Parole compliance.
Financial stability.
Criminal record.
Counseling attendance.
Cody's current placement.
The medical report.
The school report.
Then the judge asked Cody a direct question.
"Where do you want to live?"
Cody did not hesitate.
"With my brother."
The judge looked over her glasses.
"You understand that your brother has a criminal history?"
"Yes."
"You understand that placement carries responsibilities and rules?"
"Yes."
"Do you feel safe with him?"
Cody looked at Jackson.
Jackson stared straight ahead.
"Safer than anywhere else."
Jackson lowered his head.
The judge granted temporary placement.
A ninety-day review would determine permanent custody.
Outside the courthouse, Cody stood on the steps beside Jackson.
Neither spoke.
Finally Jackson said, "So."
"So."
"You hungry?"
"That's it?"
"What?"
Cody stared at him.
"You've been trying for six months."
"Longer."
"We just won."
"Temporary."
"Still won."
Jackson shrugged.
Cody punched him lightly in the arm.
Jackson looked offended.
"Assault."
"Call the cops."
"I know several."
Cody smiled.
Jackson put an arm around his shoulders.
Carefully.
"Come on."
"Where?"
"Breakfast."
"It's eleven."
"Exactly."
The next six weeks were not magically easy.
That was something Cody had not expected.
He assumed that once Trent and Weston were gone, fear would disappear.
It did not.
He still looked over his shoulder in hallways.
He avoided the boiler corridor.
Whenever someone laughed behind him, his stomach tightened.
The first time a junior accidentally bumped his shoulder in the cafeteria, Cody dropped his tray.
He stood frozen while milk spread across the floor.
The sound pulled him straight back to September.
Jackson found him sitting awake at two in the morning twice during the first week.
The second time, Jackson did not ask questions.
He made hot chocolate badly.
They sat at the kitchen table.
Cody eventually said, "I thought they'd come back."
Jackson nodded.
"They won't."
"You can't know that."
"You're right."
Cody looked surprised.
Jackson continued.
"So we make a plan."
"What plan?"
"If you see them, you call me."
Cody frowned.
"That's your plan for everything."
"Good plan."
"What if you're working?"
"I answer."
"What if you're asleep?"
"I answer."
"What if you're..."
"I answer."
Cody stared at him.
Jackson leaned closer.
"You don't protect me by keeping secrets anymore."
Cody nodded slowly.
"Okay."
"Say it."
"I call."
"Good."
Coach Brian also noticed the aftereffects.
Cody returned to practice only after medical clearance.
For the first week, he did rehabilitation drills.
Then light routes.
He was slower than before.
Not physically.
Mentally.
He hesitated whenever larger players approached.
Brian changed practice assignments.
He paired Cody with senior captain Malik Turner, one of the most respected players on the team.
Malik knew the story.
Everybody did.
But he never mentioned it.
During Cody's first contact drill, Malik lined up across from him.
Cody swallowed.