The next morning at school, Beth didn't look like herself. She seemed quiet and tense, like she hadn't slept. I walked up to her and asked what was wrong.
She rolled up her sleeve and showed me a bruise on her arm.
"John came over last night to talk to my dad," she whispered. Her voice cracked as she tried not to cry. "All I did was walk over and ask my dad if he could open something for me. But John got mad, grabbed my arm, and told me adults were talking and I needed to mind my own f—king business."
She wiped her eyes with the back of her hand.
"He let go, and I ran to my room. I didn't come out until this morning."
"What did your dad do?" I asked.
Beth looked down. "Nothing."
And somehow, that made it worse.
She sniffed, then looked up at me with wet eyes. "Katie… Arron keeps you away from the truth. But one day, you're gonna see it for yourself."
I didn't know what she meant, but I thought about it all morning. Her words sat in the back of my mind like a heavy stone. I told myself I'd ask her again at lunch. I needed to know.
---
Meanwhile, before work, Courtney stopped by the hospital to see Arron.
But when she reached his room, he wasn't there.
Her heart dropped. She rushed to the nurses' station. "What happened to Arron Jones?"
The nurse smiled gently. "He woke up last night. He's doing better, so we moved him out of ICU and into a regular room. He's in 302, third floor."
Courtney nearly cried with relief. She hurried upstairs, knocked, and walked in.
Arron looked up — and smiled.
Courtney burst into tears and ran to him, hugging him tight. "I thought we were going to lose you," she whispered.
Arron, his voice weak, smiled. "You can't get rid of me that easy."
Courtney kissed him and handed him his phone. "I'll be back after I pick up the kids from school."
---
At lunch, I sat across from Beth and stared at her until she finally sighed.
"You really want the truth?" she asked.
I nodded. "Just… tell me a little at a time. Let me deal with it."
She grabbed my hand. "Katie… our parents are in a gang. The bar? It's their clubhouse."
My stomach dropped. I didn't move. Didn't blink. I just stared at my food until I finally picked up my fork and started eating again, even though I couldn't taste anything.
"How do you know?" I quietly asked her.
She took a deep breath. "Right before my sister left town, she told me. She told me everything — how the club runs things, how Dad is always gone, why Mom pretends she doesn't see anything. My sister even taught me how to cook and take care of myself. She said I'd need it."
"So your sister told you everything so you could… survive?" I asked.
Beth nodded slowly.
I knew her sister — she was one year older than Arron, and they were best friends before she graduated and left town. I always thought she left to start her life. Now I wondered if she left to get away.
I suddenly knew who I needed to talk to — someone who wouldn't lie.
Courtney.
---
After school, Courtney picked me up. Mark was going to his grandparents' house for the weekend.
I looked at Courtney, my voice shaking.
"Are my parents in a gang? And… is the bar their clubhouse?"
We were stopped at a red light. Courtney's eyes widened.
"Yes," she said softly. "They are. And sometimes Arron runs errands for them to make money." She paused. "But that doesn't change how much he loves you."
The rest of the car ride was quiet. When we pulled into the hospital parking lot, I took a deep breath.
"I asked Beth to tell me the truth," I said. "I didn't think you'd lie to me about it. And I know Arron doesn't tell me because he wants me to be safe. But… I'm eleven. I need to know what's really going on."
Courtney nodded. "If you have questions, ask me. I'll help you understand everything I can."
We went up to room 302.
The second I saw Arron, I ran to him and hugged him hard.
"Hey now, Monkey," he laughed softly. "I'm okay."
I started crying. "I don't want to lose you."
Courtney rubbed my back while Arron held me with his good arm.
When I finally let go, he smiled that same smile he always saved just for me.
"Don't worry," he said. "I'll be out of here before you know it."
Courtney told him how she'd been taking care of me, how I was staying with them, and how school was going. Arron listened, smiling, grateful.
We talked for hours — about everything… and maybe for the first time, about the truth.