“My dad would find me and bring me back.”
“Not after the tenth time.”
Daniel plucked at the seat belt again.“I’d have to go to LA.It’s not like I could make a living as an actor here.”
“Steal their car.”
“I’m not going to steal their car.”
“Then hitchhike.”
Daniel’s cheeks darkened with a blush.“Why are you being like this?”
“Being like what?You want to do it on your own, do it on your own.”
“I didn’t say I was going to do it on my own.”He dipped his hand inside his hoodie, and when he brought it out again, the gold chain was draped across his fingers.“I have friends.They’d help me.”
The gold caught the light.In his head, Jem saw Daniel hiding the box so no one would see it.He saw Wendell leaning over the sofa, his eyes crawling across Daniel’s bare midriff.
Somehow, Jem’s voice was steady when he said, “Where’d you get that?”
Too late, Daniel seemed to realize what he’d done.He let the chain slither back beneath the hoodie.“Justin gave it to me.”
“Uh huh.That’s your friend?That’s who’s going to help you?”
“Yeah.We’d get an apartment together.That’s what I told you.”
“Okay.So, you’ve got a friend who’s going to help you.”
“Yeah, actually.”
“That’s a pretty nice friend, to help you like that and not want anything in return.”
“Why are you saying it like that?”
“Like what?”
The edge in Daniel’s voice was hurt more than angry.“Why are you being weird about this?”
“I’m just saying, it’s a pretty good friend who will give you something for nothing.”
“Justinisa good friend.”
“Justin.”
“Oh my God, what?”
“And what happens when Justin doesn’t want to be your friend anymore?What happens when he gets bored, or when he finds a new friend?”
“That’s not going to happen.”
The headlights racing toward them were so bright Jem had to squint.“What happens?”
“I’ll be fine.I don’t need anybody.I’m not going to ask you and Tean for help, if that’s what you’re worried about.I can do it on my own.”
Jem laughed.He didn’t mean to.It felt tangled, like one end was still hooked down in his guts and couldn’t quite get out.
“You don’t think I can,” Daniel said.
