The Good Wolves

Chapter 6

After a long night of research, I was more than ready for school. There was absolutely no way for me to find out who had recently moved to Topeka. I tried to ask Lupe if she knew anyone, but she told me that she didn't know many people around town.

When I got on the bus the next morning, Mim was even more distant than usual. She wouldn't say one word on the ride to school.

I was nervous to go into first hour. I went over various scenarios in my head in which Mr. Barton got me in trouble for almost dying. Luckily for me, he didn't seem to know anything.

When I entered the classroom, he was talking to Dominic about something. He handed back the papers Dominic had left on his desk. Mr. Barton seemed angry about something.

"Everything okay?" I asked Dominic as he walked back to his seat.

"Yeah," his eyes widened when he saw me. "I just messed up on a couple of things."

He left before I could say anything else.

Not having any more classes with Dominic was rough. I had plenty of classes with his friends, but I couldn't stop thinking about him.

I rushed to the cafeteria after fourth hour. Sophie could barely keep up with me, as I was determined to make up for my awkwardness the day before.

"What's up," I slid into my spot across from Dominic. The table contained less people than it normally did.

"Calvin and Amelia were suspended," Dominic said.

"They were?" Sophie gaped. "What for?"

"They ditched class to make out in the gym," Luke laughed. "They'll be back tomorrow, but damn. I would have loved to get into those pants."

"That's not funny, Luke," Sophie reached over and hit him.

Dominic rolled his eyes and changed the subject. "Are you guys going to the party on Friday?"

Sophie gave him a look as if he had just asked the stupidest question in the world. "Yeah," she said.

"I'll go if we win the game," Luke said.

"Mim?" Dominic asked.

"I'll go," she said.

"Lana?" Dominic raised his eyebrows.

"I wasn't invited to any party," I told him.

"You don't have to be," he said. "Calvin always has a huge party at his house after the first game of the season. The whole school is invited."

"You have to go," Sophie said. "Give me your number and I'll text you the address."

Sophie and I exchanged numbers, and I stood up to throw my trash away.

At the trash can, a boy with sandy hair bumped into me, causing me to drop the empty milk carton.

"Sorry," I mumbled. He didn't say anything back, just continued to trudge through the cafeteria.

"I see you met Jake," Dominic said as I returned to the table.

"Yeah, he didn't seem to like me," I frowned.

"Don't worry about it," Dominic said. "He's like that to everyone."

"Yeah," Sophie agreed. "He's in my French class. A total pervert. He must moved here from Virginia or something."

"He's new in town?" I asked.

"He just got here a few months ago," Sophie answered.

"What's his last name?" I asked.

Sophie shook her head. "I don't know."

"Kremisky," Mim said. Everyone gave her a weird look. "I'm an office helper. I filed the paperwork for his transfer."

Lunch ended, and I started to walk to class, but Luke followed me into the hallway. "I know your secret," he grabbed my arm.

"What?" I asked, looking to make sure no one was listening.

"Amelia told me you like me," Luke said.

"Oh," I breathed out a sigh of relief.

"I'm sorry, but I don't feel the same way."

"Well, darn," I faked a hurt look, even though my acting skills could use some work.

"It's not you," he said. "It's me."

"I totally get it," I tried to escape the awkward situation by walking away, but he blocked me.

"I don't want you to think it's anything against you, so I'm going to tell you something I've never told anyone else," he said.

"Luke, it's fine," I told him.

"No," he said. "It's not." Then, as if he were protecting the most precious secret in the world, he eyed the people around him, and leaned in so close to me that I could feel his body heat radiating against me. He leaned his mouth down right next to my ear and whispered, "I'm gay."

"Oh!" I said so loudly that he jerked backwards. "Luke, it's totally okay. I won't tell anyone. I promise."

"Really?" He asked. "That's so nice of you, Lana." He pulled me into a tight hug. "People expect me to be something I'm not just because I'm a jock, you know."

"I get it," I wriggled out of his hug, and gave him a pat on the back.

"Thanks for being so understanding," he said, and went on his way.

I sighed and walked to class. As much as I would have loved to talk through things with Luke, I had another boy to focus on. And his name was Jake Kremisky.