Page 48 of Something Like Winter

“Wait!”

Despite his better judgment, Tim kept the phone pressed to his ear. “Just tell me what you want.”

“I want to know the truth. You and Ben—”

“We were friends.” Tim had already given thought to this. He wouldn’t be able to salvage his reputation at school. It was Kansas all over again, but he had to do everything he could to keep attention away from Ben. “His dad knows my dad, so when I first moved here, we hung out a couple of times.”

“And then?”

“And then school started, and I had my social status to think of.”

“Which you should have done yesterday before you jumped Bryce.”

“Maybe,” Tim said. “Look, I didn’t want to see Ben get beat up. He’s an okay guy, even if he is gay. There’s nothing more to it. If anything, I probably stopped Bryce from killing him and getting arrested.”

The line was quiet. Then Stacy said, “What are you going to do? When summer is over I mean.”

“Go to a different school. Maybe a private one. I don’t know. I won’t be back.”

“That’s probably for the best.” Stacy almost sounded sad. “I’d fix this for you if I could, but even Darryl is screaming for your head.”

“I figured.” Tim sighed. “And Krista?”

“Well, it’s hardly going to work, is it? She either has to lose all her friends and change schools to be with you, or she moves on.”

Tim closed his eyes. “Which do you think she’ll do?”

“Whatever I tell her to,” Stacy said matter-of-factly.

“I’m not going to be around, so—” He let the sentence hang.

“I’ll plant the seed in her vacant little head,” Stacy said, “but I’m not breaking up with her for you.”

Oh well. Worth a shot. Tim had done it once before. He could do it again.

“Well,” Stacy said, “I guess this is goodbye.”

“Wait! I need a favor. I mean, I figure you owe me.”

Stacy scoffed. “I don’t owe anything to anyone.”

But Tim had to try anyway. “Just make sure they don’t come down on Ben.”

“Do you really think I can control what my boyfriend does?”

“Yes!” Tim gave an exasperated laugh. “You have us all wrapped around your little finger. So will you?”

“Why should I?” Stacy pressed.

Tim swallowed. He would have to gamble, once last time. “You know why.”

This time the line was quiet for so long that Tim wondered if she had hung up on him. “I guess Molly Desai was right about the cute ones.”

“Don’t tell Krista.” He didn’t know why it mattered. Maybe because he didn’t want her to think that everything between them had been an act.

“The last thing I need is her crying about that too.” Stacy paused. “I suppose beating up a gay guy is like hitting a girl. At least I’ll convince the boys of that and make them feel like wimps if the thought crosses their minds. They won’t touch Ben unless they want to be emasculated in the eyes of the school.”

“Sounds good.” It was the best anyone could do. Hopefully Ben would make it through his senior year without any more trouble. “Thanks.”