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September
     
    “Ricky Perry to the principal’s office. Ricky Perry, please report to the principal’s office.”
    Why did everyone always stare when they blared my name over the loudspeaker? Were they really that surprised?
    “Mr. Perry?” Mrs. Anderson didn’t sound at all surprised. “You may get your things and go.”
    I scooped up my book and took my time making my way out of the classroom. I made sure to pass by Devin Miller’s desk. I ’d caught her looking at me in homeroom. She liked to roll her plaid skirt up a few times, breaking the one inch above the knee rule. That rule was bullshit. I tugged a lock of her long, blonde hair, and she looked up at me, her full lips forming a small smile. I’d have to catch up with her before the end of the day.
    I dumped m y book in my locker and headed to the principal’s office. The secretary, a nun with a snug habit wrapped around her head, greeted me with a frown and continued to clack away on her computer.
    What would it be this time? Detention? A suspension? Maybe they’d just cut to the chase and kick me out. Wouldn’t be the first time expulsion was brought up.
    “Ricky,” Mr. Shaw said. “Come into my office.”
    I got up from my seat and plopped into the one across from his desk. A framed picture of a woman and two kids stared back at me.
    “So…” He sat in his chair and leaned back. “I guess you know why you’re here.”
    “I’ve been selected for Student of the Month?”
    “No, not exactly.” He straightened his posture and put his folded hands on the desk. Great, the serious pose. Here it came. “Do you want to tell me why you threatened Carl?”
    “He got in my face, so I got in his.”
    “He said you threatened to choke him with his jock strap.”
    I stifled a laugh. Fucking Carl. He had a mouth bigger than his gut. “I didn’t appreciate some of the things Carl was saying.”
    Mr. Shaw let out a sigh and rubbed his hands together, probably deciding my fate. “Listen, Ricky. This is your last chance to graduate on time and with your friends. Don’t mess up your senior year. I told you the first day of school—”
    “One more fight and I’m out,” I said. Mom liked to remind me of it every morning from her place on the couch.
    “Let’s make sure we don’t have a repeat of last year. For now, it’s detention after school Monday.”
    I nodded my head and was excused just as the final bell rang for the day. I shuffled through the crowded hallway, already loosening the tie around my neck. Uncomfortable as shit uniforms. It’d be easier to pay attention if I wasn’t so damn uncomfortable. A small path was made for me as I walked to my locker.
    “Yo, Ricky,” Drew’s voiced boomed. He slammed his locker shut and trudged through the kids trying to make the bus. “You going to that party tomorrow tonight?”
    “What party?” I shoved a few books into my book bag.
    “Melissa. Her parents are out of town for the weekend. Her older brother is getting a keg.” He chuckled like a little kid on Christmas morning.
    “I dunno, maybe.”
    “Come on, dude. You know it’s going to get crazy.”
    I swung my locker shut. “Maybe.” Mom didn’t look good this morning. I didn’t like leaving her alone for too long.
    Drew followed me down the hall, still rambling about the party. I had to find Mia and get out of this hell hole.
    I found her at her usual spot—next to her locker, huddled in a circle with some of her friends.
    “You ready?” I asked, interrupting Mia mid sentence. I didn’t have time to hear the rundown of their whole day. Who liked who. Who was going out with who. Who was a slut, blah, blah, blah.
    “Could you be a little ruder?” she said.
    “Yeah, I could.”
    She rolled her eyes and rummaged through her locker, her best friend, Alexa, waiting with her book bag strapped to her shoulders. Her skirt was exactly one inch from her knee, and her shirt was buttoned all the way up her neck.
    “How’s it going,