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

Ahead the line disappeared around the corner into the serving area. As Stacy followed, he could smell the familiar stench of the high school cafeteria, a conglomerate of cooked cabbage and dingy dishwater, burnt bread, spaghetti sauce, sweat. Behind the serving counter a large fan blew over the staff—Stacy would’ve sworn the matronly women dressed in white smocks and plastic caps were the same hairnetted women who used to serve him lunch so many years ago. There were two of them but to Stacy they looked the same, wielding large stainless steel spoons in their hands to scoop up whatever it was he wanted to eat.


At one end of the counter were stacks of trays and silverware, spoons and forks and blunt butter knives. Stacy fought back a grimace as he lifted the top tray, the plastic slimy and wet. Just washed, he was sure they’d say if he asked, but he had his doubts. He threw his silverware onto the tray and tried not to touch it as he pushed it along the counter.


Chapter 33