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

Darian turned him on, but so what? So did Ange, and so did Lamar for that matter. After all, didn’t Stacy come last night too? For all he knew, Darian could just be a nice guy, sitting with him at lunch and talking to him after class because he knew Stacy’s history in school. He had been a cut-up himself, he said as much. Maybe Darian wanted nothing more than to do for Stacy what his brother did for him all those years ago. It made sense. Why read any more into it?


But the way he looks at me,Stacy tried to argue. He kept glancing back towards the school, hoping to see a car or truck with Darian behind the wheel. Some of the things he says. Those hands touching me all the time, how can I not read into that?


Chapter 52