Eli & Vince

Eli‌‌&‌‌Vince‌ ‌

‌ Matteo‌‌Silvero‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ Cover‌‌Art‌‌by‌‌Ceasar‌‌Nguyen‌‌ ‌

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‌ Eli‌ ‌and‌ ‌Vince‌ ‌both‌ ‌feel‌ ‌trapped‌ ‌in‌ ‌their‌ ‌current‌ ‌lives,‌ ‌Eli’s‌ ‌parents‌ ‌have‌ ‌a ‌ ‌firm‌ ‌grip‌ ‌on‌ ‌every‌‌ aspect‌‌ of‌‌ his‌‌ life‌‌ and‌‌ Vince‌‌ is‌‌ struggling‌‌ with‌‌ an‌‌ abusive‌‌ household.‌‌ When‌‌ the‌‌ two‌‌ of‌‌ them‌‌ meet,‌‌

they‌ ‌quickly‌ ‌find‌ ‌refuge‌ ‌in‌ ‌each‌ ‌other,‌ ‌and‌ ‌quickly‌ ‌resort‌ ‌to‌ ‌criminal‌ ‌life,‌ ‌creating‌‌ a ‌‌name‌‌ for‌‌ themselves‌‌ as‌‌ New‌‌ York’s‌‌ uprising‌‌ teen‌‌ criminals.‌‌ However,‌‌ when‌‌ Detective‌‌ Albert‌‌ Walkins‌‌ of‌‌ the‌‌ NYPD‌‌ gets‌‌ assigned‌‌ to‌‌ the‌‌ case,‌‌ he’s‌‌ given‌‌ the‌‌ order‌‌ to‌‌ put‌‌ a ‌‌stop‌‌ to‌‌ the‌‌ two‌‌ teen‌‌ criminals‌‌ at‌‌

any‌ ‌cost.‌ ‌With‌ ‌Eli’s‌ ‌best‌ ‌friend‌ ‌Sofie‌ ‌being‌ ‌part‌ ‌of‌ ‌a ‌ ‌junior‌ ‌detective’s‌‌ club,‌‌ it‌‌ seems‌‌ as‌‌ if‌‌ the‌‌

odds‌ ‌are‌ ‌stacked‌ ‌against‌ ‌the‌ ‌two‌ ‌boys.‌ ‌Together,‌ ‌Eli‌ ‌and‌ ‌Vince‌ ‌must‌ ‌secure‌ ‌a ‌ ‌future‌ ‌for‌‌ themselves‌‌while‌‌running‌‌from‌‌the‌‌things‌‌that‌‌keep‌‌them‌‌trapped.‌‌ ‌ ‌ .‌ ‌ ‌ Dedicated‌‌ to‌‌ those‌‌ who‌‌ need‌‌ a ‌‌change‌‌ in‌‌ perspective,‌‌ those‌‌ who‌‌ feel‌‌ as‌‌ if‌‌ they‌‌ need‌‌ a ‌‌second‌‌ life‌‌

to‌‌ live‌‌ through.‌‌ Those‌‌ who‌‌ have‌‌ a ‌‌special‌‌ person‌‌ by‌‌ their‌‌ side,‌‌ someone‌‌ who‌‌ understands‌‌ them‌‌

so‌ ‌deeply‌ ‌that‌ ‌they‌ ‌feel‌ ‌like‌ ‌their‌ ‌second‌ ‌half.‌ ‌Someone‌ ‌who‌ ‌makes‌ ‌them‌ ‌feel‌ ‌as‌ ‌if‌ ‌it’s‌ ‌them‌‌ against‌‌the‌‌world.‌‌I‌‌hope‌‌you‌‌find‌‌solace‌‌through‌‌Eli‌‌and‌‌Vince.‌‌ ‌ .‌ ‌ .‌ ‌ .‌ ‌ The‌‌McClure‌‌Academy‌‌is‌‌one‌‌of‌‌the‌‌most‌‌prestigious‌‌private‌‌schools‌‌in‌‌New‌‌York.‌‌It‌‌ was‌‌built‌‌in‌‌1942‌‌upon‌‌the‌‌ideals‌‌of‌‌training‌‌young‌‌men‌‌to‌‌be‌‌breadwinners,‌‌and‌‌young‌‌women‌‌

