Free Risen by Lauren Barnholdt, Aaron Gorvine Page A

has different ideas. He’s waiting for me at my locker.
    “Did you catch any shit from McCaffer-crotch?” he says, examining some dirt under his thumbnail as he leans against the metal doors.
    “Not really.”
    “Good.”
    “But I did get kicked out of class. No more texting in Western Civ for me.”
    “Grimes is such a bitch about technology. That guy must have been born on the Mayflower.”
    I just look at him. “Whatever. I just can’t go getting in any more trouble. So this new business plan you’ve got, leave me out of it.”
    Jay’s eyes are suddenly flat and unfriendly. “Okay Richardson. See you later, then.” He starts off.
    Suddenly I realize what I’ve done. The last thing I need is for Jay to hate me. As much as I don’t want to get in trouble, I also don’t want Jay to despise me.
    What if Nate comes after me again? I’d be on my own.
    I run to catch up with Jay before he gets too far.
    “Jay.”
    He’s pissed now.
    “Jay,” I say again.
    “What.”
    “Sorry if I was being a baby about getting kicked out of class.”
    “Nah, Richardson. You made your point. You enjoy being a straight-A student and getting into MIT. Have a fun life.”
    I’m surprised by how desperate I feel to have him not be mad at me anymore.
    “Dude, I don’t give a shit, okay? I don’t care about Grimes. The guy’s a total idiot. I was in a bad mood for a second but I’m over it.”
    Jay stops walking and looks at me. “Don’t take that shit out on me.”
    “So what’s the thing you were texting me about?” I ask, wanting to make him happy again.
    “I don’t know, Richardson.” He waves to one of the little girl groupies walking by.
    “Come on, I’m curious.”
    “But we might get in trouble,” he whines, mimicking me—but making me sound like an eight year old girl.
    “Dude, just tell me.”
    He gives me a long, hard stare, as if deciding whether it’s worth it to keep me around anymore. Finally, he must decide that it is. “I talked to Nate Diaz yesterday.”
    “When?”
    “After football practice. I ran into him—anyway, it doesn’t matter when,” he says, waving the question off. “Point is, we’re totally cool now.”
    “That’s good, I guess.” I wait for the rest of it.
    “And so we’re moving into Phase Two of my big plan. And I thought you might want to be part of it.”
    “What’s Phase Two?”
    “Remember when you were saying I was charging that kid for protection?”
    I don’t reply. I’m trying to figure out where this is all going.
    He looks annoyed again. “Well, I’m going to do it. Charge kids for protection.”
    “How are you going to do that?”
    “Actually, WE’RE going to do it. Unless you want to start in on being a boy scout, in which case you can just forget this conversation and I’ll see you around.”
    “You want me to be in on it?”
    “Jesus.” Jay takes a moment to compose himself. “I don’t care, Richardson. It’s up to you. Besides, you’re kind of bringing me down. I want people to be excited or it’s not worth it.”
    “I guess I just don’t understand. What would I do?”
    Jay smiles. “You get to do the fun part.”
    My stomach drops. Whatever this little scheme is, it can’t be good for me to have anything to do with it. And yet, something in me still wants to keep going further.
    Something inside of me that I never knew existed before. It makes me nervous to realize I can’t seem to say no to Jay Stevens.

    ***
    On Friday night, I show up to the football game alone.
    It’s a pretty cold night and I’m wearing my North Face jacket and a skullcap.
    Checking myself out in the mirror before leaving my house, I thought I looked kind of like a badass. Or at least slightly less “MIT techie nerd” than usual.
    I told mom I was going to the game and she approved, since in her mind only good things happen at school football games. I’ve been staying home on Friday and Saturday night for years, and mom never tires of asking me