“Not a gang,” he corrected the first kid. “We’re just a bunch of guys who like riding bikes, mostly. That’s why it's called a club. You’ve got clubs at school, right?”
The kid shrugged, but didn’t look like he fully believed him. I didn’t either, at first, but after spending time with Zero, it was hard to imagine him doing the stuff I’d heard those biker gangs did. The most dangerous thing Zero did was try to cook.
“As for why I’m here, I’m Jasper’s punishment. He got into trouble, so now he’s got me as a shadow. Better be good or I’ll suggest the idea to your parents too.”
Most of the kids circling him looked as horrified as I felt when I first found out. The first few classes hadn’t been terrible, but there was still half a day left. I just wanted it to be over already.
“How many times have you been electrocuted?” Darnel asked again. I rolled my eyes. Who cared?
“Didn’t really keep count,” Zero answered thoughtfully. “I’ve been trained on how to avoid it, but sometimes people try to do fixes on their own and I get some surprises. Nothing too bad. Never ended up in the hospital, at least. The guy who trained me, his name was Bart, he had this new guy once who swore up and down he turned off the breaker. Bart figured the guy had enough training to know better and started his work. This was back before proper protection equipment was widely used. Dude got shocked so bad he got tossed a few feet and knocked his head against the wall. He was unconscious long enough for the paramedics to arrive and spent the whole drive to the hospital screaming about how the new guy was going to get it when he got out. Never trusted another new guy fully again.”
“Even you?” a girl I didn’t know asked.
Zero nodded, unbothered. “Even me. Can you blame him? Little shocks happen and they hurt like a b–” he stopped himself from cursing, giving the kids a sheepish grin. “It hurts, that’s all I’m saying. A big shock like Bart got? I know I’m not signing up to experience something like that. I didn’t blame him fordouble checking my work. He was the one who taught me how important PPE was. I’m grateful for the lesson, you know?”
My stomach churned a little listening to the story. I didn’t like Zero most of the time, but I didn't want him to get hurt. He tried, which was more than I could say about the rest of our extended family. And he took in me and Isla even when he knew nothing about kids and wasn’t prepared for them. He was a decent person. The idea of him getting seriously hurt made my chest feel tight and I almost wanted to throw up.
“Hey! Little Wraith! How’s it going, man?” Zero called cheerfully, distracting me from pushing my food around. I wasn’t hungry all of a sudden.
That kid I’d seen at the club barbecue came wandering over, another kid behind him who gave Zero a wave.
“Hey, Zero. What are you doing here?” the kid, Xander, I think, asked, sliding into a seat opposite me. All the other seats were taken by the kids asking Zero questions.
“Hanging out with Jasper today. You share any classes with him?”
Xander bobbed his head, handing a stick of gum to his friend. “Gym. Why would adults get to just come into school? Could Mel do that?”
Zero smirked at him. “Not Wraith?”
Xander shrugged, a grin on his face. “She’s more fun than he is. I feel like a day with her at school would be really entertaining. I went with her to the hospital a few times. It was cool.”
Pointing at me, Zero agreed, “I showed Jasper what I do yesterday. It was kinda fun having someone to show off to. A hospital would be more fun than Wraith’s office, I’m sure.”
They kept talking, but whenever anyone started asking too many questions about why he was here, he dodged the subject or kept it vague. Not once did he mention me swinging atthat asshole, Evan, or being one bad decision away from being expelled. He seemed like he wanted to protect my privacy. Which, what even was that? Adults didn’t care about that stuff, did they? Even my moms came into my room whenever they wanted before…
Zero slid a plastic bag in front of me that had my favorite chips in it. He didn’t even glance at me, just slid it over while continuing his conversation with the other kids. I took it, confused. When I noticed Xander staring at me, I scowled. “What?”
“Told you. They’re nicer than they look. You just gotta give them a chance.”
“Psst. Psst!”
I was trying so hard to ignore Zero, but the dude just wouldn’t let up. Spinning in my seat, I glowered at him. “What?”
“Help me out, man. I haven’t done shit like this since I was a kid, and I sucked at math.”
He was practically pouting, which looked weird on an adult. It was kind of funny, though. Ms. Brooks had forced him into the desk next to mine when he arrived and handed him his own worksheet when she passed the rest out. His big body was stuffed into the seat and he kept frowning at his paper like it was rocket science. Mine wasn’t the same as Zero’s, but I figured she did that on purpose, giving him the easier stuff because he hadn’t done it in a while.
“Figure it out yourself,” I grumbled, focusing on my work just to give myself an excuse not to talk to him. A few kids had gotten it in their heads that I was as friendly as Zero was andkept talking to me because he was around. It was irritating and I didn’t want to be associated with him if I could avoid it.
“Come on, Jay,” he cajoled. “I was never any good in school. I barely graduated. Help me out.”
I pulled a face at the nickname, but before I could snap at him about it, Ms. Brooks stopped by my desk, raising an eyebrow at Zero.
“Mr. Fletcher, are you distracting my students?”
Zero gave a pained smile, shaking his head. “Nope, I’m good.”
She hummed, gesturing to his worksheet. “That needs to be done before the end of class. As my students can tell you, anyone who doesn’t finish has to do it on top of the homework I assign them. You’re making more work for yourself by dragging your feet.”
