Robby glares at a spot on the back of his seat and keeps to himself for the rest of the ride. When they reach Hermitage High, he stands for a quick moment, then lets the bus’s forward momentum drop him back into his seat. The aisle fills with his noisy teammates, each excited about their upcoming games and ready to hit the field.
Robby isn’t quite so gung-ho.
He sits with his arms draped over the seat in front of him, his head hanging between them. His forehead rests against the seat’s pleather backing, his cap pushed up now as he stares at the floor. Over the raucous sounds of the exiting team, he’s overly aware of the sound of his own steady breath.
After the bus stops shaking under dozens of trampling sneakers, Robby gathers himself together and stands again. He stares straight ahea
