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I noticed then that he had a bruise under one eye, and that a discreet flesh-colored bandage lay across his nose

“Coot?”

“You already beat on ood reason!”

“Yeah, I seeot us both detention for that”

“That wasn’t even the worst part,” Boots said angrily “Sensi—what did they call it?”

“Sensitivity and awareness,” Sneakers said with a sneer “An hour-long video Plus the counseling See, Manolo, you gotta pay for all that It’s not just you being a homo—you were a homo who ratted us out”

“That’s extra beating”

“That’s blood And soot,” Sneakers said

Manolo cried and tried again to insert the key Boots grabbed his hand, crushing the keys in his grip Manolo yanked his hand away, and Boots smashed the fat end of the baseball bat into his solar plexus

Manolo lost every atoed into the side of his car

“That hurt, hoave hi into the other attacker

“What, you think you eyeball ?” Boots demanded

“I didn’t” Manolo squeezed the words out but could say no more

“Are you saying he’s not good-looking enough for you, faggot?”

“I think he’s dissingup on his companion’s snark “Except we know better, don’t we? Because I saw hiis just not enough”