Free Tricks by Ellen Hopkins

hold of Gram. He's finished with Mary Ann, whose face is white as smoke. "Let's go inside," I say.
    148
    A Poem by Cody Bennett Smoke
    You stand in front of me, pretending to be solid, but you are nothing
    more than smoke and mirrors.
    You said you'd never
    leave, that you would
    care for us forever.
    But now you claim you
    cannot
    stay, that you've been called away. When you
    go, who will I turn to when it all crashes down?
    Tell
    me who. Then tell me
    how I can believe in anyone again, if all your
    promises have been lies.
    149
    Cody Nothing's Static
    If I've learned anything at all in sixteen years, it's that
    things change. What you feel
    bad about one day can turn around like that. Same goes for the things you care about.
    *
    Three weeks ago, I kind of liked
    spending time at home, goofing off online or picking at my guitar, or just watching TV. But now
    everything feels strained at the Bennett house. Not
    *
    really like home at all. Everyone is strung tight. On edge.
    Concerned about the future.
    Something to do with Jack's
    digestive system. Whatever it is, neither he nor Mom
    *
    wants to talk about it. Silence, thick with apprehension, hangs over the place like a shroud.
    No more dinner table banter.
    No more cheerful ribbing.
    No more stupid jokes.
    150
    Three Weeks Ago
    I didn't have a girlfriend.
    Not being partnered up wasn't so damn bad, not
    that I totally mind having the hottest girl in my crowd
    acting like she can't get
    *
    enough of me. It's just kind of complicated because, as
    I suspected, Alyssa is not
    very happy about Ronnie
    jumping my bones, jumping
    'Lyssa's ship in the process.
    *
    The first time 'Lyssa saw us
    together, I thought she'd shit on the spot. We were sitting
    together (okay, like glued
    together, front to front, Ronnie in my lap) on the grass at
    *
    school. 'Lyssa came hauling around the corner, headed
    somewhere in a hurry. But
    when she saw us, she braked and did a double take. Just
    what do you think you're doing?
    151
    I'm not sure if she was talking to Ronnie or me, but Ronnie
    jumped right down her throat.
    What does it look like we're
    doing, Alyssa? Having tea?
    Then she laughed. Too hard.
    *
    'Lyssa puffed out her cheeks and her face turned red--the rotten
    red of an overripe tomato. Her
    hands clenched. Unclenched.
    I thought we were dog meat. But
    all she said was, That's fucked up.
    *
    Oil and water or not, Alyssa was the first girl I ever had
    real feelings for. And now her feelings were shredded.
    I felt like shit. Still do. But
    not enough to tell Ronnie to
    *
    take a hike. She's freaking
    beautiful, with black coffee
    eyes, shiny dark hair, and legs
    that go up to there. Slipping in between them is like making
    love to warm milk and honey.
    152
    We Had Sex
    The very first night we went
    out together, although I didn't
    think it was going to happen, what with her brother being a bouncer (okay, security guard) at Frozen75, something she
    *
    neglected to tell me until we
    slithered up to the front of the line. Pissed off a bunch of people, for sure. But, just like any club, I guess, they
    have an Invited Guest line.
    *
    And if your brother's a bouncer, you're invited. Especially if he's a bouncer the size of a VW
    Beetle. Vince Carina plays
    linebacker for the UNLV Rebels, a decent university team,
    *
    usually the second best in the state.
    Never mind there are only two, and the one from that cowtown up north, Reno, generally comes
    out on top. Not always, though, and when Vegas wins, it's party time.
    153
    Then Again
    It's pretty much always party
    time in Las Vegas. They don't
    call it Sin City for nothing.
    Ronnie and I partied down that first night for sure. And
    we've been partying ever since.
    *
    See, Vince is not only okay with his sister and me being together.
    He encourages it. Says she needs a guy in her life to keep her in line. Not that I'd ever try that with Ronnie. I'm a pacifist.
    *
    Vince is not. But he is a partier.
    Drinks like no serious athlete
    should,