Free Anywhere But Here by JL Paul Page A

I’d be late to my Calculus class and could already feel the detention slip in my hands.  My Calculus book was in my bag so I started cramming the rest of the sticky mess back into my locker along with the cleaning stuff.  “I’ll deal with this after class.  I can’t get a detention – I’ll be late for my appoint…”
    I froze as I clamped my lips shut, my heart pounding hard against my ribs.  All three of them watched me, waiting for me to finish my sentence, and that melted the ice that had stiffened me. 
    Obviously spotting the terror in my eyes, Fin gave me a gentle shove.  “Go to class – I’ll take care of this.  I have advanced P.E. and Coach Freels won’t care if I’m late.”  He shoved me again as I opened my mouth to protest so I flashed him a smile and jogged down the hall, stepping through the classroom door just as the bell rang.
    All morning, I plotted my revenge, though every idea I came up with really sucked.  By the time lunch rolled around, I was mentally exhausted.
    “You’re all cleaned up and good to go,” Fin declared as he joined me in the lunch line.
    “Thanks, Fin,” I said, genuinely, with a hand on his arm.  “Really.”
    He shrugged, a flush on his face.  “It’s not a problem, especially since I’m sort of the reason.”
    “No,” I sighed.  “She’s hated me from the get-go.  I wasn’t exactly friendly to her, either.”
    “Still, that was pretty dirty,” Fin said as we paid for our lunches and found Damon, Reg, Shane, and Grant already at our table discussing this morning’s incident.
    “How are you going to get her back?” Reg asked, her eyes glinting like a madwoman.
    “No clue,” I said as I toyed with the apple on my tray.  “I haven’t figured anything out yet.”
    “It’s so simple, dudes,” Damon said between mouthfuls of peaches. We all looked at him until he set his fork down and grinned.  “You two just need to keep spending time together, that’s all.”
    “Dude, you’re a genius,” Reg declared, bestowing an admiring gaze on her friend.
    Fin chuckled and nudged me with his shoulder.  “He has a point.”
    I groaned, covering my face with my hands.  It was so not what I wanted to do.  Spending more time with people meant talking and talking meant spilling your guts.  That’s what my parents paid the shrink for, anyway.
    “Stop looking bereft,” Fin said with false insult.  “Besides, Gina’s watching you.”
    I dropped my hands and smiled widely at Fin.  “You’re absolutely right, new best friend of mine.”
    His smile matched mine. H e winked.  “I know I’m right, best friend.  And I’m also right in thinking you should come to practice with me.”
    My smile fell and I took a bite out of my apple, chewing furiously.  “I can’t.  I have something I have to do tonight for Aunt Franki.”
    Disappointment flooded his face as he took a swig of his soda.  “Okay, hang out with me, Grant, and Isaiah tomorrow night, then.”
    My heart fluttered again li ke a stupid butterfly signaling how dangerous it was to spend more time with him.  But, there’d be other people so certainly that would help.  Although I felt as if I was striking a deal with the devil, I agreed.
    ***
    “So, how was your week?” Roberta asked as we each settled into a cushy chair.
    “Better, I guess,” I said with a shrug.  “I talked to my brother and we’re going to try to get together one weekend.”
    “Good,” Roberta said, bobbing her head.  “Have you talked to your parents?”
    “No,” I admitted with a pang.  They hadn’t tried to contact me, either.  “Not since I moved here.”
    “Does that bother you?”
    “Why should it?” I asked.  “They probably don’t even know I’m gone.”
    “That’s a bit of an exaggeration, don’t you think?”
    “Not much,” I said as I picked at a hangnail.  “Honestly.”
    She nibbled her bottom lip, studying me as if I were a strange new strain of flu under a