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

Ange had laughed. “It’s a Nova, Stace. Don’t you get it?” At Stacy’s blank stare, he added, “Like the chick from Starblazers?”


Stacy still didn’t get it but he didn’t want Ange to think he was stupid or something, so he’d laughed like he knew what his friend meant. Then he made a playful lunge for Ange’s crotch to distract him and ended up turning the conversation back to where he thought it really belonged.


Chapter 27