After the last bell has rung, Arturo hurries out into the parking lot. He spots Regina ahead of him. She stops and waits for him to catch up. They linger near the exit. Across the playing field, the same fellows from the lunchroom in their football jackets chat with the blonde girl, vying for her attention.
Regina turns to look at the door. “Aleksy and Harris will be the last to leave,” she says. “Thanks for joining forces with me.”
“I wouldn’t have it any other way,” he responds. “Look, there they are. They’ve left from a side door.” As he watches the situation with rising apprehension, the bullies and the girl very slowly drift towards the young lads in the middle of the field.
Too late, the grade niners realize their mistake. They must have decided it would be easier to leave surrept
