Free Panic by Sharon M. Draper Page B

good enough for what?”
    â€œFor dancing. For being. I think she sees herself as ugly.”
    â€œAnd what do you see?” He straightened a pile of books on Justin’s desk.
    Justin paused and pulled a sheet of notebook paper from the top drawer of his bedside table. He read slowly, giving each word its due. “She is beauty. She is grace. She moves like fluttering leaves.”
    â€œWow. A girl who brings out the poetry in you.”
    â€œShe is poetry to me.”
    â€œSo why don’t you tell her?”
    Justin let the paper drift to the floor. “I can’t.”
    His dad raised his eyebrows. “Why not?”
    â€œShe’s all hooked up with somebody else.”
    â€œSo what?”
    â€œIt’s complicated, Dad.”
    â€œThere’s a girl you care about and you won’t even let her know?”
    â€œYou remember Donovan, the kid I used to hang out with in elementary school? We used to be best friends. Not that you could tell now,” Justin added.
    Mr. Braddock shifted in his chair. “Yeah, cute little fellow. Smart. Loved cars, if I remember. What happened to you two, by the way?”
    â€œHe’s not so little anymore. He’s into some shady stuff, and he’s got, like, these chains around Layla. She looks at him like he’s the last player on the planet.”
    â€œThat may be, but I’ve never known you to back away from a challenge.”
    Justin sighed. “It’s like he controls her, like she’s his toy that he winds up, and she does what he wants. She deserves so much better than that.”
    His father gave him a sidelong glance. “How do you know she’s not happy being his toy?”
    â€œHow can anybody feel good about being used like that?”
    His dad nodded. “You’ve got a point there.”
    â€œThat’s another chapter in your book, I guess.” Justin stood up and scratched his head. “But really, Dad. Why would she stay with a dude like him? What’s up with that?”
    â€œWell, I suppose she has to want more for her life; she has to want to escape from a guy like Donovan.”
    â€œSo how do I make that happen, Dad?”
    â€œJust be yourself. Reach out to her if you can. Read my book.”
    Justin laughed. “Yeah, maybe I can add a chapter to it one day.”
    â€œFollow your heart, Justin. She’ll figure out how much you care.”
    Justin began pacing around the bedroom. “Yeah, right. Easy for you to say.”
    â€œI’ve been around the block a couple of times.”
    â€œIt’s weird. Me and Donny used to be friends. But now he treats me like the enemy.”
    â€œMy army buddies used to say, ‘All’s fair in love and war.’ You willing to fight for the young lady?”
    â€œI hope it doesn’t come to that. But I sure wish she knew how I felt.”
    â€œShe’ll never know unless you tell her,” his dad said, picking Justin’s poem up off the floor, holding it out.
    â€œYeah, I know, I know. I’ll think about it,” Justin said, taking the paper.
    â€œGood. Now get some sleep. I hope it works out for you.” His father closed the door quietly behind him.
    Justin sat on the edge of his bed, trying to make sense of his jumbled thoughts. Finally he turned off his lamp and slid under the covers. But it took a long, long time for him to fall asleep.

16
LAYLA, Saturday, April 13 11 p.m.
    â€œTink was not all bad: or, rather, she was all bad just now,
    but, on the other hand, sometimes she was all good.”
    â€”from Peter Pan
    Layla showered slowly, letting the warm water massage her sore arm. She could already tell that she’d have to wear long sleeves tomorrow. She toweled off carefully, put on her pajamas, and picked up her phone. Scrolling through her list, she tapped Mercedes’ picture. Seconds later Mercedes picked up.
    â€œWhat’s up, girl? Any news?” Layla asked,