Page 5

Billy

I grab Jesse’s bag from near his feet as I stand up and do my best not to laugh. He’s got a stiffy, which means he was probably having a good dream, and I knocked him out of it.

But the sense of wanting to laugh leaves me almost as quickly as it comes, because that means he’ll more than likely try to get back at me for it.

How was I supposed to know he was having a wet dream? It’s not like he advertised it, and he didn’t fall asleep on purpose.

Jet lag is real, and I think it’s taking a toll on all of us. Clyde is moving sluggishly, Doc is holding on to the railing as he goes by, and even Calla’s walking a little funny.

Granted, that could be due to the fact that she joined the mile high club, or it could just be because she’s tired… which could also be attributed to joining the mile high club.

I shake my head as I glance at Jesse, who’s got his hands clasped together tightly over his face, and decide it’s best not to wait for him on the shuttle.

Eventually, he’ll be ready, and it’s not like the driver can just take off with him still inside, anyway.

“Where’ s Jesse? ” Calla asks as I get off with his bag slung over my shoulder.

“He’ s coming. He ’s just trying to wake himself back up,” I state.

It’s not a total lie.

If he wasn’t tired, he wouldn’t have fallen asleep, but I also don’t need to announce that he’s got a rager.

Clyde immediately reaches for Calla’s hand, but she gently slaps it away.

He’s got a thing with being her main guy , and never fails to try to impart that on all of us, including her, but she’s quick to remind him when he can, and shouldn’t, step out of bounds with his shit.

He grunts and shifts his feet, and I share an amused glance with Doc.

We love when she shuts him down—it puts him in his place in ways that we know we’ll never be able to.

“I’ll wait for him,” she states as she walks back toward the shuttle doors. Calla leans against the side of the vehicle and crosses her arms over her chest. “You boys go inside and get comfortable. I believe there’s a lounge in the check-in area.”

Clyde and Doc nod as they start heading toward the building, but I hang back. I guess I’m kind of jealous of all the time alone they get with her, and I haven’t even been able to have a conversation with her in the past few days without at least one of them attached.

“Are you okay, Billy?” Calla asks as she tucks her hair behind her ears.

I nod. “Yeah. Thanks for bringing us out here. I think it’ll be cool to spend the holidays somewhere other than home.”

She smiles warmly at me.

Calla knows about the issues I have at home with my family. They treat me like I’m more of a burden than a brother or son, and I hate being there.

I just don’t have anywhere else to go.

So, when she told everyone in the program that she would have information for us to review for an amazing opportunity, I broke into the school after hours and stole four of the forms. One each for me and my friends.

Then I crept into the bio lab and stole some bacteria that I knew would wreak just enough havoc to keep the school closed for the next few weeks and set it loose.

I know she has an idea that one of us had something to do with it, but the rest of the guys thought that it was cool , so they didn’t turn me in.

For a day or two, I was the main guy.

It felt nice.

Until now, while I’m standing here alone with her, my conscience gnaws at me over it.