Page 57 of When You Were Mine

I roll my eyes and glance at the door. “Try to restrainyourself,” I say, giving her a quick hug. “We’ll be upstairs.”

Len is standing at the door, his hand against the side panel. He’s got a deep purple bruise all around his right eye.

“Jeez,” I say. “You look like a mess.”

“Thanks,” he says. “You’re not so bad yourself.”

“Do you want some ice?”

“I’ll be fine.”

“I know, but that thing looks pretty bad.”

“Could I just come in?”

“Sure,” I say, stepping to the side. “Sorry. My room’s upstairs.”

“You run a tight ship,” he says. “No guided tour?”

“Later,” I say. “Right now we have to work.”

He’s holding a bag of Twizzlers in his hand, and his backpack is missing.

“Where is your study stuff?”

He holds up the bag.

“That’scandy.”

“Your favorite kind, no less.”

I stop. “How do you know that?”

“Chop, chop,” he says, pushing past me and starting up the stairs. “Don’t make me eat these all by myself.”

“But we have to study,” I say, trudging up behind him.

“Let’s just chill for a second,” he says. “The doctor said I really should be resting.”

He halts at the top of the stairs and places a hand daintily on his cheek.

“You’re lying,” I say. “But fine.”

“Which is yours?” he says, stretching a hand out in either direction.

“On the left.”

We settle on my bedroom floor, the Twizzlers between us. He opens the bag and offers me one. I take it.

“So what happened?” I ask.

Len sighs and rolls a Twizzler between his palms. “Nothing, really. Rob took the blame. They let me go, but I heard he got suspended.” He looks to see my reaction.

“Mhm, me too. You must be relieved.”

Len shrugs.

“Oh, right. I forgot. Suspension is like a paid vacation for those uninterested in school.”