Free Hell, Fire & Freedom (Fighting for Freedom) by Shannon Callahan Page A

meeting his. I hand him his bag of baked goods and his tray of coffees that Amber passes me. He grabs a hold of my hand and pulls me forward so he can whisper in my ear.
    “You’re still beautiful to me, Brynn. I know I promised, but I’m not sure I can stay away much longer when I’m going to be seeing that body here every day,” he all but growls. My guard drops completely. I look down at my tight T-shirt, and my black dress pants, and wonder what’s so great about my body. If he could see the bruising, he would run for the hills; it’s not exactly sexy.
    I used to hate the bitter way Carl would say my name, but it sounds like a song rolling off Blaze’s tongue. I nod, feeling as though I should say something, but honestly, what else am I able to do with a body that just doesn’t seem to function in his presence? I’m used to being scared silent, but this is something different altogether. A good kind of something, I think. I watch him turn and walk away, and I have to admit, the view from the back is pretty great, too.
    “Now what on Earth was that?” Wren demands, spinning me around.
    I start to panic before realizing that she doesn’t look angry. Her eyebrows are arched, and she looks playful—generally curious—kind of like I’d expect Marie to react, I guess. I blush and mumble something about it being nothing before turning back to the next customer in line.
    The rest of the day passes pretty quickly. I don’t miss the inquisitive looks Wren shoots me at every possible opportunity, however. I make sure to buy a calendar before leaving to meet Marie at school. I mean, who wouldn’t? I tuck it inside my purse, feeling like it’s something that just should only be seen in private. I know I shouldn’t be embarrassed about my attraction to him, but I feel like my body is betraying my mind. I don’t want to like Blaze, or any man for that matter. Not after all I have been through with Carl.
    I arrive at Marie’s school early, but I’m not waiting long before she comes through the front double doors. She’s walking alone, but she doesn’t look unhappy. Good sign, right?
    “How did your day go?” I ask cautiously, as we start walking back toward our apartment.
    “It was good. The school is big and busy, but people still talked to me. I talked back some. I couldn’t help but feel like an imposter, though,” she says.
    “What do you mean?” I ask.
    “Like, if only they knew I’m the dirty poor kid, they wouldn’t give me the time of day. I’m deceiving them,” she mumbles, looking down at her feet. I can tell she’s really hurting so I spin her around so that she’s facing me.
    “Listen to me, Marie. There is nobody in this world that is more deserving of friends and a great life than you, always remember that. You are not dirty, nor have you ever been. You led a hard life that was completely beyond your control, but you will never be hungry or poor again. I promise you that. If I have to work eighteen-hour days shoveling dog shit, I’ll do it,” I say as quietly and firmly as I can. She sighs before she turns and starts walking again. I fall in step behind her.
    “Brynn, I know that, I do. We just can’t change where we came from or who we are. I don’t know how to be a good friend or how to gossip. I’m not like most of those girls,” she says sadly.
    “Are you crazy? You’re the best friend a girl could ever have. I know, because you are my best friend. You’re kind, loving, giving, warm, and to top it all off, you’re beautiful. So, no you may not be like most of the people in that school, but that’s because you are above all of that childishness, and that’s more than okay. Don’t do anything you don’t want to do, and that includes gossiping. Sometimes that may not put you in the most popular crowd, but what does it matter when you’ve got amazing friends anyway? You’ve only got a little over a year left in high school, and then you’re off to college. So stay