>Be Evan.

>Be in high school.

>Rob and Matt and Evan all hanging out in the hallway at the end of the day.

>It's Friday, so everyone is extra jazzed to be leaving.

>Hallway's bustling with kids.

>Everyone moving at high speed to get out for the weekend.

>Rob's talking about Jenna Kalinski, a girl he's trying to bang.

>She's a cutie, but I'm like ninety percent sure she munches the rug, he tells Matt. She's kinda got that artsy thing going on.

>Hot girls have it so easy, scoffs Matt. The world's just like-- he holds out both his open palms in an offering gesture-- here's all your free shit.

>All of a sudden, Evan feels a strong arm around his shoulders from behind.

>He jerks his head to the left and sees Kyle Granger's grinning face.

>Barker, he says. Long time no talk.

>Evan hasn't talked to him much since the spontaneous beating earlier that year.

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>He's avoided him in gym class, never spoken to him about it.

>Granger, says Evan, nodding into Kyle's face and trying to not look nervous.

>Hanging with your homies, I see, says Granger.

>Evan is acutely aware that both Rob and Matt despise Kyle Granger.

>Look, you're a smart guy, Kyle says to Evan, and I need to ask you a favor. Can I borrow you a second?

>I'm kind of in the middle of something, Granger.

>Kyle releases Evan.

>Oh, really? What's that?

>We were thinking about going to get Coney Island.

>Granger doesn't let it phase him.

>Well, shit, you guys mind if I come along?

>Granger grins down at Matt.

>You guys wanna get some Coney Island?

>Yeah, for sure, says Matt with mock eagerness.

>What about you, Van Gilder? Kyle asks Rob. You getting Coney Island?

>Rob has been leaning on the locker on his phone, not paying attention, now he looks up.

>Excuse me?

>You hanging with us? You in?

>Am I what?

>Yeah, I think you are. We'll even let you buy.

>Rob puts his phone in his pocket. Granger outweighs him but Rob's about the same height, and all muscle.

>I'm buying now, huh?

>Yeah, we know you can afford it. You can use your food stamps.

>Food stamps?

>Yeah, you got any food stamps?

>Yeah, as a matter of fact, I do, Rob says.

>He steps forward, the punch is like a rattlesnake strike, swift and clean and out of nowhere.

>He lands a blow directly under Kyle's chin.

>Kyle goes down, hits the carpet, choking, hands at his throat.

>The flow of traffic breaks around his crumpled form like water around a rock, a bunch of people take notice and look down and one kid yells, "Holy shit, WRECKED" but no one stops and no adults come forward to dole out order and punishment.

>Shithead, growls Rob, looking down at his felled opponent.

>Evan is stunned, looks at Rob like he's a Greek god.

>Let's get out of here, says Matt, shutting his locker, and the three of them take off and disappear down the nearest staircase.