Page 12 of Run Away Home: Tempered

“It’s okay. It’s basically the same as my old school. I don’t really like school, in general. I’m not good at it.”

“No one likes school.”

“You don’t like it either?”

He looks like the kind of kid that would like school: scrawny, big backpack, and thick glasses.

“I like gym and lunch,” he says.

“Those are okay. My brother’s obsessed with school. He wants me to do well, and I don’t want to disappoint him.”

“Everyone’s parents want them to do well in school.”

“I’m thinking about staying late for extra help on Mondays and Wednesdays. I don’t really get the math. Do you get it?”

“Yeah.”

Oh. I kinda wanted him to say,No, I don’t get it either. It’s better to not get it with someone than to not get it alone.

“Can’t your brother help you?”

“You kidding me? He doesn’t know how to do it either.”

“Oh. Why?”

“I don’t think he ever went to school.”

“You don’t think?”

“I don’t know.”

“What?”

“Hey, Matt? I don’t really want to talk about that. Okay?”

“I’m sorry.”

We approach Matt’s building. He runs up to his door.

“Rocket League. Eight o’clock? You down?”

“Sure.”

“I’ll talk to you then, Danny!”

“Bye, Matt.”

He goes into his apartment. I shove my hands in my coat pockets and keep on walking towards ours.

Hayley

I’M ON THE COUCH, ANDNetflix is on. Yes, I’m still watching. Why does it always ask me that? Do I really watch that much? I don’t care.

Peter’s in the kitchen, cooking dinner, doing his Peter thing. I can smell peppers and onions from here.

“Hey, Peter? Can you bring me a bowl of ice cream?” I call out.

“We’re going to eat soon. Can you wait until after dinner?” He yells back, then peeks his head out of the kitchen.

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