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

That was his last period before lunch—English first, then a double class of something called Comprehensive Education which ran the gamut of subjects from history to biology, chemistry to government, geography to social studies, shit he’d learn long enough to take the GED and then promptly forget. It was a large class, a different topic taught each week by a different teacher and cumulative pop quizzes to make sure the students retained the information. Then math at eleven with none other than Hard-ass Harding.


Chapter 31