The next person to confront me on the matter was Kanesha. “Hey.”

I fell in next to her, heading for lunch. “Hey.”

“You need to talk about whatever’s weighing on you.”

“It’s…ever had that feeling that you’re sitting on the sidelines with nothing to do?”

She nodded vigorously. “Yeah. You need a fight or something.”

“Or something,” I agreed. “Sorry I’ve been lousy company lately.”

“You’re no worse than me before a test.”

My lips quirked. “New York.”

“We’ll get there,” she promised. “Of course, the trouble will follow us.”

“It will,” I admitted. “But what can I do? I can’t stop being me.” And I didn’t want to. I thought I remembered something in that moment. My mother’s arms. That was enough for now. It helped, anyway.

“I wouldn’t love you if you did.”

I grinned at her. “It’s my fault for scaring all the…” I tailed off. “…bullies away.”

I tailed off because coming right up behind us was Barry Clark.

“Bullies, eh? Nobody messes with you.”

I grinned at him. “Oh, they try. They remember Kanesha has a black belt and don’t remember I’m no slouch myself.” He’d been indifferent to me lately – which kept me happy. I hadn’t forgotten the kidnapping incident.

If I was going to date somebody it had to be somebody with some basic ability to defend themselves and the inclination to get more.

“Yeah. I guess I know now why you weren’t interested in me.”

“Actually, it wasn’t that…and I know you could be very interesting.” Honesty won out over letting him think I was all the way gay.

“Oh. You just…”

“You aren’t my type, Barry. It has nothing to do with being a guy. You just aren’t my type, but you’re Viola’s.” I’d seen the two hanging out together.

He blushed.

“See? Nothing to worry about.” I grinned and then Kanesha hooked her arm into mine and all but dragged me to lunch.