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

The girl yelped like a struck puppy and pulled her leg out of the aisle. Beneath her breath she muttered, “Asshole.”


Without turning around Stacy told her, “Lick it.” The disgusted sound she made behind his back made him smirk—he’d like to hear her come back from that


He followed the row back to the last chair and threw his books down. “Mr. Evans,” the teacher said, her no-nonsense tone enough to make him glance up. “Come a little closer, please? I want to fill up the front seats first.”


Stacy held her gaze as he dropped into the last seat. “Mr. Evans…” Then her lips twisted around whatever else she was about to say, cutting off her words. Her lips pulled tighter like the strings of a drawbag and she sighed, a slight, annoyed sound that carried perfectly to the back of the class. “Fine.” She bent over her grade book again, scribbling furiously, and didn’t look at him again.


Chapter 30