Page 55 (1/2)

Just that act alone sparks a rush of warmth inside me I cannot deny I don’t think I’ve ever felt this attended to by any friend my whole life Is that what he is now? My friend? Are we friends?

Should I ask him? Is that how this works?

We’re sent to change back into our regular clothes only three s, which releases some of us to lunch and some of us to fifth period Vann and I—perhaps in yet another slowly-dawning thought—realize we also share this lunch period together Without even acknowledging it, the pair of us walk out of the locker roo and head down the hall toward the noisy cafeteria, where we file in line side-by-side to help ourselves to a tray Today, it’s overcooked spaghetti, garlic sticks, and green ether, the pair of us seek a new spot in the cafeteria—I guess it’s the end of a table where Vann’s been sitting—and once we’re seated across from each other, we feast

Just like in the hallway, there is no shortage of people eyeing us fro to their friends It is clear that even with doing so little, we’ve beco near each other Everyone is paying attention

My phone buzzes between my fourth and fifth bites of watery, tasteless pasta I pull it out and read a text froh, I quickly text back that if his brother could hten the leash on his stupid jock football players,shocked e my phone away

Then Vann breaks the ice “We need to toughen you up”

My ive him a look “Okay, Stepdad”

He either doesn’t hear nores me “I’m obviously with you third, fourth, and lunch periods, but those guys can run into you anywhere What would you do if they caie’s?”

I s my bite “You mean Hoyt, Benji, and Julio?”

“What if they h you up or so? Nah” Vann shakes his head with a note of resolve “I’ll have to be there every night you get off work, from now on And if I so much as see one of their faces outside that restaurant, lurking around, waiting to pick a fight—”

“Are you saying you want to be uard?”