Page 176 of Pride High 3: Yellow

“We’re either together in El Paso, or we don’t get to see each other again.” Diego’s voice was monotone. Detached. “That’s not some shitty ultimatum. It’s the facts. So what’s it gonna be?”

He didn’t wait for an answer. Diego took the exit and drove across the overpass to get back on the highway—toward Pride.

“We’ll get our own lawyer,” Ricky said. “One who can make sure you don’t do any time.”

“Won’t matter. They’ve got a taped confession.” Diego scoffed and shook his head. “That’s what I get for caring.”

Instead of letting Anthony take the fall. If only Ricky could do the same for him. “That’s it!” he said in excitement. “The detective said that if you didn’t turn yourself in, they’d make an example of me. But what’s the worst they can do? I’m only an accomplice. It would be my first offense. So I would probably be put on probation, right?”

“With a pissed off lawyer involved?” Diego replied.

“Okay, so maybe I’ll have to do a little time, but that means my parents can’t send me to Seattle. Once I get out, you can come back and everything will be fine.” Aside from his parents refusing to let him see his boyfriend again, which was a sure thing.

“Have you even been to juvenile hall?” Diego asked.

“No. Have you?”

“Yeah. It’s full of bad guys like Graham Fowler and me. They’d eat you alive. You think you’re scared of El Paso? That’s nothing. You really don’t wanna end up in a place like that. Not even for a week. Trust me. So whatever you do, don’t take the blame.”

“Yeah, but if it helps you—”

“Don’t,” Diego repeated. Then he reached for the radio and turned it up. Loud enough that it was impossible to speak.

Ricky racked his brain, desperately trying to think of a better plan. None of them could get around the taped confession and Diego’s damning past. By the time they reached Pride, he was starting to second-guess himself. El Paso was a good idea. For one of them, anyway, because even as they navigated the streets to his house, Ricky couldn’t work up the courage to change his mind. He would rather face the consequences here than start a new life somewhere else. But he also didn’t want to lose Diego.

Ricky lowered the volume when they reached his street. “Are you mad at me?” he asked.

“At myself,” Diego replied.

“Don’t be!”

“I’ve gotta learn sometime. That I hadn’t already is pathetic.”

Ricky could guess what he meant. The world was a cruel place and Diego had allowed himself to hope. After feeling abandoned for so many years. “I’m not bailing on you,” he said.

“Uh huh.” Diego pulled over at the end of his block. “Get out.”

Ricky didn’t move. “I know you’re disappointed,” he said. “I’m sorry I couldn’t go through with it. But I really do love you.”

Diego turned to him, his lips twitching into a snarl, as if he was barely able to suppress his rage. “That’s why I hate about those fucking words! People always use them as excuse.” In mockingly upbeat tones he said, “Sorry I can’t be there for you, but hey, I sure do love you!” Diego’s eyes narrowed into hard cruel lines. “Get the fuck out of my car.”

Ricky’s chin trembled. “I don’t want to leave like this!”

“GET OUT!” Diego roared. He reached into the backseat, grabbed Ricky’s backpack, and tossed it at him. When he still didn’t move, the car peeled out down the street and came to a screeching halt in front of Ricky’s house. Diego laid on the horn and didn’t let up, one long droning honk that announcing their presence to the world.

“Don’t!” Ricky shouted, not wanting him to get caught.

Diego continued to glare at him, a white-knuckled fist still pressing the horn. Ricky finally climbed out, barely able to stumble away from the Trans Am before it shot down the road, tore around a corner, and disappeared from sight.

Ricky dropped his backpack to the ground and began to cry. He stood there in the middle of the road, wanting nothing more than to turn back the clock, to somehow find the courage to ask Diego to keep driving until they reached a fabled place where they could always be together.

He jerked in surprised when he felt a hand on his shoulder.

“Thank god you’re all right!”

He turned around, and through blurry eyes, saw his mother standing there, his father not far behind. Ricky let himself be pulled into her arms, where she whispered soothing words while he continued to weep.

CHAPTER 29