Page 15 of Switch!

Raymond drops his hands. “Probably for the best. You really took down more than one guy? Or were you just saying that to make your mother feel better?”

“I had a little help,” I say.

“Good!” Raymond walks over and sits on my bed. He pats the mattress, indicating that I should join him. “That means you’ve got friends. She worries about that. You don’t seem to have much of a social life.”

“I talk to people,” I say lamely as I sit next to him.

“Of course. But if you have a really good friend, someone who has your back… I can be that for you. If you want. I can show up after school and scare the guys who are messing with you.”

Is he kidding? Caleb would break Raymond in half like a twig! “I’ve got it under control,” I say diplomatically.

“Good. Good. Still no girlfriend?”

I shake my head.

Raymond grimaces. “Maybe that’s why people are picking on you.”

I furrow my brow in response.

“I get it,” Raymond says, “I know what it’s like to have people spread rumors about you. I’ve been there. I’ll let you in on a little secret. It doesn’t matter what anyone thinks. Don’t let that stop you from being whoever you want to be.”

I have more choice in the matter than he’ll ever realize, but all I say is, “Okay.”

“Good man.”

Raymond places his hand on my back and starts to rub it, like he wants to comfort me. My mom does the same thing, but this feels different somehow. I guess because we’re not that close.

“Like I said,” Raymond continues, “you can come to me for anything you need. I’m here for you.”

“Thanks. I will.”

“I mean it! Anything at all. It can stay a secret between us. Your mom doesn’t have to know.”

He’s still rubbing my back. I don’t like it. I want him to stop. “To be honest, I’m really tired. I think I’m going to crash.”

“No problem.” Raymond finally pulls his hand away. “I’ll see you in the morning, okay?”

“Yeah.”

I remain frozen in place until he leaves the room. Once he shuts the door behind him, I lock it. Then I undress and climb into bed, but it’s a long time before I manage to find sleep.

— — —

Everything is different when I get to Calculus class on Monday. Dean is already seated at his desk. He has a nasty scab on his lip and a dark bruise on one cheek. When he sees me, he averts his gaze. Not like he’s frightened. He seems disinterested. I take a seat and keep my attention on the door. Caleb shows up not long after. He sends a withering glare in my direction. Then he notices Dean and gives an upward nod of his head. The greeting isn’t returned. Dean pulls out his phone and starts messing with it. After staring at him, Caleb leans against the doorway and does the same, but he keeps looking up, as if slighted. Curiosity overwhelms me, so I lay my head on the desk. After leaping to his body, I find myself staring down at a phone, which looks small in Caleb’s massive hand. On the screen is a page of text, but it’s blurry, so I focus intently on making his thumb move.

Screen smudged with prints, steadily glowing icons, fingers gripping the protective rubber case…

SWIPE DOWNWARD.

I hear the pop that always accompanies Phase Two. The page of text scrolls back to the top as his thumb moves at my command, revealing a photo of a football player dressed in silver and blue.

June thirteenth.

The same date he thought of when I made him look toward the football field the other day. Sports again. So boring. I’m way more interested in his text messages. I thought Caleb might have been messaging Dean to work out their differences. When I tap on the icon for his texts, I see Dean’s name near the top of the list, but he hasn’t written since Saturday.

Dean:Whatever man. Stay away from me. We’re through.

That doesn’t sound very friendly. I start again at the top of the screen.