"He was in hurry," I say.
"Locker is code for sex," Dante says, his mouth full of food.
"Shit," Miles says. "I thought I was going to get my money back."
"It was close," Dante says. "She almost ended it but he saved himself."
"You bet they'd break up today?" I ask Miles.
"Seemed like she was in a bad mood. They usually break up when she's moody." He turns to Dante. "How'd she know about our bets? Did you tell her?"
"No. She's just smart. She picks up on shit."
I lean toward them both, lowering my voice so the cheerleaders at the next table don't hear. "Do you guys like Alyssa?"
"She's hot, but she's Kade's girl," Miles says, chugging down the last of his protein drink.
"I don't mean like her as someone you'd date. I mean like her as a person. As a friend. Or are you just nice to her because she's dating Kade?"
"I like her," Dante says, hurrying to finish his third plate of food before the bell goes off.
"She's okay," Miles adds. "She's a little intense for me the way she's so obsessed with her grades but I don't mind being around her. When she's not all serious she can be funny, especially when she's giving Kade shit."
The bell goes off.
"Fuck, I'm not done," Dante says, shoveling food in his mouth.
Barron stops by the table. "Any word on Braden?"
"Nothing," Miles says. "Coach said he might have an update at practice."
"He better fucking play tomorrow," Barron says before taking off.
For the rest of the afternoon people ask me about Braden but I still don't have answers. I haven't heard anything from Brock, and Trystan hasn't either.
"What if they don't let him out?" Trystan asks as he's driving me home. I waited at his car today so he wouldn't drive off without me.
"They will. You're innocent until proven guilty. And it's not like Braden's a flight risk."
"Sure he is. He has money. A car. He could drive down to Mexico and disappear."
"And hide out for the rest of his life? I don't see that happening. Braden's had a cushy life. I can't see him living on the streets. He'd never survive."
Trystan laughs. "I can totally picture it. He'd be on the street, begging people for protein bars and spring water."
I turn to him. "Hey, does Braden use hookers for sex?"
"Yeah. Why?"
"And your dad allows it?"
"He doesn't care, as long as he's careful."
"Have you done it? Used one?"
"I've thought about it but decided I don't need it. I can get girls. I don't need to pay for it."
"But you never go on dates."
