I roll my eyes and glance at the door. “Try to restrainyourself,” I say, giving her a quick hug. “We’ll be upstairs.”
Len is standing at the door, his hand against the side panel. He’s got a deep purple bruise all around his right eye.
“Jeez,” I say. “You look like a mess.”
“Thanks,” he says. “You’re not so bad yourself.”
“Do you want some ice?”
“I’ll be fine.”
“I know, but that thing looks pretty bad.”
“Could I just come in?”
“Sure,” I say, stepping to the side. “Sorry. My room’s upstairs.”
“You run a tight ship,” he says. “No guided tour?”
“Later,” I say. “Right now we have to work.”
He’s holding a bag of Twizzlers in his hand, and his backpack is missing.
“Where is your study stuff?”
He holds up the bag.
“That’scandy.”
“Your favorite kind, no less.”
I stop. “How do you know that?”
“Chop, chop,” he says, pushing past me and starting up the stairs. “Don’t make me eat these all by myself.”
“But we have to study,” I say, trudging up behind him.
“Let’s just chill for a second,” he says. “The doctor said I really should be resting.”
He halts at the top of the stairs and places a hand daintily on his cheek.
“You’re lying,” I say. “But fine.”
“Which is yours?” he says, stretching a hand out in either direction.
“On the left.”
We settle on my bedroom floor, the Twizzlers between us. He opens the bag and offers me one. I take it.
“So what happened?” I ask.
Len sighs and rolls a Twizzler between his palms. “Nothing, really. Rob took the blame. They let me go, but I heard he got suspended.” He looks to see my reaction.
“Mhm, me too. You must be relieved.”
Len shrugs.
“Oh, right. I forgot. Suspension is like a paid vacation for those uninterested in school.”
