Where No One Knows
Page 20
“She’ll remember you exist,” he said. “Just not seeing you here. She’ll remember making you leave and will believe she never saw you again after that.”
“Okay.” I closed my eyes against a wave of sadness. At least my mother wouldn’t forget me entirely.
“We’ll take care of the legalities this week,” he said. “Don’t worry about that part. Assuming, of course, you’re going to stay?”
“Um, yeah. I’m staying.” I paused. “I still want to know who did the wind thing when I fell. None of you were there yet, right? Only them, and I doubt any of them would have tried to save me.”
“Someone has an ability we don’t know about,” Garrett said. “Maybe even you, Kellan. You didn’t find out about your pyrokinesis until you needed it to defend yourself. Maybe this ability manifested because you needed it.”
“We can find out,” Royce said. “But how about not tonight? I think everyone’s had enough for now.”
“It isn’t even night yet,” Charlotte said. “If one of us does have an unidentified ability, we should find out. I think you’re onto something, Garrett. Extreme stress triggers abilities, and I’d say Kellan was definitely under some massive stress right then.”
Since it was pretty much what I thought, I didn’t argue with her. Or with Royce. He was right. I’d had enough for the day, and I was more than happy to wait until the next day—or never—to figure out whether I’d done the wind thing myself.
“It sure feels like night to me.” Eben yawned. “You could have had all this drama on a day I didn’t have to work. Remember that next time. I’m going to take a nap.”
“Homework,” Nate and Lauren said at the same time.
“Try to go back to your normal routines.” Garrett sighed. “As if normal is possible around here. Kellan, Lauren, if either of you needs to talk, I’ll be in my office. Otherwise just take it easy.”
Once again everyone left the room except Royce, Shad, and me. This time I looked at the two of them. “I’m going to go lie down for a while. Shad, I hope you’ll still be here when I get up.”
“Yeah.” He glanced at Royce, then smiled at me. “I’ll be here. I can’t bail on my brother, right?”
I grinned back. “Right.”
I went up to my room. Derek was in there, but he just nodded and didn’t say a word, to my relief. I didn’t want to talk to anyone else right then. I had to put up with someone else being in the room because of the head injury, but I didn’t have to speak to him.
I climbed up to my bunk and lay down. The night before, I’d felt out of place here. Like it was nothing more than a temporary place to crash until I moved on. I’d been afraid of what would happen if Gene and his friends showed up, and I’d planned on leaving as soon as I could.
Now warmth and happiness wrapped around me. The rushing thoughts in my head were silent, and the fire inside me was only a tiny glow. The threat was over. Even if other members of the church came hunting for me, I would be safe, because my family would make sure of it.
I was home.
More from Jo Ramsey
Deep Secrets and Hope: Book Two
High school football star Guillermo Garcia can count himself among the popular kids—for now. Although he secretly dates Evan Granger, who is openly gay and badly bullied for it, Guillermo doesn’t dare let his teammates, classmates, or close-knit family learn about his sexuality.
But Guillermo witnessed an attack on Evan, and now the school bullies plan to out Guillermo in retaliation. In their small town, word spreads rapidly, so Guillermo must make a quick choice—come out now on his own or risk having someone else do it for him.
Deep Secrets and Hope: Book Three
Chastaine Rollo follows her own rules, even starting rumors about herself before others have the chance. Others’ opinions don’t matter. Her life is fun, and she likes being a rebel, until now. When she comes forward as a date-rape victim, pinning a popular former student as her attacker, the entire school turns against her.
Two months ago, Chastaine admitted to her friend Guillermo that Jim Frankel date-raped her, and Guillermo coaxed her to report it. When word spread about what had happened to Chastaine, a freshman girl, Maryellen, reported that she had also been raped by Jim. Since then Chastaine and Maryellen have endured nasty messages, cyberbullying, and threats in school.
Chastaine has lost many of her so-called friends and now leans on Guillermo, his boyfriend Evan Granger, and Evan’s cousin, Holly McCormack, for support. Especially Holly.
When Jim pleads guilty to the charges against him, Chastaine’s happiness is short-lived when she realizes the truth won’t change the way her peers view her. Unable to take the news and the way people are treating her, Maryellen attempts suicide, and Chastaine blames herself for not being more supportive. However, Chastaine needs support too, and Holly is one of the only people she can now trust, but Chastaine isn’t sure whether her attraction to Holly is only because of that or if it’s something more.
Deep Secrets and Hope: Book Four
Holly McCormack has secrets. She’s started a support group for sexual assault survivors at her high school, but she was never assaulted. She’s also dating a girl, but she’s not a lesbian—at least not to the outside world—and that’s how she hopes to keep it. To top everything off, her girlfriend, Chastaine Rollo, is the most gorgeous girl at their school, and Holly is eating as little as she can because she thinks she’s “too fat.”
