Page 155 of Pride High 3: Yellow

“I mean that there was nothin’ behind it. I’m a fireman, for Christ’s sake! I don’t commit arson and neither does my son.”

“But if the Fowler’s house was to catch fire for any reason, you wouldn’t have responded to the call?”

Anthony couldn’t take it anymore. “He was only pushing back because Graham’s dad is just as much of a bully as his son!”

“And that’s what made you want to get revenge,” Detective Truman suggested rather than asked.

“No!” Anthony insisted. “I didn’t do anything last night but listen to music and watch reruns!” His parents were studying him, each with the hint of a question on their faces. “I promise,” he told them.

His mother nodded.

Joe glared. At the detective. “You’ve got the wrong kid.”

He was relieved they believed him. But he didn’t know if it would be enough.

Especially when the detective said, “From what I understand, your family has a history with this sort of thing. A detached garage belonging to the Jafari family burned down back in… oh, let’s see.” He began flipping through his notes. Anthony didn’t need to be reminded of when it had happened. He felt like the past had returned to haunt him, and just like before, he hadn’t started the fire. But he knew from experience that it didn’t always matter if you were guilty or not.

— — —

Ricky’s lunch sat untouched in front of him, his gut too filled with guilt to leave room for food. He listened to Anthony describe everything that had happened over the weekend, barely resisting the urge to interrupt and admit that he had started the fire. Except it hadn’t been him. And he couldn’t betray his own boyfriend. Could he?

“That’s not the worst part,” Anthony said, scowling across the school cafeteria to where Graham and his friends sat. “My dad got suspended from the fire department.”

“What?” Omar cried. “That’s so wrong! It’s not like the fire trucks didn’t show up, right?”

“Graham’s dad is claiming they didn’t get there soon enough. On purpose. He’s threatening to sue. So my dad is suspended while they open an investigation. Depending on what they decide, he might get fired.”

Ricky felt nauseous. He had to tell them the truth!

“I did it!”

He stared in shock, because the words hadn’t come from his mouth. David had spoken them.

“What do you mean?” Anthony growled.

“It’s the spell we cast,” David said, looking across the table at Dave. “Remember? The one that was supposed to vanquish our foes?”

“That was way back in January,” Dave said, seeming embarrassed. “And we were only trying to make Nathan Sullivan break up with Charlotte Brooks so one of us had a chance.”

“And they did!” David said. “Who knows what other forces we unleashed?”

Cameron scoffed at this. “This isn’t the time for jokes,” he said before placing his hand over Anthony’s.

“I’m not joking,” David replied. “We could try a counter spell if you want.”

“Sure,” Anthony said, not sounding hopeful. “Do whatever you can, because I don’t know what my family will do if my dad loses his job. I guess I’ll be working full-time during the summer.”

“What if the police found who really did it?” Ricky asked, his voice weak. “What then?”

“I doubt they will,” Anthony replied. “I figure it was probably Graham’s friends. They pulled a prank that got out of hand, and I can’t imagine any of them confessing.”

“Are you gonna eat your fries?” Omar asked, noticing that Ricky still hadn’t touched his food.

Ricky pushed the tray toward him. “Go ahead.”

“Are you feeling all right?” Cameron asked.

“No,” Ricky admitted. “I’m gonna go see the nurse.”