The Last of Them

aches did

ing, it

h the halls without someone whispering, laughin

s in his pockets, walking as if he didn't he

't as good a

your boyfriend make

d hands whe

ht over who'

er. Mo

came th

e, Dan, Jack's right-hand man, slammed into his sh

teria we

s curled i

give them w

y pulling him b

Not gonna fight me? Though

pped in.

ned. "Or what?

ia erupted

saw

en he

Afte

uch after his jaw con

weight of teachers pulling him b

he principa

tight. Across from him, his father stood wit

what you've done?" h

or. "Yeah. I hit some

low breath, pinching t

r three days." The p

his fists. He

voice lowered. "You

ked up

about you.' Not

mbarra

ump in his throat.

n't c

le

rincipal. "Thank you for inform

ev thought

ways

it wasn

made things worse. Jack and his gang weren't the ty

ldn't wait l

r Sc

shadows across the pavement

ep in his pockets. He hadn't sai

d at him.

is head. "No

, but it'll pass. The school wil

rless laugh. "You r

dn't a

estly? He w

ow alleyway, one they always too

n they

k. Ian.

ing in the alley,

ensed.

turn around, but footsteps behi

re surr

smirking. "Look who

ou'd get away with that

e punch. His eyes were filled with nothin

d hard. "Yea

k vanished

fight back. H

s five ag

his stomach, knockin

s face, sendin

nd yanked him back before d

pull them off Dev, only

stomach. Anoth

Cole cough

ice, calm and mock

ng blood onto the p

ting his head. "You should kno

d. He was too bus

k mockingly. "This i

hey we

e alley as Dev and Cole la

t up, holding his ri

y ached. His face was swollen. But the wo

going to l

this

s, looking at Cole.

ed. "Where

his decision

ere bu

my dad probably going to ground

sigh "let's j

ted Skipp

lls. No texts. Returning to school, Cole's absence was palpable, a

pension ended, Cole w

for him by

never

ed. No

d day, Dev

ly and went straig

door was sl

ing wa

t open, step

him first. A

hed with bottles, ashtra

n he sa

his hoodie pulled over

ach twiste

espo

closer, rea

gr

p at him. His face was b

heart

is to you?" D

idn't

didn't

lread

Staying

his head.

u c

ev

. We'll leave t

o argument

g him out of the house. Aw

lked in

his was the last norma

se to

ould b