Chapter 12

Chapter 12 title page

Until Somebody Gets Hurt

Characters

• Clifford
• Carl
• Jacob
• Micah
• Garret
• Jay White
• Unnamed officer
• Sylvia
• Oscar
• Eliza
• Nora
• Carl
• Kevin
• Pupils and teacher at Kevin's school
• Friends from Chicago
• Oscar's fiancee
• Nancy
• White Faced Bear

In the background

• Hazel

Continuity

• Clifford vs Carl
• Clifford's eyes
• Clifford's fights
• Green Shoes
• Running from the law
• Sylvia's polaroids
• Recovering from the spider
• Oscar's reasons for leaving Chicago
• Oscar holding the back of his head
• Oscar's place in things
• Sylvia's books
• Turn into a wolf at it (the couch)
• Turn into a wolf at it (shenanigans)
• Turn into a wolf at it (annoying nerd)
• Turn into a wolf at it (the way home)
• Cards
• Blanket from chapter 2!
• Star Trek Voyager
• Brothers (gaming)
• Clifford's strength
• Oscar's glasses
• Sylvia's powers
• Clifford not hugging
• Oscar's engagement
• Nancy's cancer
• Clifford hugging

Changes

878, 885

894?

Locations

• Abandoned house
• Woods
• Suburbs
• Sylvia & Oscar's home
• DVD redbox
• The Norman home

Pop culture

Star Trek: Voyager

The movie is an invented one.

Post Chapter

Sketch of Clifford hugging Nora, who asks "Well, what's this for?"

Intermission: playful Cliff shifting between forms.

Quotes

"I'm sorry, buddy. It was an accident. It won't happen again. I promise."
—(p820)

"You're gonna flake."
"No, I won't!"
"Micah, you always do."
"Whatever."
"You're King Flake."
—(p822)

"Wow, Micah's actually here?"
"I know, right?"
—(p823)

"How are you doing that with your eyes? I thought you were a demon or something."
"Pff, okay Micah."
"Yeah, his eyes do that in the dark sometimes. Which you would know if you hung out more."
—(p823)

"Shit. What happened to your eye?"
"Your sister got a little rough."
"Christ. I was just asking. You don't have to be an asshole."
"Your mom says it's important that I be myself."
—Clifford playing the numbers (p824)

"Shit... it's the cops!"
—Move your butt! It's a higher mammal! (p826)

"Boo."
—Of course Jay knows horror tropes, he works with teens (p828)

"You're kidding. Is that Green Shoes?"
—Fame at last! (p829)

"Didn't Ferguson say that last month he saw Green Shoes walk right over an eleven foot fence?"
"Mmhm. Jerry said Green Shoes outran his car. So, let's find out the secret identity of the notorious Green Shoes."
—(p829)

"You mean to tell me Carl Hudson has a son who can run and jump like that and he's not playing ball?"
—(p830)

"Yeah, I remember both of you, now. You're in the same class as my daughter. Especially you, Clifford. I remember that little red head all the way back to the first day at kindie-garten. You were just about yea-high. Where does the time go? Y'all grow up too fast."
—(p830)

"We got a call from a lady worried because she saw a dark-haired boy walking into the woods in the middle of the night."
—MICAH. (p830)

"Here's the deal, boys. You know you can't be doing this stuff. And we're getting tired of chasing you. So, this is your only warning. If we catch you again, there's going to be consequences. Are we clear?"
"Yes, sir."
"What's that, Green Shoes?"
"Yes, sir."
—(p831)

"Pff. They were just trying to scare us."
"Uh. I was scared. And so were you. I could tell."
"I've been more scared."
—(p832)

"Why do you guys do this all the time?! How is this fun?"
"'Cause we normally don't get caught. Garret and Jacob actually know how to sneak around."
—(p832)

"I guess I've been slacking on not getting caught lately. Won't happen again."
—(p833)

"I think it looks a little better today. But I still feel like I'm one giant bruise."
—(p834)

"I didn't intend to be down here this long. I just needed soem space to figure myself out. I got up early one morning and decided I couldn't stand to be home for another minute. So, I picked some random place and took off. The whole drive here I kept wondering what I was doing. I felt like an idiot. I almost turned around so many times. What if I had? I would have missed... everything. This entire experience happened because of a whim. It's so tenuous. It could just as easily never have happened. And, I would have missed it. Maybe it's just the almost dying talking, but... I can't stop thinking about it."
—A "whim" (p835-p836)

"Well, I'm glad that you're here."
—(p836)

