Chapter 36

“In his junior year, Jace’s grades began to tank. He started coming home late, telling my folks he was at the library, or a friend’s house, studying because he wanted to bring his grades up. At first they believed him; until they found out he was cutting classes. Dad hit the roof and grounded him. For a while it looked as if that was going to work.” Derek finally looked up, smiling grimly. “For all of two weeks. Then Jace was back at it again. My folks found out, from a guy who had been Jace’s friend, that he was hanging out with a couple of dudes who were older than him and into the club scene, and that they’d gotten him hooked on alcohol and drugs. Dad blew up. He took the keys to Jace’s car, cut off his allowance, and reported the guys to the cops for buying booze for an under aged kid. Then he tried to put Jace into drug rehab.”

“Like that would work if you brother didn’t want to be there.”