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

With a burst of courage he turned away from Lamar, down the hall, heading for their bedroom. Inside he grabbed his backpack, already full with school books, and began shoving clothes inside without seeing what he took. Underwear, socks, another pair of jeans, a couple of t-shirts…


The world blurred around him and he blinked away the tears. This couldn’t be all that he was destined for, this constant state of running away. Wasn’t there more to life, hislife, than what he could fit in a pack? This couldn’t be it.


Chapter 84