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I come up to him and make a swipe for the shoes, only to have him pull them away “Now, hold on there a sec …”

“Give them to me”

“Hey, we didn’t really resolve things in English class Why do you hatea pal to you?” He tucks rins “Look, all I wanted to say is, reat if you cauys had a class last year, didn’t you? Oh, I just realized … G-Man’s a year behind, too, just like you! Buddy, why aren’t you guys best friends?” He snorts at that, finding it hilarious

“Hoyt,” I warn hi “Shoes Now”

“So listen, buddy, we hang out at G-Man’s every weekend His ma and pa are always outta town We usually show up at seven on Saturday, and stay ‘til … well, ‘til whenever You gotta come”

Tired of his toying, I ers hook on the, and with ame in place Suddenly, my face is inches from Hoyt’s, and his lips curl up with pompous satisfaction

I glare at hiether with you and your friends?”

“It’s G-Man,” Hoyt replies in a squeaky, simple voice, like that answers all of my questions “He’s friends with everyone Isn’t he your movie theater hookup, too? Shoot, Tobes, pal, no one who’s anyone pays for a ticket when you’re buds with G-Man”

“Let go of me and my shoes”

His voice drops, low and quiet “I knohat’s good for you,” he tells me, nearly a whisper “I’uys walk over you I’hen you up real good You’ve got a great body for baseball Thought about joinin’ the tea? C’ “Why you gotta ood for you”

Then, with a shrug of his arht, breathy chuckle, shakes his head, then struts around lare at his back, red-faced

I can still feel Hoyt’s grip on my hand as I pull on my shoes with a huff, then march out of the locker room and head for the cafeteria Hoyt is such an actor so on a stage It’s been a good six or seven long years of dealing with that self-entitled ass, and I’ until recently And there’s no way I’ to any party of G-Man’s with him there

Late now—and in alunch line, and feel like half h the ht where I was yesterday, I spot Kelsey beckoningthe theatre people, some of whom I know by na out with outside of school In seconds, I’uesses as to what play Ms Joy will choose for the fall production this year Usually a play has been picked and announced by now so everyone can prepare, but sohts has made Ms Joy have to abandon her first choice—Noises Off, of all a else

Of course, I’ absolutely none of this anyand charisets nearly all the lead roles every show, insists I audition this Friday What actually hastoday—and the fact that I don’t see him anywhere And as row even more frustrated

Then the bell rings, and people scatter like spooked spiders as fifth period su I’ve barely eaten half ain

Thankfully, Kelsey has secretly been helpinga bite or six under estively “What’s on your mind …?”

I turn to her, suspicious “Why’re you asking me like that?”

“Is it the guy?” She digs straight into it “The Vann guy? Yeah, I thought so If I had a guy like that fight for , too”