Nora had just settled on the living room floor when Nolan's cell phone rang.

He frowned, finger hovering over his screen. He glanced at her, then the others, then the kitchen. With a small sigh, he forced himself off the couch and out of the living room.

"I vote we watch—"

"No, you don't get to vote," Willow said from her place in front of her flat screen TV, pointing a DVD accusingly at Max. "You lost all voting privileges."

Max lounged innocently on the couch. "Hey, I was just getting into character," he said, holding up his hands. He couldn't even say it with a straight face.

Willow pretended to throw a DVD at his face, and he flinched, shielding himself with his hands.

"You still getting into character, James?" Andy asked.

Max chucked a throw pillow. Andy dodged, and the pillow hit Erin instead. She blinked. "Ow."

They laughed.

"What?"

All eyes veered to the kitchen. Nora's eyebrows creased.

"Is everything okay in there?" Willow asked, gesturing to the kitchen.

"I'll check," Nora said. She hoisted herself off the floor.

She peeked into the kitchen just as Nolan shoved away from the counter, jaw taut. She tensed. What was wrong?

"What the hell?" he demanded, and her stomach squeezed. "Who—?"

He stopped. His eyes widened.

"Johnny." His free hand clenched into a fist.

Nora stepped slowly into the room, toying with her necklace.

"What about Sam?" he asked.

So, this was about Caleb. She reached him and placed a hand on his arm. What that was supposed to do for him, she didn't know, but there wasn't much else she could do—not yet.

His jaw worked; his eyes distant.

"Nolan," she said. "Nolan, what's wrong?"

"I'll get him," he said. He hung up, and faced her. "I need someone to give me a ride," he said, voice soft, calm on the surface, but sizzling underneath. "Caleb's hurt."

Her eyes widened. "I'll get Andy."

✝

"So, what's going on?" Andy asked, looking through the rearview mirror, at Nolan. "Nora said something happened to Caleb?"

Nora followed Andy's gaze. Nolan faced the window as he said, voice devoid of emotion, "He got in a fight."

"What?" She whipped around in her seat. "That doesn't sound like him."

"He wasn't the one doing the fighting."

Her eyes widened. Oh.

What did Johnny do?

"What the hell, man? Who's the kid?"

She reached for Nolan's hand and squeezed. He squeezed back.

"A kid from school," he said, letting go of her hand.

Silence draped over them. It pressed down on her, too hard. She did her best to keep her gaze on the road, but she couldn't help but periodically glance at the rearview mirror, at Nolan's troubled frown.

Soon enough, Andy pulled into the driveway of a one-story ranch bungalow. He wasn't even able to park the car before Nolan hopped out, the door slamming behind him.

Nora unbuckled and jogged after him. "I can get back in the car," she said when he turned, surprised. "I just..."

"No," he said. "Thanks."

Sam's mom opened the door as they hurried up the front porch. "I'm so sorry." She yanked her dark curls out of her ponytail only to put it back in a ponytail again. "I didn't think—I only wanted to get them some water—"

"It wasn't your fault," Nolan said.

"It was." She held open the door, and Nolan and Nora entered. "His nose isn't broken. Since we've gotten home, I've had him icing his face in the kitchen. I'm so sorry."

Sam's mom led them to a spacious kitchen with sleek countertops and a matching island. Caleb slumped over the island, bags of frozen vegetables pressed to his eye and mouth. As they entered, he straightened, and the bags slipped. He rushed to set them back, but not quickly enough.

"Shit," Nolan breathed. He raced over to Caleb, reaching for the bag of frozen peas, which sat over Caleb's eye and part of his nose.

Nora hovered by the door. Oh, Caleb...

Caleb clutched the bag.

"Let me see."

"No."

"Now."

Caleb closed his eyes. He removed the bag.

Nora's stomach dropped. Purple, black, and red mixed together, spanning the entirety of his eye, as well as the outer rim. It connected to the growing bruise on his nose.

After some coaxing, he removed the second bag—mixed vegetables—from his lip. Bruised and fattening.

Nora squeezed her hands into fists. Johnny did this? How could he—how could anyone—do this to another person?

"Are you okay?" Nolan asked, reaching for Caleb's shoulder.

Caleb shrugged Nolan away. "Yeah," he muttered.

"I'll go get his things," Sam's mom said. She gave them a strained smile and disappeared from the room, leaving Nora alone in the doorway.

She pushed further into the room and claimed the space at Nolan's side. "Hey, buddy," she said. She put on her best smile. Would it do anything? Probably not. But what else was she supposed to do?

"Hi," Caleb mumbled. He tried for a smile and winced. "I'm okay."

"I'm sure you are," she said. "But you know it's okay if you're not, right?"

"It's nothing."

"Caleb," Nolan said. "This isn't nothing."

"Yes, it is," Caleb snapped.

"Caleb—"

"I'm fine!"

"No, you're not."

"That's what you always say when you're upset."

Nolan flinched. "Yeah, well..." He paused. "I...I was lying."

Nora put her hand on his shoulder, feather light. That must have taken so much strength to say.

Caleb sniffed and wiped at his good eye. "I know."

Nolan wrapped his arms around Caleb. Caleb's shoulders shook, and sobs filled the room. Nora closed her eyes. Please, help him, she asked God. Please.

She rounded them, hugging Caleb from the other side. "You're so strong, you know that?" she murmured.

"No, I'm not," he cried. "Goliath beat me."

"No, he didn't," Nolan whispered fiercely. "Do you hear me? He didn't."

Caleb didn't answer at first. Nora leaned her head against his, her heart aching for him.

Finally, he sniffled and said. "O-okay. Can we go home now?"

Nora pulled away, and so did Nolan. Caleb hopped from the stool and returned the packs of vegetables to the freezer. He led the way out of the room, sniffling, but back tall.

Sam and her mom met them in the front hall. Sam handed Caleb his lion mask. "Bye," she said.

"Bye." They hugged, and, with a wave, Caleb opened the door, disappearing down the steps.

"I'm sorry again," Sam's mom said. "Really."

Nolan nodded. "I'm sure Caleb will call tomorrow," he said.

"We look forward to it," Sam's mom said. "No parks for a while, okay?" she added, nudging her daughter. Sam nodded.