Chapter 20 - Cameron and BraydenBrayden returned to Westbridge near the end of the year.
Different schedule.
Academic probation.
Mandatory retesting.
No scholarship consideration that year.
His prior benchmark score was void.
Students stared.
Some mocked him.
Cameron hated seeing that.
Not because Brayden was innocent.
Because cruelty did not become good when aimed at someone guilty.
At lunch, a boy mimicked Brayden.
“Mommy, change my grade!”
Students laughed.
Cameron said:
“Stop.”
Everyone looked at him.
The boy frowned.
“You hate him.”
“No.”
“He stole your phone.”
“Yes.”
“His mom hit you.”
“Yes.”
“Then why defend him?”
Cameron looked at Brayden.
“Because that doesn’t make this okay.”
Brayden said nothing.
Later he approached Cameron.
“You didn’t have to do that.”
“I know.”
“Why?”
Cameron shrugged.
“I’m tired of people using bad behavior to justify more bad behavior.”
Brayden almost smiled.
“You sound seventy.”
“My dad says I’m annoying.”
“He’s right.”
For the first time, they laughed together.
Not friends.
Not yet.
Maybe never.
But something less hostile.
Brayden said:
“My mom’s license hearing is next month.”
“I know.”
“She thinks I destroyed her.”
Cameron looked at him.
“What do you think?”
Brayden’s eyes filled.
“I think she destroyed herself.”
Cameron understood.
He had said similar things to his father.
Truth revealing damage was not the same as causing it.
Brayden kicked lightly at the floor.
“I still miss her.”
Cameron did not know what to say.
So he said the honest thing.
“You’re allowed.”
Brayden looked surprised.
“She hurt you.”
“She’s still your mom.”
Two truths.
May you like
Again.
The world was full of them.
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