Page 150 of Pride High

“No. That’s the silver lining. We’re not allowed to be around each other. Like a restraining order. The judge said we can’t even be in the same class together.”

“Nice.” Anthony had never imagined Cameron getting into trouble, but he loved it. “So is that how you met Charles? You delivered meals to him?”

Cameron laughed. “Oh my god! I’m so glad you didn’t ask him that. No, Charles was the program coordinator. As soon as I met him… Well, you’ll see soon enough.”

Anthony glanced out the passenger-side window at a wooded lot, remembering a time when three little boys would explore such places together, having imaginary adventures that lasted entire summers. “We used to be friends with him,” he murmured. “Diego, I mean.”

“Really?”

“Yeah.”

“That’s hard to imagine.”

Anthony shrugged. “He was different back then.”

“What happened? Did he get a lobotomy?”

He took note of Cameron’s playful smile and considered not going into detail, especially since he was in a better mood compared to when he’d first arrived. Then again, maybe it was good to be reminded that there were worse things than crappy parents.

“His dad died. At the beginning of sixth grade.”

“Jesus,” Cameron hissed. “Are you serious?”

Anthony nodded. “He killed himself. We didn’t see much of Diego after it happened. He was barely in school that year, and whenever we tried hanging out with him, he didn’t say much.He still doesn’t. I know he can be an asshole, but he used to be a normal kid who constantly made fart noises and was obsessed with bugs. You couldn’t shut him up. Everyone always assumed that him and Omar were brothers. Like at the public pool. We used to go swimming together a lot.”

“I had no idea,” Cameron said, his voice laced with guilt. “If I’d known—”

“Don’t beat yourself up over it. Just because you lose a parent—even to suicide—doesn’t make it okay to be a dick to everyone.” He knew how terrible that sounded and hurried to explain. “We gave him endless chances, believe me. More than anyone else at school. It was like trying to love a rabid dog that keeps biting you. Diego is mean now. I don’t know if he lost his mind or what. But the kid we used to hang out with died the same night as his father.”

“When did you stop being friends with him?”

Anthony felt guilt tugging at his stomach. “About a year later. It got so bad that Omar and I had to make a tough decision. Keep in mind, we were still in junior high. We didn’t know how to cope with that sort of thing. Maybe if it had happened when we were all older…” He shrugged. “It was years before we found out that it was suicide. Our parents hid that from us. Diego never talked about any of it. He’d shut down if you brought it up.”

Cameron’s face was crinkled with concern. “I should apologize to him.”

“For what?”

“I could have been more patient.”

“When he was trying to pick a fight?”

“When he was trying to help me. In shop class.”

“You aren’t the problem,” Anthony said. “I promise. But I love your kind heart. I bet it tastes like strawberries.”

“What?” Cameron said incredulously.

“I’m sure of it,” Anthony said with a straight face. “If I could rip open your chest and pull out your heart, I bet it’s just a big strawberry gummy bear. Have you ever had an X-ray? Doesn’t matter. The first night you fall asleep next to me, I’m cutting you open to see.”

“Maybeyou’rethe crazy one,” Cameron said, shooting him a concerned expression.

But it worked. His mind moved on to other subjects.

“Hey, if Charles offers you a piece of pie while we’re there, say yes. No matter what the flavor is. Even if you hate pie. He’s such a great baker that you won’t regret it.”

Before long, they pulled up to a one-story house on the east side of town. Small ornamental trees filled the yard along with flower beds that had already been cleared for next year. Lush bushes shedding crimson leaves snuggled up against the quaint brick home. They pulled into a driveway and parked behind an old Cadillac.

“You’re going to love him,” Cameron promised. “And he’s going to love you.”

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