Introverted, socially awkward Jay Kirkman, known to his Grams as “Jay Bird,” is riding the ups-and-downs of youth while living with overbearing parents and dealing with the pressures of being a senior in high school. A month away from graduation, Jay hopes to flee the small upstate New York town of Milton for a life anywhere but in his dead-end hometown. He wishes for more than he has now: scholarly, eccentric parents, and watching Grams, the closest person to him, slowly dying before his eyes. His equally withdrawn but edgier best friend Rocco has a hearty appetite for drugs, alcohol, and promiscuous sex. When the law comes knocking, asking questions about a crime Rocco may or may not have committed, he finds himself in big trouble and turns to Jay for help. Is Jay and Rocco’s friendship strong enough to sustain life’s tough obstacles as they navigate the highs and lows of growing up together?

Jay Bird

“Since you hooked up with that newspaper delivery guy from history class,” he said.


“Is that his name? Goofy, lanky dude who digs comic books and chick-flick romances.”


“Elliot was the best thing that happened to me.”


“I always pegged you as a jock type. During our football games, I caught you staring at the tight ends most of the time.”


“Like I said, you really don’t know me.”


“I know you and Big E liked to make out in his parents’ BMW in the school parking lot during lunch break.”


I smirked. “Did you enjoy what you saw?”


“However, it’s been rumored—” I started to say, but he cut me off.


“Who said that?” Defensive, his eyes squinted into question.


I felt myself starting to laugh and turned away, gazing up at the full moon, a ready smile tugging the corners of my mouth.


Chapter 3