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Hoyt’s face wrinkles up “A spanking? What the hell? No”

Reading sarcasm—or any other form of communication that isn’t accusations or jock-speak—is clearly out of Hoyt’s intellectual capacity I sigh and decide to level with hi calledI don’t have to, because you aren’t a threat toto me, in fact Not anymore”

A moment of tense silence passes At once, I sincerely wonder if that was athe bear isn’t so I nor me permission to act in ways I never dreae in front of three separate audiences this past weekend?

Hoyt puts a hand on my desk as well as the back of my chair, then leans his head in real close to mine—and I mean really close “You’re so cute when you pretend you hate me, Toby,” he says in a voice so low, it’s nearly flirty His breath is minty, sharp, and oddly pleasant, like he’s chewed and sed ten sticks of spearum “Now I know better It wasn’t you who talked to the coach It was your big-shot, stupid, insecure boyfriend Vann”

I ignore hi ahead at the blackboard, as he continues to breathe on the side of my face

In rin “You wouldn’t go and try to ruin ht, aren’t we? Even when your boyfriend is around, acting like he owns you? I warned you he’s bad for you”

I turn back to hi in so close, our faces are mere inches apart “If I didn’t know better,” I murmur quietly, “I’d think you were a jealous ex-lover”

So in Hoyt’s eyes flicker His nose twitches irritably

“Why are you so close toto kiss me or somethin’?”

A gasp cole in a nearby row I didn’t actually anticipate anyone hearing our exchange, but apparently the classroon of our confrontation was made known, and noe have everyone’s attention

Hoyt’s face hardens He seery or amused Then he settles on aressive force, and seats hiht behind mine, which either I didn’t realize was empty, or else he just scared its previous occupant away But unlike usual, he doesn’t prop his feet up on my chair or shoulders

I face front, feeling victorious somehow

Still, when the bell rings and Ms Bean starts class, I can’t help but feel a pinch of guilt What did Coach Strong do after our chat? Even now, it’s still unclear what Hoyt’s all miffed about Then, just as quickly, I chide otten who the hell Hoyt is? The onizedback up just thinking of all the ti me feel so small, I literally prayed for the superpower to turn invisible I one home with a black eye or a bloody nose, but the worse scars are the ones no one can see, the ones inside which have stolen uilt for that asshole behind you

As if having a self-affirains his own confidence and, without warning, props a foot up onhis shoes That’s soon followed by his other socked foot, crossed at the ankles I hear a satisfied, breathy snicker from him

Ms Bean, completely oblivious, continues to identify the hout The Great Gatsby Everyone around ly no one takes note of a particularly arrogant jock’s feet propped up on ain

Is today the day I say enough is enough?

Another amused snicker from behind me tickles my ear

Resolve settles in my stomach like an iron stone If Vann was in this chair, he wouldn’t put up with this for a second On the very first day of class, he would have done souratively or literally

The moment another snicker cothem Hoyt seeot his feet trapped, giving theard whatsoever to Ms Bean’s lecture, I dig ht into the socked soles of Hoyt’s feet