Page 109 of Pride High 3: Yellow

She mentally recoiled at his touch, one of her hands clenching into a fist. She never got to punch the jerk because Diego appeared out of nowhere, seized Troy by the front of his T-shirt, and swung him away from her.

“Who the fuck do you think you are?” Troy snarled while struggling to free himself.

“The last thing you’ll see before you die,” Diego growled.

“THAT’S ENOUGH!” a new voice shouted. Ms. Deville pushed her way through the onlookers. “Let go of him!”

Diego released Troy with a flinging motion that sent him stumbling backward until he ran into the same clothing rack that Faith was still trying to untangle herself from.

“What is going on here?” Ms. Deville demanded. Silence fell over the entire group as instinct kicked in. Nobody wanted to get in trouble, regardless of which side they were on. Her focus narrowed to Diego, who was the only one who had been caught red-handed. “Well, Mr. Gomez?”

“We were play-wrestling,” Cameron said, leaping onto Diego’s back and wrapping an arm around his neck. “Like on TV.”

Diego grimaced but managed to remain on his feet until Cameron hopped down. “Yeah,” he grunted. “Wrestling.”

Ms. Deville raised an eyebrow. “Why, pray tell, would you do that?”

“Because of the big fight scene at the end,” Troy said while helping Faith to her feet. “We thought it could use more action and less dancing.”

“But this turned out to be a bad place to practice,” Cameron added.

“I can’t imagine your parents being pleased with such a direction,” Ms. Deville trilled, “nor do we have the time or resources to make such a change. No more rough housing or I’ll shelve the entire production. Do I make myself clear?”

They all nodded glumly.

“Good. Now I suggest you redirect this excessive energy into perfecting your choreography. Immediately!” she added when they failed to move.

That did the trick. They all dispersed. For the most part. Diego stayed close to Mindy, as if wanting to protect her. Which she appreciated because Faith came right back once Ms. Deville had gone elsewhere.

“You can have your stupid jacket,” she said, tossing it to the floor.

Mindy squatted to pick it up. “Where are the sleeves?”

Faith’s smile was cruel. “I threw them away during lunch. Have fun digging around in the dumpsters.” And with that, she turned around and stomped off.

“I’ll help you,” Diego rumbled from next to her as she stood.

That was sweet of him, but ultimately pointless. “It’s okay. The jacket is ruined anyway. I just didn’t want her to have it.” Mindy looked down at it and sighed. “My sister is going to kill me.”

“Maybe we can find one she likes better,” Diego suggested. “I’ve got some money. I can help.”

It was basically the same offer Troy had made, but coming from him, was much more appreciated.

“That’s okay,” Mindy said. “I was going to get a summer job anyway.”

“Yeah? Where at?”

“I’m not sure yet.” She laid the jacket out on her table to assess the damage. “I have to finish my lifeguard certification first.”

“Get a job at Oceans of Fun,” he said, referring to a waterslide park on the Missouri side. “That way you can sneak me in for free.”

She smiled at his attempt to lighten the mood, but her heart was dragged back down again as she considered the jacket. “I hope they hire skeletons, because I’ll be dead by then.”

“Maybe you could make something else out of what’s left. Like a wallet.”

Or a purse or a belt!

“You’re a genius!” she said, turning around to hug him.