Page 54 (1/2)

I stare at him, stunned “Did you just … call me a simpleton?”

“Nah I called your town backwards and five steps behind the rest of the world Like I said, this town needs me” He cracks his knuckles and folds his arms

I s s, but I ain’t no simpleton”

“Well, you sure are taking your time to open your locker”

I get the co me”

“Uh huh,” hehis lips curl up in amusement

I finally e the cos—or at least I try to My che to squeeze in between lish books, and I have to exercise a bit of grunting and creative Tetris kno to get it to fit properly without bending pages, breaking spines, or setting fire to anything

“The hell is that?”

I didn’t realize Vann’s peering inside le”

“A what?” He leans in, getting a better look at the doll sitting on the top shelf “Looks like a fat white gerbil”

“It’s a ame series”

Vann quirks an eyebrow aton?”

“Oh, you ht? It’s Dread Knight II, by the way, and no,poor Vann to jump back in surprise, tothe way down the hall to the gym without any further explanation It’s just as well, because he doesn’t ask for one