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Gabriel sighed and slung his backpack over his shoulder, heading for the gym.
The halogen lights were off, but sunlight streamed through the grated windows near the ceiling. The long stretch of beige floor was usually empty at this hour, but at the opposite end of the room, a kid was shooting free throws from the line. And from the looks of it, he was hitting every one.
Simon.
Gabriel stopped short. Would Layne have told her brother?
Was Simon waiting here to confront him, to ask what exactly had happened this morning?
But that was crazy. He’d only just made the decision to come to the gym himself. And why would Simon be shooting free throws before a confrontation? Gabriel couldn’t make it work out in his head.
Everything was making him paranoid today.
At the very least, if Simon was here, it meant Layne was okay.
He walked into Simon’s line of sight, and the boy’s expression brightened.
“Hey,” said Gabriel. He held out a fist. Simon hit it.
But then the boy quickly gestured for Gabriel’s phone.
There was a fire at the farm this morning. Layne was
there. They took her to the hospital.
It answered a lot of questions and created just as many.
Gabriel stared at the words and wondered how to play this. He looked up and didn’t have to fake concern. “Is she okay?”
Fine. Doctor says take it easy today. Precaution.
“Makes sense.”
I emailed her from computer lab. She wanted to come to
school. Dad said no.
Gabriel nodded. “Figures.”
Can you stay for the game this afternoon?
This afternoon. He’d planned on it earlier this week, because he and Layne had fallen into the routine of watching Simon’s practice. He’d just assumed they’d watch together.
“As long as I’ve got a ride, I’ll stay,” he said.
Simon’s face broke into a grin.
Gabriel gestured for the ball. “Come on,” he said. “I’ve got time. Let’s play.”
It felt good to lose himself in the sport, to have some distraction. His hand ached, but he played through it. Simon was getting good practice was clearly paying off. Gabriel used the signs Layne had taught him, but he didn’t need them much.
When Simon ducked under Gabriel’s guard to steal the ball and make a basket, Gabriel started to wonder if the kid shouldn’t just be playing he should be starting.
One of the gym doors slammed somewhere across the court, but Gabriel ignored it.
Until Ryan Stacey stepped onto the court and intercepted a pass.
His face was still bruised from Friday night, and the split lip hadn’t healed, making his smirk look a little crazy. “Looks like the retard has a girlfriend.”
