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 sudden high-pitched squeal of a car’s tortured brakes pierced the calm night. Stacy glanced up to see the low muzzle of a familiar Trans Am bearing down on him like a bruised animal looking for a fight.


Fear flooded through him, freezing his legs in mid-stride, stopping him where he stood as Lamar’s car barreled towards him at an obscene speed. God,Stacy thought, his mind numb. Oh God, oh fuck, he found me, oh shit, oh fuck. He looked around wildly but there was no where to go, no place to hide, nothing to save him now


At the last moment the car jerked to one side, narrowly missing him and blocking his path. The passenger side door flew open and Ange jumped out, eyes wide. “Stace,” he said, breathless. Just seeing him made Stacy’s racing heart ease up a bit until his friend told him, “Run.”


Chapter 114