Page 27 of Pride High 2: Orange

“It’s called Wicca,” David interjected.

“I’m hanging out with a friend,” Ricky said.

“That’s great!” Cameron replied. “Anyone we know?”

“Diego Gomez.”

The table went silent. Including a few of the people around them who weren’t part of their group.

Omar broke the tension by laughing. “Seriously, dude. Who are you hanging with?”

Ricky pushed the glasses higher up on his nose before frowning. “I just told you.”

Omar was no longer smiling. “Bad idea.”

“Theworstidea,” Dave agreed.

“Why?” Ricky barely managed to get out.

“Because he’s crazy,” Dave said.

“And mean,” David added with a sniff. “He stepped on my science project last year.”

Anthony noticed how increasingly unhappy these opinions were making Ricky, and while he normally wouldn’t come to Diego’s defense… “Do you mean the gas pedal that was attached to a bike motor? You were supposed to step on it, right?”

“Yes,” David admitted, “but he stepped on it extra hard and I couldn’t get the pedal to stay up again afterwards. I had to let it run out of gas. The exhaust set off the fire alarm.”

“That was a good day,” Omar said with a nod. “At least we got to go outside.”

“So you couldn’t get it up,” Ricky said tersely. “Anything besides that?”

“Uh, yeah!” Omar replied. “We could fill an entire book with all the mean stuff Diego has done. I thought he was picking on you?”

“Not anymore,” Ricky mumbled.

“Not right now,” Omar corrected, pushing his tray away. “Diego is a walking timebomb. Let me spell it all out for you.”

Anthony kicked his foot under the table, and when Omar looked at him, shook his head as subtly as possible. “We used to be friends with Diego,” Anthony said, “before we had a falling out. But that was years and years ago. There’s no reason you can’t be friends with him now.”

Omar’s face twisted up incredulously. Anthony could only shake his head a second time. He wasn’t sure if it was his place to explain that, shortly before the suicide attempt, Anthony had caught Ricky in the woods behind their school. Diego had been with him and in the process of buckling up his belt. Anthony still didn’t know what he’d interrupted. He had never asked Ricky about it, since it was a painfully embarrassing memory for him. Especially the unkind things Anthony had said. Not to mention how easily Ricky had laid him out on the ground before stomping off.

“I’m sure he can take care of himself,” Anthony said to his best friend.

Omar stared at him before tearing his eyes away. “Just don’t let your guard down.”

“I’ll be fine,” Ricky mumbled before shoving fries into his mouth.

“What’s everyone hoping to get for Christmas?” Anthony asked, intentionally changing the subject. Not only to take the heat off Ricky. He desperately needed answers.

Unfortunately, Dave and David dominated the conversation, and before Cameron had a chance to chime in, the bell rang. Anthony decided to try again as they walked together to their biology classes, which were across from each other. Everyone else needed to go in different directions, giving them privacy. Aside from the throngs of other students filling the halls.

“What are you hoping to get?” Anthony asked before the topic became too distant.

Cameron needed a moment to figure out what he meant. “My own car would be nice. Totally unrealistic, but why not dream big?”

“Is there something smaller you want?” he pressed. “Some sort of woodworking tool maybe?”

Cameron shook his head. “I already have everything I need. Although a bandsaw at home would be amazing.”