AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“She moved here last year,” Ashley added.
Colt nodded. “I don’t think she has, um, made many friends.”
“Is there anybody she’s close to?” Auggie asked.
“Maybe.”
“She had a boyfriend,” Ashley said.
“They weren’t dating,” Colt said.
“Bruh, yeah they were.”
“No, they weren’t. They were hanging out, that’s it.”
“Lorcan told me they were dating.”
“Lorcan?” Theo asked. “Lorcan Matthews?”
Colt nodded.
“Do you know him?” Ashley asked.
“Duh,” Colt said. “He just said his name, didn’t he?”
“That doesn’t mean he knows him.”
“I know who he is,” Theo said with a glance at Auggie. “He and Shaniyah are friends?”
The boys agreed on this point.
“He’s in that group that’s, like, obsessed with Pops.” Colt rucked up his backpack, annoyance mingling with pride in his face. “You know who I’m talking about?”
Theo did—and, to judge by the grin on Auggie’s face, Auggie hadn’t forgotten either.
“I could message them if you want,” Colt said reluctantly.
“That would be great. Thank you.”
Colt shrugged and looked away, but he was smiling.
“Do you know if anything had changed in Shaniyah’s life?” Theo asked. “She’s a good student, but I know that’s not always the full picture.”
The boys traded a look and shook their heads.
“How are things at home for Shaniyah?”
“I don’t know, Mr. Lopez,” Colt said with another shrug.
But Ashley said, “Danna told me her aunt is pretty mean to her. The uncle is all right, but the aunt hates her for some reason.”
“Danna didn’t know why?”
Ashley shook his head.
“Did you hear anything about a new person in her life? Maybe a new partner or a friend?”
“We don’t, like, talk to her.”
