Page 117 of Pride High 2: Orange

“Nah.”

He walked to the cooler, hoping the movement would warm him up. After he grabbed a can, he turned around to find someone else standing there.

“Are you okay?” Anthony asked this as if there was some reason to be concerned.

“Of course,” Ricky said. “I don’t need another rescue attempt, if that’s what you mean.”

Anthony rubbed the back if his head sheepishly. “Yeah, I won’t be trying that again, believe me.” In a quieter voice, he said, “So you and Diego…”

“We’re friends.” A warble of emotion in his voice undermined this statement.

“That’s good, because I’m not sure he’s like us. He used to flirt with girls a lot.”

“Maybe he’s into guys too.”

Anthony’s expression was sympathetic. “I used to tell myself the same thing about Omar. Just be careful, okay? I don’t mean the usual warnings about Diego. Sometimes we hurt ourselves more than anyone else ever could.”

Ricky swallowed. “Even if you’re right, what can I do? You didn’t stop being friends with Omar.”

“Definitely not.” Anthony chewed his bottom lip for a moment, as if searching for a solution. “You can always come talk to me. I know how it feels, at least. Besides, that’s what big brothers are for.”

Ricky hugged him. Partially for the warmth, but mostly because of his kindness. Once they released each other, Anthony noticed something and seemed concerned. “Is that going to be okay?”

Ricky followed his gaze and saw Cameron sitting down next to Diego. “I’ll make sure it is,” he promised before hurrying to join them.

“I don’t even remember what we got into an argument about,” Cameron was saying.

“I do,” Diego replied. “I was trying to help, and you were being a dick about it.”

“I- I didn’t mean to be,” Cameron spluttered. “I was planing some wood—”

“Oh, so youdoremember.”

“I guess so. And you wanted me to use diagonal strokes—”

“You should have. That’s how my dad always did it.”

“Not on the first pass.”

“You never met him.”

“No, I mean—”

Ricky intentionally stepped between them when taking a seat. “Hey,” he said. “What are you guys talking about?”

“Shop class,” Cameron said after exhaling. “Or as I like to think of it, ancient history. I didn’t mean to get bogged down in the past. I only wanted to say that I’m sorry.”

Diego went rigid. “For what?”

Cameron hesitated before replying. “The grocery store incident.”

Diego raised an eyebrow. “When you ratted me out to the police?”

“Youdidknock over a bunch of stuff.”

“After you threw some of that stuff at me.”

“That’s true,” Cameron said. “But to be fair, you were trying to make me mad, weren’t you?”