At 16, Stacy Evans dropped out of high school in the hopes of moving on with his life. But four years later, he's stuck in an abusive relationship with Lamar, a "friend with benefits," and works long hours at a dead-end job just to get by.<br><br>Then his mother enrolls him in a program to earn his GED. There he meets Darian, a woodshop teacher who is everything Stacy's friends are not -- smart, successful ... and who seems to take a personal interest in helping Stacy turn his life around. The two develop a rapport that keeps Stacy after school just to spend extra time with him. In intimate moments alone, they grow closer than just student and teacher.<br><br>On the right track for once, Stacy has a chance to choose between his troublesome past and a promising future with Darian. But his jealous friends won't let him go so easily.

Stepping Up to the Plate

He’d skipped school before but never when he had detention. What would the school have to say when he didn’t show up at the door of that silent blue room by the first bell? Would they call his house? Would they add another day to his punishment? He wasn’t sure, and that uncertainty ate into his nerves until his stomach fluttered, his blood sang, and he jumped at every little sound. A creak in the floorboards, the squeal of the cabinet hinge, the clatter of a fork falling into the sink as he tried to take one of the cups off the dish rack to pour himself a drink. Twice he looked over his shoulder with a guilty start, sure his mother was standing behind him, the sad set of her mouth showing her disappointment.


Chapter 3