to‌‌be‌‌obedient‌‌housewives.‌‌Over‌‌the‌‌years‌‌this‌‌testament‌‌has‌‌become‌‌obsolete,‌‌and‌‌the‌‌school‌‌ has‌‌faced‌‌backlash‌‌among‌‌parents‌‌and‌‌progressive‌‌youth‌‌education‌‌organizations‌‌that‌‌claimed‌‌

McClure‌‌is‌‌doing‌‌more‌‌harm‌‌than‌‌good.‌‌So‌‌to‌‌combat‌‌this,‌‌the‌‌board‌‌of‌‌education‌‌forced‌‌

McClure‌‌to‌‌get‌‌rid‌‌of‌‌any‌‌programs‌‌that‌‌enforced‌‌harmful‌‌stereotypes.‌‌However,‌‌the‌‌headmaster,‌‌ Mr.‌‌Yeagerman‌‌refused‌‌to‌‌do‌‌so,‌‌and‌‌after‌‌countless‌‌protests,‌‌and‌‌parent-board‌‌meetings,‌‌he‌‌was‌‌

removed‌‌from‌‌his‌‌position‌‌as‌‌headmaster.‌‌However,‌‌Mr.‌‌Yeagerman’s‌‌removal‌‌was‌‌not‌‌the‌‌only‌‌ thing‌‌that‌‌had‌‌occurred.‌‌The‌‌McClure‌‌Academy‌‌also‌‌received‌‌a‌‌new‌‌student.‌‌Vincent‌‌Lee-Smith.‌‌ ‌ .‌ ‌ .‌ ‌

.‌

‌

Welcome‌‌to‌‌the‌‌New‌‌McClure‌‌Academy‌‌for‌‌Young‌‌Minds!‌ ‌ Welcome!‌‌Thanks‌‌to‌‌everyone’s‌‌help,‌‌McClure‌‌has‌‌re-evaluated‌‌it’s‌‌ideals‌‌as‌‌a ‌‌ school.‌‌We‌‌understand‌‌it’s‌‌a‌‌changing‌‌world,‌‌and‌‌have‌‌decided‌‌it‌‌is‌‌our‌‌duty‌‌to‌ eradicate‌‌any‌‌programs‌‌that‌‌are‌‌considered‌‌outdated.‌‌ ‌ From‌‌everyone‌‌here‌‌at‌‌the‌‌McClure‌‌administration,‌‌we‌‌only‌‌hope‌‌to‌‌train‌‌our‌‌ students‌‌to‌‌be‌‌strong‌‌leaders‌‌of‌‌the‌‌20th‌‌Century--‌‌leaders‌‌who‌‌use‌‌their‌‌intellect,‌‌ compassion,‌‌and‌‌resources‌‌to‌‌create‌‌a‌‌brighter‌‌future‌‌for‌‌themselves.‌‌ ‌ Remember‌‌to‌‌work‌‌hard‌‌and‌‌to‌‌always‌‌be‌‌the‌‌proud‌‌face‌‌of‌‌McClure!‌ ‌ .‌ ‌ .‌ ‌ .‌ ‌

