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

Maybe he could use Darian’s phone. Or the one at the office, that might be safer. If he were on the line with Ange talking shit and suddenly Darian picked up another phone and heard them? No. Stacy didn’t want to risk losing what they might have, what little they already had. A pay phone then, and soon, but Stacy didn’t know where to find one or when he’d get the chance to use it.


Part of that problem was solved when Darian pulled into the shop’s parking lot and Stacy caught sight of a pay phone at the end of the strip of stores. He stared at the phone as he climbed down from the pick-up and held the door for James.


Chapter 102