“—told you I’ll send you—” Brecken pleads.

The father interrupts, “Watch your mouth—”

Brecken argues over him: “—forty damn dollars!”

I hear the distant rhythm of Josh approaching from the bathrooms. My heart skips a beat and skids into a new, faster rhythm. Corey and his dad turn. They see Josh, too. They advance, and Josh holds up a hand, saying something I can’t hear over the wind.

Harper starts to cry, and the men move toward Josh with an air of intent that squeezes my throat. Leaning so heavily on his crutches, Josh looks vulnerable. I reach over Kayla and grab the door handle, ready to yank it open and go after him, but then everything happens at once.

Brecken pulls open the driver’s door, slamming the palm of his hand into the horn. It blares—a loud shock that makes both Corey and his father jump.

“Get his door!” Brecken says. Kayla lurches forward, pushing the front passenger door open for Josh.

“Josh! Haul ass!” she screams.

“He needs help,” I yell, trying to clamber over her. She pushes me back with a single fierce look.

“No!”

I try again, but Harper tugs at my arm. “You’re not going out there.”

“Lock the doors!” Brecken says, and I don’t know what’s happening up front. There’s a flurry of activity. Josh has finally hobbled over to the door. A crutch clatters to the snow-covered pavement and he wobbles. Corey is right there to grab the other crutch. Josh yelps.

“You think you’re smarter than me, you little shit.” He shakes Josh and Josh half-trips, half-lunges into the seat.

“Don’t touch me,” Josh snarls, kicking his good foot at Corey.

Corey dodges with a cruel laugh. “Mind your manners or I’ll do more than touch you.”

Someone cries out. It’s Brecken. His nose is streaming blood. I didn’t even hear the punch, but it happened. And now the father has his leg and is pulling, trying to rip him out of the car. Harper grabs Brecken’s arm and I lunge over her, reaching for Josh. He’s red-faced and breathing hard and we’re all tangled up, my body draped over Harper’s arms.

“Get the hell off me!” Brecken screams, his legs pistoning at his attacker.

There’s a soft thump and a strangled oof. The father crumples, clutching his stomach.

“Dad!”

Corey releases Josh and his second crutch like they’re of zero interest and scrambles around the back of the car. Josh turns to his side, grabbing his crutches off the ground outside his door. Soft cries come out with every breath. I hear Corey’s hands slapping at the back of the car. Then he’s at the door beside us, his sneer against our window.

Harper screams, but Corey ducks down beneath the glass. He’s not interested in us. He just wants to check on his father.