Nate found me after school on Thursday, in the parking lot by my bike, and I knew from the way he was standing, his feet planted and arms loose at his sides in a way that felt more dangerous than crossed arms would have, that this wasn't going to be a short conversation.
"Kai told me," he said grabbing the bull by the horn no greeting whatsoever. "all about you and about your Blue Ticks down to the Riverside thing."
I set my camera bag down slowly, buying myself half a second. "I figured he would."
"You figured." Nate laughed, shortly and humorless. "That's all you've got. You figured."
"I don't know what you want me to say, Nate."
"I want you to explain to me," he said with his voice low and controlled in the way that scared me more than shouting would have, "why some stranger paid
