“What was he upset about?”Tean asked.
Daniel yanked another handful of tissues out of the box.The pile of discards was growing.With one finger, he pointed to the mascara—or eyeliner, or whatever it was; Tean wasn’t sure if there was a difference—and made a scoffing noise, like perhaps Tean was too stupid to see what was in front of him.
“Keep up the attitude,” Jem said.“That’s a really cool thing to do right now.”
More color rushed into Daniel’s face.He sank down on the couch, and with his free hand, he resumed petting Scipio.For a few seconds, he stared at the Lab, his eyes unseeing.Then he said, “He told me I wasn’t allowed to wear makeup.”
“Today?”Tean said.
Daniel hesitated.Then he shook his head.“But it’s so unfair!It’s my body!And it’s not like I’m hurting anyone.It’s not permanent.Even though I showed him those tattoos you and I picked out, and they’re, like, perfect, and I can get them when I turn eighteen.”
Jem shot a look at Tean, and in the voice of someone trying to hurry the conversation past a troublesome point, said, “So, you argued about the makeup.What else?”
The blankness of Daniel’s face was its own answer, but a moment later he said, “That’s it.He was super—” The word was probably supposed to behomophobic, but what came out was “—hateful about it.And I’m sorry.I know he’s all fucked up because of my grandpa, but he’s a grown man.Hechoseto live like this.He left, and he came back, and fine, whatever, if he wants to be super repressed and unhappy and fight with Mom all the time, that’s, like, his choice.But he shouldn’t get to tell me how I live my life.”
“All right,” Tean said.“What’s your plan?”
“I’m going to live here,” Daniel said as though this were obvious.“You guys have an extra bedroom.Plus, you live close toeverything.I’ll just get my GED and get a job.”
“Oh my God,” Jem said and rubbed his eyes.
Tean frowned at him, but Jem didn’t see it.“Jem and I need to talk about this.”
“If you make me go back, I’ll—” Daniel began.
“Threaten me one more time,” Jem said, dropping his hands, “and Scipio and I will whip your ass.”
Daniel shut his mouth.But a grin spilled out.He yanked another handful of tissues from the box.
“These aren’t free, boner,” Jem said, snatching the box.“Goddamn teenagers.”
“Stay here for a minute,” Tean said.“We’ll be right back.”
But Jem sat there, studying Daniel.Then he held out one hand and said, “Keys.”
Daniel made a face, but he handed over the keys.
Jem still sat there.
“Jem?”Tean said.
“I’m trying to decide if I need to take his shoes.Smartasses can’t run if they don’t have shoes.”
“I’d just steal some of yours,” Daniel said.“You have, like, a million of them.”
“You little rat,” Jem said, not quite under his breath.He pointed a finger at him.“Your ass.Right there.Scipio, if he moves, tear his foot off.”
Scipio was busy cleaning himself, head between his legs, so the threat lost some of its impact.
After Tean shut their bedroom door behind them, Jem said, “Did you hear him?”
“I did.”
“A million pairs of shoes?I have maybe—maybe!—ten.”
“Jem—”
“And they’re all badass.That’s why I have them.I wouldn’t keep them if they weren’t badass.”
