Free Kelly Hill by Laura Gibson Page A

him the truth, or at least enough of it to get him by.
    “ Enough.” Kelly pulled out another cigarette.
    “ And you’re alright with that?” Ethan wanted desperately to wrap his head around the entire situation, but every time he tried it seemed as if there was another part standing in the way. Another piece that just didn’t seem to fit right anywhere.
    What had been so terrible to keep Kelly’s mouth shut? Now it was sewn shut and there was nothing getting out.
    Kelly’s cheeks hollowed as he took a strong drag, he held the breath for a moment longer while thinking about all the things that he could say about the situation, finally he exhaled out his nostrils, and licked his lips, tasting the words on his tongue before he actually said them, “I don’t know if I’ll ever be okay with it.”
    “ She acts like she doesn’t know you.” Ethan pointed out, hoping that Kelly wasn’t done talking. Hoping that he wasn’t about to shut the door again.
    Another stoic nod from Kelly, another drag, another pause, another stale wisp of wind, touching the emotions surrounding them.
    “I know.” Kelly’s face darkened and Ethan could see that he was just about done talking. Just about.
    “ Is she okay?” Ethan swallowed, not really asking Kelly, but needing to hear an answer from someone, from anyone.
    “ She looks alright.” Kelly responded, his cigarette spent.
    Ethan sighed, “I knew Phillips was a bad idea.”
    “It wasn’t Phillips, Ethan.” Kelly’s soft voice murmured.
    Ethan looked away, hiding his face from the truth of the matter.
    “She’s Rachel Gunn, and Jefferson knew exactly what that meant.” Kelly said holding a fresh cigarette, his fingers delicately playing with the small thing, as if he was contemplating lighting it.
    “ Yeah well, that doesn’t make it right,” Ethan finished, standing up, hoping that Kelly wouldn’t follow him. He felt a personal validation in his soul; a new measure of certainty in his bones.
    Kelly didn’t look up at him, didn’t even move from his spot, and Ethan knew that their talk was over. Kelly was done giving information just as much as Ethan was done hearing it.
    He had to have a very personal conversation with his father.
    He was Ethan Gunn, damn it, and it was time he started acting like it. Someone had to do something.
    But as he took the necessary steps to the house, planning out the very words he would use on Peter Gunn, he stopped. It wasn’t his place after all. Who even knew if Peter would listen? He never had before.
    “ Damn it!” Ethan shouted at no one in particular, the heat and anger getting the better of him.
    He saw Kelly glance in his direction, but there was no response. There was no need for one.
    He was Ethan Gunn after all. A glance was all he ever warranted.
     

 
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter Five
    Phillips Academy
    Charleston, West Virginia
    August 26th 2008
     
    Jefferson
     
    On the east side of Phillips campus there sat an old abandoned sports club. In its heyday it was used primarily for young gentlemen to lounge in while they conversed about world events. Now, it stood alone and empty, completely neglected while the rest of the world moved on.
    On the second floor of the sports club there was an actual lounge complete with marble flooring and a rather grand staircase. In the middle of this lounge sat a dusty orange chair. In this chair sat Jefferson Williams, his legs crossed, watching Caleb unveil his master plan.
    Jefferson had fought every bone in his body to not roll his eyes, but he still wanted to, even now, after he conceded that it was a good idea, he wanted to express his utter disgust in Caleb.
    “It’s pretty simple once you look at it.” Ryan said thoughtfully as he studied the pieces of paper Caleb had laid on the ground. “I mean, that’s if you can get anyone to agree to it. This is going to take some work.”
    “ Well, yeah, everything takes works.” Caleb