Page 137 of Bookworm

CHAPTER 21

"Why do you frown so much?"

Bo lifted a brow. "You really want to waste one of your five questions on that?"

"Yeah," I said with a sniff."I'm curious."

"That doesn't count as one of mine by the way."

"Fine. Asking for clarification won't count toward our totals."

I had to raise my voice to be heard over the music as well as the person onstage doing a decent if off-key rendition ofLove Storyby Taylor Swift.Apparently,The Singing Fishwasn't a fish at all, but a karaokebar/diner open to teens and adults. Bo said students from The Academy came here after class all the time which made me jealous because it was literally one of the coolest places I'd ever been, and I hadn't even known it existed before tonight.

"Anyway," I said, "back to your favorite expression.I don't know if you realize this, Stryker, but you have resting frown face."

"That's not a thing," he said.

"Says the guy who made it famous—or should I say, infamous?"

In response, Bo frowned harder, and I pointed.

"See!There it is."Shifting forward in the booth, so I could stare him in the eye, I said, "Be honest, Flower Boy. You just want people to think you're a badass."

Bo leaned forward as well and rested his forearms on the table between us.

"I am a badass," he said seriously.

"So answer the question. Why do you frown so much?"

"Because the world is crap."

When he didn't go on, I said, "Seriously."

"There's not a lot to smile about, Kent," he said. "People suck."

"Okay, I'll give you that last part," I conceded. "Sometimes, people do suck, like when they burn books or say and do hateful things."

"Like bullying those who are weaker than them," Bo said.

"Or hurting animals."

"Or judging people based on their sex or the color of their skin."

"Or who they love," Iadded. After a moment, I said,"Yeah, you're right. People really do suck."

"Yeah."

I shook my head. "But you're wrong too."

Bo waited for me to go on.

"There's so much to smile about, Stryker," I said. "Look at you? You're young and healthy.You've got breath in your lungs, two parents who love you, a kickass grandma who adores you, students at The Academy who obviously look up to you.You found your passion with soccer and martial arts,andyou're good at both."

"Just good?" Bo said.

I rolled my eyes at the interruption.

This was important, and I was determined to make him see the light.

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