“What doesthat mean?” I asked, my eyes as wide as saucers.
“It’s whatmommy calls the other drivers when we’re in the car.”
“Okay, nowthat we both sweared, what’s your secret?”
Flash lookeddown and whispered, “I didn’t lose my bike.”
“You didn’t?”I asked excitedly. “That’s great. Just tell your parents and we can go play.”
Flash shookhis head. “I didn’t lose it, but I don’t have it either.”
“I don’tunderstand,” I said.
“I didn’tforget to lock it up at Julian’s house. Someone… ah… took it from me.”
“Who tookit?” I asked, but I already knew the answer.
“S…ScottBenson,” Flash said.
Scott was theyoungest of the four Benson Boys. A group of serial bully brothers and constantmenace to everyone our age. No playground or park was safe.
“Why didn’tyou tell your parents? Why did you tell them it was your fault?”
“Because Ididn’t want them to know,” he replied.
“Why? Yourparents could talk to Scott’s mom and get your mini-bike back. Plus, then youwon’t be in trouble anymore.”
“I’ll be inmore trouble with Scott if I tell on him to a grown up.”
Flash’s wordsmade me sad, but I understood his logic. He may have been right. Pulling weedswas better than getting punched in the mouth, but Scott stealing Flash’s prizedpossession was crossing the line, and if Flash wasn’t going to get a grownupinvolved, justice would have to be served by a kid.
My older brotherhad been that kid, returning Flash’s bike without any parents ever being thewiser. Scott had come to school the next day with a busted-up lip and neverbothered Flash again.
“Wanna come overfor dinner and video games tomorrow night?” he asked, pulling me from mymemory.
“I’ll ask myparents, but that sounds fun.”
“We can do itSaturday if that doesn’t work,” he added.
“Mom’s taking meand Hay to the Melody Morgan concert.”
Melody Morgan wasthe be all and end all for me and my sister and no one was going to get in theway of us getting to her concert. Not even Flash Wallace.
“Oh yeah, Iforgot. Cool. See you tomorrow,” he said. “Bye.”
“Bye.”
I hung up, thenheaded downstairs for ice cream.
CHAPTER ONE
Flash
Present Day…
I walked into thehouse just as my younger brother, Jamie, jogged down the stairs. “Hey.”
“Hey, Flash,” hesaid. “How’s your bike?”
