Afternoon school followed a similar pattern
to the events of the morning. He and Parker shared a study hall
during fourth hour, but when Mason pushed open the door to the
library, Parker was nowhere in sight. A heavy lump formed in
Mason’s chest. Parker was avoiding him.
Lazily scanning the pages of a Sports
Illustrated, Mason couldn’t help but think back to another occasion
where his and Parker’s relationship experienced yet more bumps in
the road.
News of a couple of members of the basketball
team being caught in a compromising position in the showers spread
like wildfire. The two guys, whom Mason knew only slightly, were
immediately ostracized by the basketball team, the remainder of the
school’s jock body soon following. The news had spooked an already
nervous Parker, who
