Andrew

Bile threatened to crawl up my throat as I ran to find Mary. She was standing in a small conference room, Knox’s parents sitting in the chairs around the table. None of them looked at each other but the second I walked into the room, they all looked at me. 

“What have you decided,” Mary asked, concern covering every inch of her face as she looked me over. 

“Can I talk to you, alone,” I asked, cutting my eyes to the parents. Knox’s mother went to open her mouth to argue but Mary only ushered me out into the hall before she had the chance. 

She all but dragged me into a similar conference room only a few doors down from the one we had just left. 

“What happened? You look like you’re about to faint,” she asked the second the door was shut and locked. 

“That kid is to go nowhere near his parents or any adult currently in his life,” I demanded. 

“I agree,” she said with a shrug. “But I feel we came to those conclusions for very different reasons. What happened?” I ran a hand through my hair in an attempt to settle my nerves but it did little to actually help. 

“That minor is used to bribing adults with sex for things he wants. I don’t know who but I will not allow any adult in his life currently near him again.” A glare that I so rarely saw on Mary came in at full force as she clenched her fists at her side. 

“I don’t mean to insult you, but you’re sure? This is a bold claim.”

“He put his hand on my knee and promised I could do whatever I wanted if I convinced Patrick to let him walk.” 

“I’ll have them sign over parental rights,” Mary said simply. “Did you manage to get anything else out of the boy? Do we send him to rehab the second we have rights or is camp a better option to start out with?”

“I don’t know,” I sighed. “I want him at camp, for the whole bribe thing at the very least and he seems to show signs of depression and anxiety but it’s clear this is not an isolated incident. I’ve never treated addiction before. I don’t want him to suffer because I can’t give him what he needs.” Mary frowned as she rubbed her bottom lip in thought. 

“No rehab would address the sexual abuse the way we would either. It’s likely they would shove that under the mat for the most part in favor of getting him sober,” Mary agreed. 

“It’s your call,” I said with a sigh. “I’ll side with you regardless as long as we get him away from his parents.” 

We were silent for a while, the air around us was tense as we thought of the best course of action. 

“He comes to camp,” Mary said after a while. “I’ll assign him to one of your cabins so you can help him as much as you can but the second you see him spiral into something you can’t handle, you tell me and we’ll get him other forms of help.”

“I think that’s a wise decision,” I said, breathing a sigh of relief I didn’t know I was holding. “What’s next?”

“Would you feel comfortable sitting with him while I get the paperwork together? I don’t want those pigs near him without someone there to witness everything but if you think he would try to ‘bribe’ you again. I can try and get a nurse to sit with him instead.”

“I’ll sit with him but the door needs to be open,” I agree and she nods. “Both of us need to keep our phones on ring and close to us in case something happens.”

“I agree,” she said with a sigh. “Let’s get this kid out of here.” 

Knox

I barely had a chance to settle back into the bed before the door opened again. 

Tony stood there with that same lazy smile I hated as he closed the door and strolled to the chair the other man had been in only minutes ago. 

“What the hell do you want,” I seethed with a glare.

“Just wanted to check in on you. I know it’s been a hard day.” 

He pulled the chair closer to the bed, his knees brushing against the frame as he smiled at me. “You look like shit.”

“Why thank you, that’s what everyone wants to hear after waking up from an overdose and detox.” He laughed before placing a hand on my knee and squeezing. 

I had to fight every instinct in my body to not cringe away from him. 

“Don’t be like that,” he teased. “This is the last time I’m going to see you for a year. You could at least try to pretend that you’ll miss me.”

“You’re letting those strangers kidnap me,” I scoffed. “You are the last person I want to see right now.”

“Direct some of that anger towards your parents,” he said with a glare of his own. “I don’t have parental rights to sign over. I simply gave them an option and they decided to take it.” His hand on my knee tightened its grip and I knew there would be a bruise there tomorrow. “Don’t get an attitude with me because you made a mistake.” 

“I’m sorry,” I said because I knew that’s what he wanted to hear. “You’re right, I’m sorry. It’s just been a long day.” His soft smile returned as his grip loosened while his thumb rubbed lazy circles against the fabric of my pants. 

“That sounds more like it. Now, let’s talk game plans. You’ll be allowed to get mail so I’ll send you updates but I want you to avoid getting online if you’re even able to have access to it. I’ll also be forwarding fan mail, answer the ones you can so you can retain attention on your time off. It’ll help your comeback when all of this is over. I’m going to try and discuss phone calls with the owner but I’m not sure how that will blow over. She doesn’t seem that fond of the situation. Other than that, try to enjoy your time off. Focus on yourself and just enjoy nature alright? We’ll deal with everything else when you get out.” 

I nod, pretty much letting his words go in one ear and out the other. 

“I’m going to miss you, Knox. What am I going to do without you,” he pouted. 

“You’ll find something to keep yourself occupied,” I said with an eye roll. Tony opens his mouth but quickly closes it when the door opens. 

The same man as before stands in the doorway, a pissed-off glare on his face as he takes in the sight of Tony. His eyes trail Tony’s body until he zoned in on the hand still on my knee. 

Tony glared back at the man as he slowly moved his hand away. 

“What are you doing here?”

“I’m here to keep Knox company,” the man said as he pulled up another chair to the foot of the bed. Tony looked back at the door that was left open and his frown deepened. 

“I can provide him with plenty of company,” Tony assured him. “You can go help out that woman.”

“I’m not needed for the paperwork,” the man waved off. “I would only get in her way more.” He turned to me and shot me a soft smile. “I never properly introduced myself, I apologize for that. My name is Andrew. You’ll be seeing a lot more of me.” I frowned at that. 

I didn’t want to get to know him anymore. He was nosy and abrasive, those were the hardest people to bullshit. 

Tony stood up with a sigh. 

“I have other things to do,” he said as he moved to the door. “I’ll be in touch Knox. Let me know if you want me to send you anything after you get settled. I’ll see you in a year.”

I watched him go, trying to ignore the pain in my chest. 

“So, what do you want to talk about?” I groaned as I fell against the bed. 

“Can we not just sit here in silence?” To my surprise, Andrew didn’t answer. He simply leaned back against the chair and pulled out his phone to play a random game. I sighed as I stared at the ceiling. 

This was going to be fucking awful.