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The blood rushed into his face. “I’ll take care of it,” he said.

“Don’t make a scene in the school. Please wait until you get home. You’ll be falling right into her trap. She’s unhappy, so she wants you to be unhappy, Ryder. Maybe you should just make your parents sit down and talk to her, tell them what—”

“I said I’ll take care of it. And I mean now!” he said, and charged ahead of me toward the classroom door.

“Ryder!”

Why didn’t I wait until the end of the day at least? I was sure he was heading for the junior high wing of the building. I hesitated just outside the classroom doorway and looked for him, hoping to call him back, but he didn’t even get to make the turn in the hallway. Apparently, Shayne Peters and Kory Taylor had stopped him and made some sort of dirty comment. Even from where I was standing, I could see Ryder was steaming. I started in his direction, hoping still to prevent any problems, but I didn’t get there in time.

Ryder turned and then swung back with his books clutched between his hands, slapping Shayne so hard on the left side of his face that he spun and then fell forward. Without a pause, Ryder continued turning and hit Kory on the jaw. He didn’t fall, but he looked stunned. I shouted, “No!” but Ryder delivered a third blow, clubbing Kory just above his forehead. His legs gave out, and he sank to the hall floor.

Mr. Huntington, one of the high school math teachers, was in his doorway. At first, he was too shocked to move, but then he shot out and threw his arms around Ryder, pulling him away from the other two. Shayne had gotten to his feet. He was a little unsteady, but he was determined to throw a punch and did. Mr. Huntington, who stood a good six foot three himself, turned his body so that the punch was deflected off his shoulder.

By then, there was a big commotion in the hallway. Mr. Denacio came running from his classroom to help, and some of the other boys charged in to keep Shayne and Kory from going back at Ryder. All three were then directed to Dr. Steiner’s office. I stood there holding my breath. Jessica, Sydney, and Charlotte rushed to my side. There was still a lot of shouting going on, and other teachers were ordering the students to get to their classes.

“What happened?” Jessica asked.

I looked at her, the numbness in me receding and pure rage washing through my body.

“Figure it out,” I said, then turned and headed toward my next class. I held my books tightly against my chest. My body was still trembling, and oddly, what I feared was that my limp would return.

Practically everyone was late for class. After it settled down, I could feel that everyone’s eyes were on me. I didn’t look at anyone, but I didn’t hear much, either. It was as if a meteor had hit the building. It all had happened that quickly. I didn’t volunteer to answer any questions, and I didn’t take a single note. Occasionally, I glanced at the doorway, hoping Ryder would appear, but he never did. When the bell rang to end the period, my girlfriends were around me again, this time all trying to be comforting.

I didn’t see Ryder at all for the remainder of the day. I didn’t see Shayne or Kory, either, for that matter, but by the end of the last period, word had spread that all three of them had been suspended and told to leave the building. This meant that none of them could return without his parents or a parent coming in to meet with Dr. Steiner. I headed for the parking lot, still bewildered.

Jessica made a point of telling me that she had not said anything to anyone, especially Shayne and Kory.

“I swear,” she said. “They heard it all from someone else.”

“Okay, Jessica.”

At the moment, I didn’t want to speak to any of them. They sensed it and kept their distance. When I stepped outside, I saw Summer standing with some other girls who were usually picked up by taxis or limousines. I realized that she had to be picked up that way since Ryder had been sent home, driven off the school grounds. It was probably for the best. I could just imagine him trying to drive and losing his temper at her at the same time.

Maybe I was a little crazy by now. I knew it would shock my friends, but I walked over to Summer Garfield and asked her if she wanted a ride home.

“What?” she asked, unsure that she had heard what she had heard.

“I can bring you home.”

“I’d never get into a car with you now.”

“Why? Are you afraid of me?” I asked.

She looked at the other girls, who were almost as shocked as she was. “I’m not afraid of you.”

“So?”

“I don’t want to be in the same car with you,” she said, taking a step back.

“I know what it’s like to hate yourself,” I told her. “You don’t know it yet, but I’m the best friend you have.”

She was unable to think of anything to say. I smiled and walked away. When I got into my car, I turned on my cell phone and called Ryder. I thought he wasn’t going to pick up, but he did just before the message system clicked on.

&nb

sp; “Where are you?” I asked.

“You don’t want to know.”