Free A Missing Peace by Beth Fred Page A

sudden?”
    â€œI finally figured out what you meant when you kept saying ‘I got you out of the house’. As much as I love being the accomplice to a good hate crime, I had nothing to do with it. I’ve had your back since you showed up. Life would have been a hell of a lot worse for you, if I didn’t get pissed every time someone talked about you.”
    â€œWell as thankful as I am for your protection, Oh Captain Football King, it doesn’t seem to be worth a lot. My house still got trashed.”
    â€œYeah, well, I had nothing to do with it.”
    â€œWhatever. Caleb, I don’t care. I didn’t come here to talk about that. I want you to do your half of the work. Because it’s your responsibility.”
    â€œNot really. I’m done.”
    â€œWith the class?”
    â€œWith school.”
    Oh my God! Caleb Miller drove me crazy. “You can’t be serious. We’re barely weeks from graduation. You cannot seriously be quitting school. Jesus Christ, the U.S. is a messed up place. Where I’m from, if you even talked about quitting school, your parents would box you.”
    He shrugged. “Mom’s against it. She’s made that clear, but I guess she doesn’t see the point in boxing me. I’m in bad enough shape to begin with.”
    I snapped. I knew I was going to regret what I was about to say, but I didn’t care. “Caleb Miller, you’re a loser and a quitter. I’ve seen people in much worse shape than you do things a lot harder than finishing some rinky-dink American high school. Zmal . White kids are so spoiled.”
    â€œWhat the hell is that supposed to mean? You don’t know anything about me. Don’t call me spoiled.”
    â€œOh? What don’t I know? You had one bad break, so you’ll just ruin your life. Sounds good to me.”
    â€œWhy do you care?” He threw the same words in my face I’d asked him a few days earlier.

    Â 
    Caleb
    I couldn’t tell if Mirriam was getting flustered or pissed. She never sat down when she came in today. Her feet were planted firmly on the ground in the same place at the end of the couch. Her book bag was slung over one shoulder—she never put it down. Now she gripped the strap tighter. Her face drew grim.
    â€œI care. Obviously. Or I wouldn’t be here.” Her tone was low, each word its own sentence.
    Her words were both infuriating and calming. She cared so much she came to talk about school? She never even asked how I was. Then again, M wasn’t one of those girls who said things to say them.
    â€œWhy do you care if I quit school?”
    â€œBecause it’s stupid.”
    â€œNot what I asked you. Why do you care? And you’ve known people who have been through worse? Do you think this is easy?” “Do you want to be thirty-five and living on your mom’s couch? And no, Caleb, of course, I don’t think it’s easy. I was there. I watched it, and I couldn’t do anything to stop it.” She exploded into tears, not like the first time her eyes watered while she spoke. Now she sobbed so hard her whole body shook. The girl I once thought unbreakable was falling apart.
    I moaned as I forced myself off the couch. I came toward Mirriam, and her eyes shot up in fear as she backed up against the wall. It reminded me of the day I found her face down in the curb, and I had to calm her before she freaked out.
    â€œIt’s just me, M. You’re here with me” I put a hand on her face. “It wasn’t your fault. You know that, don’t you?”
    â€œCaleb, I’m so sorry. I tried to tell you. I did, and by the time I got your attention it was too late.” I hated that she felt guilty about this, but at least she’d stopped crying.
    â€œThat was my own stupidity, but you didn’t have to call me a loser.”
    â€œYou’re quitting. Giving up.”
    â€œMy