The education of nevada.., p.24
The Education of Nevada Duncan, page 24
“It seems like you’ve kept a lot of secrets from me that are coming to light.” This was the first hint that he could be mad at me. I tried to stay grounded in the passionate love that we’d just shared.
“You’ve had your share of secrets, including a relationship with a certain Mexican woman in the desert,” I said.
“Touché,” he said. “Why did he send the drive to you?”
“He was in an on-again, off-again relationship with McCloud for years, but because of all the LGBT students coming into the school, he thought it was time for him to come out. He told McCloud and a group of well-respected but closeted pinned members about it. They thought he was going to expose them as well, especially Patrick, who knew he had the pictures.
“When Patrick started threatening Jason, he sent them to me as insurance, but somehow Patrick found out. The rest you pretty much know. My girls are dead, and it’s all because of that drive. I put you in danger by writing your name on that thing, and I took away Nevada’s first love. I am so sorry, Vegas, and I understand if you hate me.”
Vegas pulled me closer as tears fell from my eyes. I feared this would be the last time I felt his embrace, but then he kissed the top of my head and said, “No, babe. I could never hate you.” He reached over and picked up the drive, snapping it in half.
Epilogue
I walked across the bridge to the moat, where I found the squad sitting around Ivan’s fishing spot. It had become our outdoor hangout now that life had gone somewhat back to normal, and we could be students again with no need to run around campus with automatic weapons. We’d certainly earned the right to relax a little after everything we’d been through.
Natasha was over at the picnic table, setting up some type of lunch, while Richard was giving Arielle a pedicure. Closer to the water, Ivan was trying to teach Demi how to fish. I greeted them all with fist bumps and hugs. I’d just returned from Paris, where I’d seen my family off. They had arrived not long after the showdown with the McClouds, and my grandparents were not about to leave again until they hung around to make sure they could trust Chi’s with my safety. Minister Farrah was finally able to convince them the fox had indeed been rooted out of the henhouse and their grandson would be safe at the school.
“Is he back?” I asked. Arielle and Richard gestured about a hundred yards away, where I saw Clem throwing my stars at a tree. Minister Farrah, Brother Elijah, and a couple of well-respected Irish pinned members had accompanied Clem home to retrieve his things. He’d just returned.
I walked over as he was pulling the stars out of the tree.
“You’re getting pretty good at that,” I said.
“Still not as good as you.”
“I’ve been doing this longer.” I pulled the last star out. “How’d everything go?’
“They hate me,” he said, turning around and throwing a star dead center. “When we pulled up, they had a nice fire going, about six meters tall, with all of my things—bed, dresser, PlayStation, clothes, everything. So, pretty much a wasted trip.”
“I can talk to my dad about getting you some clothes and a new PlayStation.”
“It’s okay. I’ve decided to dedicate my life to training. No more video games for me.”
“So they’re not talking to you?”
“Nope, none of them.”
“Even your mom?”
“Especially mum. She hates me, but I knew she would when I pulled the trigger.”
I certainly understood mother issues. It turned out my own mother had been paying Picard to keep an eye on me on campus and report everything back to her, and she was still trying to repair our relationship now that I knew about it. It would take me a while, but eventually I would forgive her. Clem had made a choice that he knew would sever his relationship with his mom forever. That was pure bravery.
Clem had made a huge sacrifice that day that he shot his own father, but I had wanted to give him some time to deal with it before I asked him why. It seemed like he was ready to talk now.
“Then why’d you do it? Why did you kill your father to save mine?”
“You know, I’ve been asking myself that over and over.”
“And?”
“And I guess I did it because it was the right thing to do,” he said simply, like there wasn’t more to it. “Your dad’s a special man, Nevada, just like you. My dad was a piece shit that beat me every day I can remember. He used to put me in dresses to humiliate me for the slightest thing—all in his grand plan of making me a man.” Clem took a shaky breath. I doubt he had ever admitted that to anyone before.
“But I was able to see what it was to be a man from just watching you and your da. So, killing him was just doing the right thing.”
“Then . . . I should say thank you and apologize to you for everything. I love you, man. And don’t worry about those folks in Ireland. They may be your family by blood, but I will always be your family.” I put a hand on his shoulder.
“Thanks, mate.” Clem threw the last star and turned to me. “Does this make us best friends again?”
“This makes us brothers.”
We heard footsteps coming toward us. It was the rest of the squad coming to join us. Ivan and Richard gave Clem a pound, and the girls gave him hugs.
“We couldn’t take it any longer,” Arielle said. “We’ve been watching you guys ever since Nevada walked over.”
“Yeah, we wanted in on the sentimental moment,” Demi said. “Are you okay?”
Clem shrugged. “I will be.”
“Good. Because you’re a freaking hero!” Richard shouted.
“I’ve heard it once or twice,” Clem said with a small smile. He looked around and noticed their bags near the picnic table. “Are you all leaving?”
“Yeah, aren’t yo—oh . . .” Richard caught himself, and his voice trailed off.
I cleared my throat. “Clem, why don’t you come home with me for the holiday? We celebrate Thanksgiving back at home, and I know you would love my grandma’s cooking.”
“Are you sure?” he asked.
“Of course! You’re part of the family now.”
“Then yeah, I’d like that.”
“Matter of fact,” I said, looking at my squad, “why don’t you all come?”
“All of us?” Natasha asked with some uncertainty in her voice. Now that we were no longer pretending to be a couple, she was trying to adjust to whatever our new normal would be.
“All of you. We have more than enough room.”
“Well, I’m already used to being around you clowns, so why not?” Richard said.
“I’m down,” Arielle said.
“I will have to check and make sure my father is well, and if so, I will come too,” Ivan told me.
“My dad has this big thing that he wants me to come to, but I should be able to fly in after,” Demi told me.
“Then it’s settled. The best squad to ever set foot on Chi’s campus is going to New York!”
Carl Weber, The Education of Nevada Duncan
