie roared. He raced out onto the deck. “Come back!”
    “What the hell is going on?” Talia appeared at his side. “What did you do up there?”
    Jackie faced her. She looked frightened, almost scared to be standing next to him. He calmed himself. “Our son is what’s going on. He just cursed at me again.”
    “What did you say to him?”
    “Don’t fu—I only said what you and I both agreed should be said. Then he disrespected me.”
    How could she question what he had done when he’d stuck to the game plan?
    “I wonder where he