>Be Evan.

>It's the end of gym class, random weekday, sophomore year of high school.

>Evan is waiting with Kyle Granger for the gym teacher to unlock the door to the locker room.

>They're the only two in the hallway right now, they came in early from the soccer field before the rest of the class.

>Kyle is a muscular farmboy kid who hangs out with Evan in class from time to time. They've been acquainted a couple years. Evan met him through Brian Dinkins.

>Kyle likes to talk about ATV racing and hunting deer with his grandfather. Evan doesn't particularly find Kyle interesting but tolerates his chatter anyway. It's better to have someone around than to be alone.

>However, now, as they stand next to the door, Kyle looks at Evan, and just like that, without any warning, starts punching him in the chest.

>The blows are hard and direct. One after the other. Evan doesn't know how to respond. He puts his hands up but Kyle slaps them away.

>Come on, Barker, FLEX, says Kyle, landing punch after punch to Evan's ribcage. FLEX.

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>He goes high, he goes low, Evan can double up and try to block.

>Kyle backs Evan into the corner, raining hit after hit upon him.

>FLEX, says Kyle.

>Evan's chest will be bruised later. He will tell no one of this.

>FLEX.

>Evan's dressed in an old t-shirt, ratty gym shorts.

>FLEX.

>As he gets pounded, all he can think is how this came out of nowhere. Kyle has always seemed like a chode, but he's never been a bully.

>Come on, FLEX, says Kyle again. He jabs and hooks. His fists make a meaty thunk when they collide with Evan's torso.

>Evan can tell Kyle's pulling his punches. If he was hitting as hard as he actually could he'd be shattering ribs, and Evan wouldn't be standing.

>He's doing this for fun, Evan realizes. He's doing it cause he can.

>Still, Evan can't fight back. He doesn't know how. He's scared and confused and humiliated.

>Later he will imagine pummeling Kyle into oblivion. He will be so angry he'll see stars.

>I'm getting my ass kicked, Evan thinks. This is what an ass-kicking feels like.

>This goes on for another couple of minutes until voices echo down the hallway as the rest of the class files in from the soccer field.

>Kyle stops, steps out of the corner and leans up against the wall again like nothing happened.

>We gotta toughen you up, Barker, he says casually.

>Evan catches his breath, stands up.

>There are scattered blossoms of pain opening all over his mid-section.

>The teacher comes down the hallway and opens the door.

>Kyle is first into the locker room, and Evan follows the rest of the class in.