Taming My Bullies novel · Chapter 5 of 24

Chapter 5: Night Shift

Lane Monahan bought me a bus ticket.

He did it in the Commons at breakfast, in front of forty people, by sliding a paper envelope across my table with two fingers.

"One way," he said. "Boston. First class, no change at Springfield. Consider it a scholarship from me."

"That's generous."

"It's practical. You're not staying, Kincaid. Take the money and the dignity, and go."

He wore a grey blazer cut so closely to his body that it must have cost more than my mother's car.

His ear cuff flashed when he leaned in.

"My apology costs more than that ticket," I said, "and you'll still owe it."

I tore the envelope in half and slid the pieces back.

"Keep your money," I said. "Sounds like you need it."

His face went blank.

It was a very small flinch, so small that anyone else would have missed it.

I didn't miss it, because I'd been watching him since the library.

He never ate in the Commons.

He got his coffee in a paper cup and never sat to drink it.

His hands smelled of bleach.

At ten that night I stood on the dormitory porch with my coat on.

A slim figure slipped through the gate by the boathouse.

Lane, in a hooded sweatshirt that didn't match any of his clothes.

I told myself I wasn't following him.

I told myself it was a short walk to the bus stop and I needed to know where the town was.

The bus took twenty minutes.

I stood in the aisle and watched the back of his hood three rows ahead.

He got off at Mercy General Hospital.

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