Page 202 - My FlipBook

L IS A J. L A W R E N C E

Nate shrugged, his the only pair of hands moving, turning
over tiny letter tiles. “It seemed like you guys had enough to
worry about.” They didn’t join in his busyness.
Ash and Greta shared a look. They had failed him—again.
With Nate, always taking more than they gave. “Sorry if we
made you feel that way,” Greta said. Did they ever ask him
about his life? She wracked her brain to remember a ques-
tion, a conversation. Across from her, Ash dropped his head.

“You can talk to us about anything,” she said, and Ash
nodded, joining Nate in organizing the tiles.
“Okay,” Nate said. “Okay then. I do have a question.”
They looked up, waiting.
“How do you plan on finishing school and graduating?”
Neither of them answered. Ash started choosing his tiles,
until Nate grabbed his and Greta’s hands, forcing them to ADVANCE READING COPY

look at him.
“How do you plan on finishing school and graduating?”
he asked again.
Ash wormed his hand away. “I don’t know. They kicked
me out, remember?”
“And you?” Nate turned to Greta.
Greta tried to quash a burst of irritation. “There’s more
to this story than you know,” she said, trying to keep her
voice even. But she couldn’t lose it on Nate—practically the

Mother Teresa of teenage boys. “I won’t go back without Ash.”
“Listen, I’m not saying you should go back because I don’t
have other friends there—I don’t, but I’ll be okay. As your
friend, I’m telling you this is important.”

192