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said.
    â€œMore like parole.” The warden smiled. “Step out of line, and you go right back in.”
    I narrowed my eyes. “What else do I have to do?”
    â€œAnything Billy needs.”
    â€œLike wha—?”
    â€œ
Anything
he needs. But you can start by showing him a little more respect. In fact, show some respect for
all
of our special education students.”
    So he
is
in special ed.
    Billy twisted his lips and looked like he might protest, but the Warden pushed on.
    â€œBilly may have Down syndrome, but he’s extremely high-functioning.” He paused and made his next words sharp. “He certainly doesn’t need your help to
go to the bathroom
.”
    He backed into his office, pointing at me as he went. “Just show me you give a shit for once, okay?” Then he slammed the door.
    Mrs. Pruitt cleared her throat again and waved her hands as if to shoo away the whole nasty business.
    â€œWell!” she said, pulling a file from one of her desk drawers. “I’ll just mark that detention served, then.” She winked at me and patted Billy on the shoulder. “Looks like you owe your friend Billy here a favor.”
    I frowned. “I don’t do favors.”
    But between the crumpled-up detention slip in the trash can and the big grin on Billy’s face, all the evidence seemed to suggest this was one favor I couldn’t avoid.

Chapter 7
    It wasn’t even a day before Billy came to collect.
    I was leaning against Nina Sinclair’s car after school, blocking her door just enough to keep her from getting in but not enough to be obvious, and pretending to chat her up about algebra, while I was really calculating which was hotter—her long hair or her long legs.
    I’d just gotten a laugh out of her when Billy came stomping up.
    â€œI thought of my favor,” he announced.
    My eyes threw fireballs in his direction, but the watery look in Nina’s eyes doused the flames.
    â€œOh, sweetie, what was that?” She spoke in a sickening baby voice and bent over with her hands on her thighs, as if Billy D. were a small boy and not, in fact, her exact same height.
    â€œI was talking to him.” He poked a finger at me.
    â€œOh, sorry.” Nina looked taken aback for a second, but she was mushy-eyed again when she tilted her head up to me. “You look after him?”
    â€œWell, it’s not really
looking after
—”
    â€œDoes he have Down syndrome?”
    â€œHe can hear you, y’know—”
    â€œThat’s really sweet.” She leaned in close and fluttered her eyes down toward the ground. “And really hot.”
    I felt a warmth spread from my face all the way down below my belt.
    â€œYeah, you know.” I slung an arm around Billy’s neck and pulled him toward the baseball fields. “Gotta look out for the little guys.”
    Nina smiled, and I kept Billy in the headlock until she was in her car and pulling away.
    When I finally loosened my grip, he pushed away hard. “I’m not little.”
    â€œYou’re a little bit stupid, though.”
    â€œI’m not stu—”
    â€œI don’t mean it like that. I mean it’s stupid to interrupt a guy when he’s trying to hit on a chick.”
    Billy frowned. “You were trying to hit her?”
    â€œNo, hit
on
her. It’s just an expression, like—” I shook my head. “Forget it.”
    We reached the street and walked in silence until we hit the slope that led up to the gardens. We paused, deciding which way to go, then without a word, we both passed the hill and continued down the sidewalk.
    â€œYou said you thought of your favor,” I said.
    â€œOh, yeah. I need you to help—”
    â€œNo.”
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œWhatever it is,
no
. I’m walking you home. That’s my detention.”
    â€œBut Mr. Bell said you’re the amb—the