When hearing the stories of survivors begins to take its toll, Holly’s eating becomes even more of a problem. And as she struggles to hide her relationship with Chastaine from her parents, the stress becomes too much. But when keeping secrets has become second nature, it leaves her with no one to confide in.
Deep Secrets and Hope: Book Five
When Jim Frankel looks in the mirror, he doesn’t see a sixteen-year-old boy. He sees a monster.
Weeks after being released from a month in juvenile detention, Jim is still trying to come to terms with the realization that he sexually assaulted two girls. He believed everything was consensual—until the day he was arrested. Now he’s served his time as far as the law is concerned, but nothing will erase Jim’s knowledge that he’s no better than the man who molested him at age six.
With his parents unwilling to take him in, Jim moves from Massachusetts to Michigan to live with Delia, his father’s cousin. She offers him a home, a job, and a chance at a new start. Jim spends his time helping Delia at her art supply shop and trying to avoid anyone who might have somehow learned of his crime. When Jim meets Man-Shik Park, he can’t accept Manny’s friendship. But Jim’s attempt to push Manny away might lead to the end of his new life before it’s even begun.
Deep Secrets and Hope: Book Six
There are those who don’t believe Jim Frankel has the right to a life or friends in Ludington, Michigan. Luckily for Jim, he has Man-Shik “Manny” Park in his corner, and Manny has no intention of letting Jim be coerced or driven off. He’s willing to fight for Jim even when Jim can’t—or won’t—fight for himself. But that’s not all Manny’s dealing with. As the grandson of traditional Korean immigrants, he must keep his wish to become an artist secret, along with his preference for men and his asexuality. Jim is Manny’s only confidant, just as Manny is Jim’s.
Of course, Manny stands up yet again when Jim is accused of sending explicit messages to middle school girls, including Manny’s sister. He seems to be the only one who believes Jim is being set up, and his insistence leads to trouble. Intimidating messages escalate until Jim is endangered. No matter what it costs him, Manny won’t rest until he discovers who is trying to ruin Jim’s life and puts a stop to it.
Readers love the Deep Secrets and Hope series by Jo Ramsey
Nail Polish and Feathers
“…a wonderful story…. I recommend this to those who love young adult stories… filled with pain and suffering… a young man who stands up for himself… and a young man who sees a glimmer of hope in
the future.”
—MM Good Book Reviews
Shoulder Pads and Flannel
“It was inspiring how the boys and their friends banded together to support each other.”
—Fallen Angel Reviews
“This book follows the two boys through the changes, struggles and passion of being two teenage boys in high school. I LOVED IT!”
—Top 2 Bottom Reviews
Work Boots and Tees
“This was a truly enjoyable story with a unique character and plotline.”
—Prism Book Alliance
JO RAMSEY is a former special education teacher who now writes full-time. She firmly believes that everyone has it in them to be a hero, whether to others or in their own lives, and she tries to write books that encourage teens to be themselves and make a difference. Jo has been writing since age five and has been writing young adult fiction since she was a teen herself; her first YA book was published in 2010. She lives in Massachusetts with her two daughters, her husband, and two cats, one of whom likes to read over her shoulder.
Website: www.joramsey.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/JoRamseyYA
Twitter: @JoRamseyYA
Tumblr: joramseyya.tumblr.com
By Jo Ramsey
First Time for Everything (Harmony Ink Anthology)
Where No One Knows
DEEP SECRETS AND HOPE
Nail Polish and Feathers
Shoulder Pads and Flannel
High Heels and Lipstick
Blue Jeans and Sweatshirts
Work Boots and Tees
Ball Caps and Khakis
Published by HARMONY INK PRESS
www.harmonyinkpress.com
Published by
HARMONY INK PRESS
5032 Capital Circle SW, Suite 2, PMB# 279, Tallahassee, FL 32305-7886 USA
publisher@harmonyinkpress.com • http://harmonyinkpress.com
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of author imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
Where No One Knows
© 2016 Jo Ramsey.
Cover Art
© 2016 Alexandria Corza.
http://www.ajcorza.com/
Cover content is for illustrative purposes only and any person depicted on the cover is a model.
All rights reserved. This book is licensed to the original purchaser only. Duplication or distribution via any means is illegal and a violation of international copyright law, subject to criminal prosecution and upon conviction, fines, and/or imprisonment. Any eBook format cannot be legally loaned or given to others. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without the written permission of the Publisher, except where permitted by law. To request permission and all other inquiries, contact Harmony Ink Press, 5032 Capital Circle SW, Suite 2, PMB# 279, Tallahassee, FL 32305-7886, USA, or publisher@harmonyinkpress.com.
ISBN: 978-1-63477-343-0
Digital ISBN: 978-1-63477-344-7
Library of Congress Control Number: 2016901421
Published June 2016
v. 2.0
First Edition published by Musa Publishing, 2013.
Printed in the United States of America
Table of Contents
Blurb
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
More from Jo Ramsey
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