He gazes down at his phone again, and something in me snaps. Why does he keep staring at it like it matters more than me? I smack it out of his hand and the cell hits the ground.
Dogger lunges for it, but I’m faster. I snatch up the phone and glance at the screen.
"They’re here. They’re looking for you. Run or rot. Your choice."
A chill shoots through me. My whole body trembles. I don’t even feel it when Dogger yanks the phone back. There’s fury and heartbreak blazing in his eyes.
"Calm down, Sun!" he growls.
"That’s a message from Tom. What the hell did you do, Dogger?"
He looks away, jaw clenched tight. He’s eighteen, just turned last month, but his face is already sharp and manly. Angular jaw, strong nose. The type I like. He appears older than he is, but right now? He seems like just a scared kid.
"It’s the damn Hansons. Me and Johnny ran into Pitt Hanson last Thursday outside Roger’s bar."
"So? We’re supposed to stay away from those psychos. You didn’t do something stupid, did you?"
Dogger’s jaw tightens even more.
"Well… things escalated. We started fighting. Didn’t seem serious at first. But then he pulled a knife. Johnny lost it when Pitt swung at him…" He swallows hard, clearly embarrassed. "They started grappling, shoving. Pitt jumped Johnny with the blade, and I… I hit him with a bat. Hard. He dropped like a rock."
"But he started it! What, now they want revenge?"
"No. You don’t get it. Pitt’s dead. He died last night at the hospital. Brain bleed or something."
Silence slams down.
My heart’s pounding so loud, like it’s trying to break out of my chest. The ground feels like it’s tilting under me.
"Holy shit. What a mess. So what now?"
Dogger rolls his eyes and lets out a bitter breath.
"What now? Now it’s not your problem, Sun. I’m out."
"What do you mean, not my problem?" I grab his jacket, my fingers curling in the black leather, breathing in that familiar mix of wind, asphalt, and dry grass.
"We’ll run away together," I whisper. "We’ll hide. They won’t find us."
But Dogger just laughs, cold and bitter. He grips my wrists and gently but firmly pushes me away.
"What are you talking about? You’re sixteen. You’ve got your whole life ahead of you. I’m not dragging you down with me. This is my mess, and I have to deal with it alone."
I don’t believe him. Because we’re inseparable. In-se-pa-ra-ble.
Semper fi, goddammit.
"You’re insane. I’m not leaving you, Dogger. Never!"
I try to grab him again, but he steps back. I stumble slightly, and still… none of this feels real. The whole world sways like the ground has turned to jelly.
"You’ve completely lost it. You don’t even get what you’re signing up for. This isn’t the kind of life I ever wanted for you. Besides, you’re still a kid. You can’t leave the country without your parents’ permission. So we’re done, Sun. I messed up, big time. And now I have to get the hell out of here. Jamal knows some people. He’s helping me…"
He already has a plan? It’s already decided? So this whole fucking awesome day was his goodbye? I squeeze my eyes shut, but it’s no use. Tears start leaking out anyway. I have to say something. Do something. Stop this.
"Please, Dogger! We can figure this out! My uncle Van, he’s ex-police. Used to be the chief. He’s retired now, but he still hasconnections. We can help you! You’ll get a lighter sentence, this is your first offense."
Dogger shakes his head. I see it all over his face, that hard determination. He’s made up his mind. He steps back. I’m not changing it.