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

The silent darkness pressed around him, and Stacy was all too aware of Darian falling asleep in his room down the hall. Downstairs, the grandfather clock chimed the hour. Briefly, Stacy remembered Ange, but it was too late to call his friend, and Stacy couldn’t find the energy to get out of bed.   20


On Monday morning, Darian drove Stacy to school. At the bus stop on Washington Street, Stacy pulled his cap down to hide his face—he could almost imagine Lamar staking the block out, waiting for him to get off the bus just to kick his ass or drag him screaming back to the apartment, but he didn’t see the Trans Am idling at the curb. Who was he kidding? Lamar wasn’t even out of bed this early in the morning. No matter how pissed he was at Stacy, he never woke up before noon if he could help it.


Chapter 107