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Becky is thick as thieves with Nadine Strong, who is Coach Strong’s o I have aand how he leaves his precious athletes unchecked, but then reets around in this place—and not to er joint Phew, say that five tiet to his husband, and then I’ll get funny looks at my job from Mrs Tucker, my boss That reminds me, I need to ask her if I can come in late Friday; I want to attend the auditions even if I’ myself, and they tend to run late

“I don’t knoho pulled the fire alarm,” I confess

Becky sighs “I doubt anyone does Maybe it was a phantoh, noe another call to Nadine She’ll want to know about Marcie You have a better day, Toby Stay outta trouble, will you?” She’s back on the phone before I can even draw breath for a reply

After the bell rings, I launch out of the office like a fla down the hall toward English My peace from first period unravels the instant I’ who I’ll face I pray I get there before he does; I need to snatch a seat as far away from him as possible

I whip around the corner, then nearly crash right into hi to avoid, who stands at the door like a varsity-letter block of dumb “Hey there, Toby, bud!” he starts off, like he’s been waiting for ?”

I glower at him “Move out of my way, Hoyt”

“Hey, now Yesterday was a mess, but we can do better, can’t we? You and I need to be civil with each other I see you asthat sauffawing jock buddies at any time of the day “Like ht razz you up a bit, too, sure, but what else is a big brother for? Maybe I went too far at lunch yesterday, sure—”

I’m a year older than him, and this dope wants to call me his little brother “I said move, please”

“—but I ain’t ever hit you I don’t beat you up, do I? Not like that biker-wannabe new kid Vann tried to do Shoot You need an upstanding pal like me on your side, not him” Hoyt pats his own chest als”

“Noted Now move”

“Besides, your brother’s onwound, “and we’re tight, he and I So what about us, Tobes? We kinda have to get along, right? It just makes sense”

I’ around with me, so I shove past hiht ainst his sturdy, athletic body only pretty-boy face

The whole back row is taken, so I claieometry class with sopho already and get this class over with Hoyt, whose snore, struts into the classrooht to the desk behind uy searching for another desk without any cos, he props his feet up on the back of h Despite all ain blessed with a less-than-peaceful second period full of Hoyt’s big feet on my shoulders No one notices, least of all Ms Bean—for whom I’ll buy a new set of spectacles for Christmas

When the bell releases us, I hear the distant shout of, “See ya in PE, Toby, pal!” before slipping out of the room

But Hoyt is quite suddenly the least of my worries As I make way for the temporary trailers outside, my heart starts to pick up pace Now it’s a vastly different kind of dread that fills my bones with every step I take toward trailer 4-A I can’t tell if I’m more excited or scared to see my chemistry partner

Or if I’ll even see him at all

He could have been suspended Or expelled Or whisked away yet again for causing an uproar at one h School dozens of ht doesn’t sit ith me