“N-no, no, Lakodi, don’t,” I stutter. “I-, I can’t, no, I don’t think that would work.” I’m freaking out. He just suggested something that’s so far from safe that I can’t even imagine it.

He seems to read the panic in my expression, but then again, I can’t imagine it’s very well hidden. “Okay, okay, I hear you. Calm down, Kamorina. Breathe.” He waits for my breathing to relax. “Can I suggest something? Just as an option?”

I stare at him. “U-umm, I guess? Just…”

He nods. “I get it. Here’s my thought. Clearly you won’t let anyone tell an authority. But you do have people who care about you - me, Yulina, her mom, and John, among others. So tell us how we can help you. Blankets? Food, snuck in through windows? You never have bruises when I see you during breaks, so maybe a coordinated effort to permanently remove him during a time when you’re not vulnerable?”

He lost me halfway through. People who want to help? Even though we’ve done nothing but push them away? And how does he intend to follow through? Sneak in every night or something?

He catches my expression. “I know. Let’s hold a conference between all the people who already know. Then we can figure out what to do.” He lays his hand over mine. “Even if you won’t let us get you out of there, can you at least let us keep you a little bit safer?

And that is how, an hour later, I find myself sitting in Yulina’s living room with John, Lakodi, Conor, Kara, and Mrs. Jemesson, discussing various ways to keep us from being beaten up. So far, most of the suggestions have involved foam padding under our clothes.

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I rub my forehead. I’m still really confused about how this conversation started in the first place. “Can we talk about something other than foam?” I hear Conor say. “Lakodi, you said something about blankets, right?” My head comes up in time to see Lakodi nod.

“Yeah, I didn’t know what you guys might need, so I thought I’d offer some of the basics. What can we give that’s small enough to fit through a window?”

I lose track of the conversation again as Conor and Kara take over. Something occurs to me. Why is Lakodi so adamant about helping us? I lift my head again and cut through their conversation. “Lakodi.”

He blinks and turns to me. “Yeah?”

“I can understand Yulina and Mrs. Jemesson wanting” I almost stumble over the words “to help us, but… I’ve done nothing but brush you off when you’ve asked about things in the past. For goodness’ sake, I’ve practically treated you like an enemy. Why are you so insistent on helping us?”

He stares at me for a moment. “Um…” he seems confused. “Why shouldn’t I? Regardless of pushing me away, I’ve never seen you as an enemy. Besides, I…” he pauses. “We grew up together. I’m worried about you and your siblings. Is there a reason that I shouldn’t want to help you?”

His sudden change in verbal direction leaves me a little confused and curious about what he was going to say. “I guess not. I was just wondering.” I glance at my watch. “Ah, crud. It’s already seven.” I stand up. “We’d better go home early if we don’t want curfew to move back again. See you tomorrow.” Conor and Kara nod and grab their stuff.

I can tell the others aren’t nearly done with this conversation, but they wave goodbye as we slip out the door and head home. I sigh internally. Yay! Another night of finding excuses for not coming home immediately after school. Let’s see how many bruises we gain tonight.