Page 171

“What are you doing here?” he asked.

“Uh, visiting you!” Omar replied. “What happened?”

Ricky shook his head. “How did you find me?”

“I started calling around when you didn’t show up at my party.”

“Really?”

“Yeah!”

Ricky let out a sob before he got himself under control. “I ruined your birthday, didn’t I?”

“Who cares about that?” Omar said, walking up to him and offering a fist bump. “Are you okay?”

“I guess. My parents are going to kill me when they find out. Which is ironic, because that’s what I was trying to do.”

“What? You wanted to commit suicide?”

Ricky nodded, his chin quivering again.

“Why the hell would you do that?”

“It’s hard,” Ricky croaked. “Being so far from home. Being me…”

“Aw man…” Omar’s shoulders slumped. “I thought you liked it here!”

Ricky shook his head.

“Fuck, dude! I mean… It must suck having to start high school in a new town. I would have freaked if I didn’t know anyone as a freshman. But you’ve got friends. Hell, you’re hanging with the sophomores! That’s pretty damn cool. And no matter what you think about Pride, I’m glad you moved here.”

“You’re my only friend,” Ricky said, his face crumpling up again.

“That’s not true. Wait until you see how many people are in the waiting room. They were fighting over who got to come here. You’ve got friends, man. Don’t ever say that!” He turned toward the door and hollered, “Hey, Anthony... Get in here!”

He smiled reassuringly at Ricky, who for whatever reason, tensed up. Anthony strolled into the room with a hangdog expression.

“Guess who tried to take his own life?” Omar said. “He thinks we don’t like him.”

“I heard.” Anthony walked over and gripped the rail of the hospital bed. “I’m reallyreallysorry, Ricky. I shouldn’t have said the things I did.”

“Don’t flatter yourself,” Ricky snapped. “I didn’t do this because of you.”

“Good,” Anthony said, starting to sound defensive. “But that doesn’t change anything. I’m still sorry, andthatalso has nothing to do with you trying to…” He huffed in frustration and shook his head.

“What are you talking about?” Omar asked, looking between them. “What did I miss?”

“Nothing,” Anthony and Ricky said in unison.

Their eyes met. Then they both looked in opposite directions.

“I’ll let someone else come see you now,” Anthony said. “Who should I send in next?”

“Is Cameron here?” Ricky asked.

Anthony’s mouth became a flat line. Then he nodded. “I’ll go get him.”

He swept out of the room, leaving Omar completely baffled.