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Chapter 20

I couldn’t rid ht in my stomach the next day I wondered how many people in the school had seen Nyte’s video and put the pieces together even though Nyte had thankfully left out names and his account wasn’t associated with his true identity No telling how many people Nyte had shown it to Just what I needed: a video showing how inhuman I was

Then iven a urine and blood sample to the nurse yesterday What if I really wasn’t huet back?

Oh my God

This was trouble I had to swap those samples with so up some bodily fluids for my sake I’d have to lie and tell theymnasium and rushed to the nurse’s office The little old lady wasn’t there Instead, an oxyazed sleepily at uy with tiny eyes and a blimp for a head I couldn’t understand how anyone in the healthcare industry would let the three-hundred pounds

"I left so if they were still here"

"Nah Nurse Godwin took all that to the lab thisShe’ll be back soon with the results, so I wouldn’t sweat it"

Sweat broke out oninto a panicked squeak

His eyes narrowed "Sorasped frantically for some excuse "I ate powdered bull testicle, and someone told me it would jack up ht show up bad on hed "Those homeopathic re to worry about Besides, they started the drug screening tests at five thisso they’re probably all done"

I bit back a string of inventive curses but let them find a home in ain I left the office Instead of going to the gymnasium where trouble always foundMr Her on the wall It looked like Sonny and Cher in full seventies regalia He turned his head, as if pure animal instinct had told him I was at his back I was, I realized with a jolt, a predator in every sense of the word True, I didn’t prey on uys in the bathroo Surely that didn’t put my sexual preferences into question, did it? I shuddered

"Congratulations," he said, then turned back to painting

"For what?"

"For laying out that punk Nathan Spel He’s got the collective head of the ad hi a Deep Purple video when a colleague sentto kill you

I started sweating again "How did you knoas ain "The faculty knows about your punish a secret froured you’d be in crutches next ti I can do to stop the me play football?"

"This is the South, kid It isn’t progressive California or the great white north where basketball is king These good old boys have got you by your young boys whether you like it or not"

"Can you teachers helpto be afraid of"

Except I did If Elyssa was right, I had plenty to worry about

I received a lot of curious looks and stares during the day I wanted to wear a paper sack over lish class, Mr Turpin waved ivepeople before beating the crap out of them

He leaned back in his chair and said, "You seem to be a natural at football, Mr Case I saw the videos and I ht What a horribleout to be "I really overdid the energy drinks All that caffeine and sugar, you know"

An amused smile crept across his face "I’m sure It appears this football season will be farthan I’d anticipated And perhaps Nathan and his friends will learn that you’re not such easy pickings after all"

"I really don’t want to play," I said "In fact, I’d just as soon quit"