"I think you made a decision to start living for yourself. That seems like it would be very scary."
"Do you feel like you didn't live for yourself, Sylvia...?"
"Oh..."
Oscar's not the only one hiding, then? (p838)
—
"I can't guarantee your safety anymore."
"I never expected that from you."
"No, Oscar... I can't guarantee your safety -- from the White Faced Bear."
—(p838)

"He was furious about Saturday. He thinks you put Cliff in too much danger."
"That wasn't on purpose. And, that's not what happens every time we hang out."
—Not every time (p838)

"I tried to advocate for you, but... I can also understand his perspective."
"You think I'm a danger to Clifford?"
"No, I think you're probably the first person who he could just be himself around. And I don't think you realize how much that means to him. What happened on Saturday was an accident, but... if he hadn't been so lucky, if he'd been bitten like you... then you both would have died in that cave. If something like this happens again, he might not be so lucky."
—(p839-p840)

"What exactly are you saying, Eliza?"
"I just... don't want to see anyone get hurt. Maybe... you should think about going home. I'm sorry."
—(p840)

"I really did quite enjoy the first book. But the second book feels different... doesn't it? I can't quite put my finger on it."
Sylvia's book club (p842)

"I agree with you. It seemed like such an interesting world. But they just left it all behind."
—(p843)

"Hey, your face looks better."
"Woah, and yours looks worse...? What's the story there?"
"Oh, yeah. It's not a big deal. Don't worry about it."
—(p844)

"Did you get in another fight?"
"Who cares?"
"I just-- this isn't the first time you've shown up here with a bruise or a busted lip. I know how strong you are. I don't get it... There's no way some kid at school could take you on, let alone get a good hit in, if you didn't let them. Are you pulling your punches so they dont suspect--"
"God, Mom. It said it's not a big deal. Get off my case."
—(p845)

"I just didn't come over here to be bored."
"After last weekend, I am thrilled to be boring. Prepare for the most boring day of your life."
Oscar's boring club (p846)

"Oh, that's all for my journal. I've been keeping a record of everything that has happened to me here."
"Your journal?"
"Did you... am I in there?"
"Well, yeah. We've done a lot together."
"Ha. Right."
"Oh... hey, I'm not going to show it to anybody. It's not for anything. I just like to document things."
Likes: girls, boredom, documenting things. Dislikes: talking about his feelings, and LISTENING TO POWERFUL WITCHES (p847)

"I'm sorry. I didn't even think about it bothering you. Do you want me to stop?"
"Huh? I didn't say it bothered me. Do whatever you want. I'm not the boss of you."
Someone needs to be, though (p847)

"Let's do something!"
"Well, what we're not going to do -- is be a werewolf all over the couch."
"Hm. Make me."
—(p848)

"Make you?"
"Make me!"
"Sylvia, would you call those fighting words?"
"Sounds like it."
"Okay, then, Mister Make-Me. Prepare to be made."
GAME ON! (p849)

"Hold on! You just come into my house, knock over all my furniture, and then leave?"
"So, what are you gonna do about it?"
—(p852)

"Oscar Wilde, werewolf hunter!"
"Nerd."
"Well, how does it feel to lose to a nerd?"
"Pff. I let you catch me. 'Cause I felt bad about how you're a huge nerd."
"What a charitable werewolf!"
Noble, Oscar, the word is noble (p854)

"Such magnanimity via lycanthropy!"
"This is what I was talking about."
—(p854)

"How come you helped me the first time you saw me, when I was a wolf on your porch? Why didn't you just leave me there?"
"What? You needed help, and I could help, so I did. What brought this up?"
"I dunno. Just wondering."
—(p855)

"Honestly, I thought you were going to die. You wouldn't wake up. Those wolf kids really did a number on you."
—(p856)

"Oh, whoops. Your curfew. Come on, I'll drive you-- Cliff?"
"Oscar, wait... do you have to wake him? He must've been so tired. And, he looks so peaceful."
—(p860)

"Out like a light."
"Oh! ❤️"
"I don't mind letting him stay there overnight, or I can wake him and bring him back now. I just wanted to check with you before I woke him."
"Hold on. Let me call."
—(p860)

"I... I've been meaning to talk to you for awhile, about Cliff. I know he trusts you, and... has he said anything to you about getting in fights?"
"Oh... he had a bruise today, but he wouldn't talk about it."
"Right. Okay. If you knew something -- would you tell me?"
"I'll for sure let you know if I find out anything about the fighting..."
Oscar the lawyer (p861)

"I just... feel like I lied to her."
—(p861)

"If someone at school is picking on you--"
"Why are we doing this again?! I'm fine. I got everything how I want it, so there's no point in lecturing me. We don't have to talk about it any more."
—(p863)

