Speak Up Chapter 13
I walked over and bent down to look at her.
“Kate, that story of yours…”
“Don’t worry.” She waved a hand. “It’s just background material. It won’t go online. The school’s procedures are all fine, officially.”
She glanced at me.
“But next time, don’t wait until things are a complete disaster before you text the family. When your mom saw that message, her hands were shaking.”
I was quiet for a moment.
“I thought I could handle it myself.”
Kate sighed and reached out to ruffle my hair.
“It’s good to be self-reliant. But knowing when to ask for help is just as important.”
My parents were already waiting for us at the pizza place.
My father sat across from me, silent for a long time. Finally, he said just one thing.
“If something like this happens at school again, you tell us.”
He paused, then added, “I told you to handle your own problems because I wanted you to be independent. But this was different.”
“When someone is deliberately trying to hurt you, you need to let us know. Your silence doesn’t protect you.”
I lowered my head and didn’t answer right away.
Kate patted my back.
“All right, it’s over. But I have to say, that Wade kid who sits next to you—”
She raised an eyebrow.
“He’s got guts. The whole school was watching, teachers were holding him back, and he was still shouting for you. You don’t find many boys like that.”