"So who wants to set up and who wants to clean up?"
"I call clean up!"
"What? You hate clean up. You just want to keep playing."
—(p866)

"Hey, what do you want me to do about your guy?"
"Don't be a dweeb. Just let me die."
Wolves, noble, etc etc (p866)

"You'll never guess who brought their car into the shop today. Jay White. As in Officer Jay White. Seems like you're a popular guy down there. You want to tell me why the police chief knows how fast you can run?"
—(p867)

"What are we going to do about you?"
"You don't have to do anything. He wasn't even mad--"
"See, that's the thing I've been trying to get through to you. You think this punk stuff is all fun and games, but when you turn eighteen it's going to start sticking."
—(p868)

"Why isn't it a big deal to you? Because you got away with it? You keep pushing like this to see how far you can go, and one day it's going to bite you. Your mom lets you off with too much because she feels guilty that your father isn't around, but--"
"Thanks for the reminder that I struck out twice on dads."
—(p868)

"I raised you! I care about you! You think I don't want what's best for you?"
Evidence says no, Carl (p869)

"You look a lot like your mother, but also an awful lot like someone that I don't want to see you become."
"What? My dad? You never even met my dad!"
"I know the kind of man who runs out on his family!"
"I wish you fucking would!"
—(p869)

"Thanks for caring."
"Damnit, Cliff. Why do you have to push my buttons? You know I don't want to hurt you."
Abuser logic, out in the open (p870)

"Let -- me -- GO!"
WHAM
"Don't touch me ever again! I hate you. I really fucking hate--"
"Cliff...?"
—(p871)

"Kevin, get away from him."
"You think I'm gonna hurt him?"
"I don't know what you'll do. There is something wrong with you."
"Dad!"
—(p872)

"Hello, my boys! Who's ready for some fried chick--"
—(p872)

"Carl, what--? Cliff, your face! What happened?!"
"Mom! They were fighting!"
"They what...? Clifford, is that-- Cliff! Clifford, stop! Cliff..."
—(p873)

"What is going on?! Where are you going?"
"After him. He's out of control, Nora!"
"Carl! You need to cool off! CARL!"
—(p874)

"What are you going to do, Mom?"
"Well, first I'm texting all Cliff's friends.
sigh
"Honey, did you see what happened?"
"I didn't see it. I just heard... they were yelling. And, Cliff kept saying no, let me go. And, I went in there and he was bleeding."
"Okay. Okay. Honey, come here. I'm going to sort it all out."
—(p875)

"Mom... it was Dad. I think Dad hurt Cliff."
—(p875)

"Oscar David Wilde, no."
"Don't haunt me with that tone of voice, Sylvia Jean."
"You almost died!"
"But not because of Lester! I just want to know more about what he gave me."
"Well, I just want you to live a long life!"
"I've never been threatened with longevity before."
—(p876)

"I don't want anything bad to happen to you. Sometimes I think that I'm the only one of us who feels that way..."
—(p877)

"Who is it?"
"Cliff's mom. Seems he's on the move, again."
THMP
"Speak of the devil..."
—(p877)

"I fucked it up... I fucked everything up... GOD DAMNIT!"
"Cliff, what-- hey! Your face!"
"I DON'T CARE!"
—(p879)

"Shit. Sorry... can we just watch a movie or something?"
—(p879)

"What are you doing?"
"Just letting your mom know you're okay."
"NO!"
"HEY! Not cool."
—(p879)

"I think you need to start explaining."
"I just need some space right now, okay? Please."
—(p880)

"You aren't wearing shoes... You came from home."
—(p880)

"It's a big red truck."
"Carl!"
"Carl?"
"No! Why is he here?"
"Hold on! Are you kidding me? Carl?!"
—(p881)

"You need to leave."
Carl's been told (p882)

"Oscar, I'll just go--"
"YOU, SIT. NOW."
Cliff's been told (p882)

"He's not going anywhere with you."
"Just who in the hell do you think you are? You can't keep him here! I'll call the law!"
"Great! Then we can all have a little chat about what you did to his face."
—(p883)

"What did he tell you? He lies."
"Oh, FUCK YOU, CARL!"
—(p883)

"I have had it with you! I'll make sure you never see him again after this."
"Ditto."
—(p884)

"Sylvia, can you make sure the back door is locked?"
"Of course!"
Teamwork (p884)

"I can't believe this. How long has this been going on? Did you ever get into any fights?"
—(p884)

"What did you do... what did you do?!"
—(p884-p885)

"I didn't ask for you help! I could have fixed it! Why do you have to get in the middle of everything! Why can't you just mind your own business? What am I supposed to do now?! You ruined everything!"
—(p885-p886)

"Clifford, how could you? After everything he's done for you!"
—(p887)

"Sylvia! It's okay. I'm okay. He was just upset. He's not going to hurt me!"
—(p887)

"I'm sorry, Clifford. I hope I didn't hurt you."
—(p888)

"I don't know what I could say to you that would mean anything. I definitely don't know what to say to make you feel better. Comparing my life to yours can make me feel so... childish. You deal with so much but you're still determined to keep going. And I... I had a meltdown and abandoned my whole life. I don't think you even realize all the ways that you're strong. But... being strong enough to take the hit doesn't make it your responsibility."
—(p889-p890)

"You're making too big a deal out of it. It doesn't happen all the time. And when I turn eighteen I'll move out and then problem solved."
"Cliff, that's--"
"I don't want to be the reason my family gets destroyed! Is that so fucking hard to understand?!"
—(p890)

"But, you aren't. You didn't create this situation. Carl is the one who--"
"Oh, shut-up! I provoke him! I do stuff I'm not supposed to! I get mad and I pop-off!"
"Do you think there's anything that you could do or say to me that would make me hit you?"
—(p891)

"Do you think your mom would be okay with those terms? The family stays together as long as you get smacked around sometimes? You know she wouldn't be. That's why you haven't told her."
"Stop it! I get it! What do you want me to say?! Thanks, Oscar. Now I know everything is more fucked up than I thought! Happy now?! Is that good enough for you?! Is that what you want?!"
—(p892)

"I just want you to tell your mom the truth."
"Man..."
"... about this. We can save the werewolf thing for later."
"ARRRRGUUH! -- don't hug me"
—(p893)

"Mom, I'm at Oscar's house. Can you come here? I need to tell you something."
—(p894)

"Clifford, I am so sorry! Did you think you couldn't tell me? Did you think I wouldn't believe you?"
"No, I knew you'd believe me. I just... I know I'm the reason Dad left, and I didn't want to keep messing everything up for you."
"Honey, no! Oh, your father doesn't deserve you. He's the reason he's not in our lives. Not you."
—(p895)

"What's going to happen now?"
"Well, things are going to change. I'm going to have a long talk with your dad. But, I just can't rely on him to take care of you boys anymore..."
—(p896)

"I can't believe my marriage is over. I feel like such an idiot. I knew something was wrong, I just didn't think... You must think I'm a horrible mother."
"What? No. Cliff didn't want you to know. I didn't know either. Are you sure you want to do this alone? I can go with you."
"I think you're a good person. I hope your parents are proud of you."
OUCH, Nora (p898)

"But, you don't need to worry about me. I'm not scared of Carl. I'd fight the devil himself my my children. and have."
—(p899)

"Okay... who wants to watch a movie?"
We all know what it's going to be, Oscar (p899)

"Have you ever like... grown your beard out super big?"
"Ha, wha...? Well, as a matter of fact... here."
"Ha ha! That doesn't even look like you."
"There's a few more, if you want to scroll through them."
—(p900)

"Let me tell you about a little film called Terminator Two."
—(p903)

"Yeah. He's gone."
—(p903)

"He was gone when we got home. I haven't even seen him... it's weird. I worked so hard to try to take care of myself... and then it all gets done without me."
"So, how are you feeling?"
"I feel like shit! But, it's better, you know? I feel better."
—(p904)

"Kevin says he's not mad at me, but... I think he is. A little."
"It's a lot to process. Especially since he's so young. How is your mom?"
"She's okay. I think she's sad, even though she's trying to not seem like it."
—(p905)

"I'm sorry!"
"What? For what?"
"On your phone. I scrolled too far."
"... oh."
"Was that your mom?"
"Yeah..."
"Did she... die?"
"Yeah. She did."
—(p906-p907)

"Dude. Shit. That sucks."
"Pff--! Ha ha-ha! Yeah, it does."
"Why are you laughing?"
"You're just you."
"So, you're laughing at me?"
"I'm laughing with you."
"You're the only one laughing!"
—(p907)

"Um. Hey... Thanks."
—(p908)

"I never thought I'd be here this long. Now, I don't now how to leave."
—(p909-p910)

"Oh, yeah... I had heard that I've overstayed my welcome. Well..."
—(p911)

"The spiders told me what you did. Do not cause my efforts to be in vain."
—(p912)

"Why are you protecting him? Do you need him for something...?"
"No. I'm doing this because I was asked."
"Asked? By who? And... from what?"
—(p913-p914)