Chapter‌‌I ‌ ‌ Eli‌‌always‌‌knows‌‌where‌‌Sofie‌‌would‌‌be‌‌waiting‌‌for‌‌him.‌‌Ever‌‌since‌‌the‌‌first‌‌day‌‌he‌‌had‌‌

met‌‌her‌‌at‌‌McClure,‌‌she‌‌always‌‌waited‌‌by‌‌the‌‌outdoor‌‌dining‌‌wing‌‌by‌‌the‌‌huge‌‌vending‌‌machine‌‌

that‌‌used‌‌to‌‌house‌‌all‌‌sorts‌‌of‌‌different‌‌snacks,‌‌but‌‌over‌‌the‌‌years‌‌has‌‌become‌‌almost‌ unfunctional.‌‌Except‌‌today‌‌when‌‌he‌‌turned‌‌the‌‌corner‌‌past‌‌the‌‌perfectly‌‌trimmed‌‌shrubbery,‌‌he‌‌

had‌‌noticed‌‌Sofie‌‌wasn’t‌‌there.‌‌Instead,‌‌another‌‌student‌‌is‌‌standing‌‌in‌‌front‌‌of‌‌the‌‌vending‌‌

machine,‌‌kicking‌‌it‌‌with‌‌the‌‌heels‌‌of‌‌his‌‌shoes‌‌and‌‌grunting‌‌under‌‌his‌‌breath.‌‌He‌‌watches‌‌from‌‌ the‌‌corner‌‌as‌‌the‌‌boy‌‌refuses‌‌to‌‌stop,‌‌laying‌‌into‌‌the‌‌machine‌‌with‌‌each‌‌kick‌‌he‌‌sends.‌‌ ‌ Eli‌‌gets‌‌closer,‌‌unphased‌‌by‌‌this‌‌as‌‌he‌‌had‌‌lived‌‌in‌‌New‌‌York‌‌for‌‌all‌‌his‌‌life‌‌and‌‌certainly‌‌ was‌‌used‌‌to‌‌a‌‌few‌‌crazy‌‌people‌‌by‌‌now.‌‌He‌‌approaches‌‌him,‌‌and‌‌his‌‌eyes‌‌notice‌‌a‌‌bag‌‌of‌‌candy‌‌ has‌‌gotten‌‌stuck‌‌in‌‌the‌‌coils‌‌of‌‌the‌‌machine.‌‌Eli‌‌smiles‌‌to‌‌himself‌‌as‌‌he‌‌grabs‌‌him‌‌by‌‌the‌‌

shoulders,‌‌the‌‌other‌‌boy‌‌jumps‌‌slightly‌‌at‌‌the‌‌touch.‌‌ ‌ “Dude,‌‌the‌‌machine‌‌is‌‌broken.‌‌It‌‌has‌‌been‌‌for‌‌years‌‌now.”‌‌ ‌ “Argh,‌‌you‌‌think‌‌I‌‌don’t‌‌realize‌‌that?”‌‌He‌‌responds.‌‌“Piece‌‌of‌‌junk‌‌stole‌‌my‌‌dollar.”‌‌ ‌

“Here,‌‌allow‌‌me,”‌‌Eli‌‌says.‌‌He‌‌walks‌‌in‌‌front‌‌of‌‌the‌‌other,‌‌coming‌‌face‌‌to‌‌face‌‌with‌‌the‌‌ vending‌‌machine.‌‌With‌‌a‌‌simple‌‌pull‌‌the‌‌front‌‌opens‌‌up,‌‌allowing‌‌him‌‌to‌‌reach‌‌inside‌‌and‌‌pull‌‌

out‌‌the‌‌candy‌‌bag.‌‌Eli‌‌hands‌‌the‌‌bag‌‌to‌‌the‌‌other,‌‌who‌‌tries‌‌to‌‌hide‌‌any‌‌signs‌‌of‌‌graciousness‌‌on‌‌ his‌‌face.‌‌ ‌ “Hey,‌‌thanks.”‌‌ ‌ Eli‌‌is‌‌about‌‌to‌‌introduce‌‌himself‌‌when‌‌Sofie‌‌calls‌‌his‌‌name‌‌from‌‌the‌‌distance.‌‌The‌‌two‌‌ turn‌‌to‌‌see‌‌her‌‌by‌‌the‌‌entrance‌‌of‌‌the‌‌gym.‌‌She‌‌quickly‌‌makes‌‌her‌‌way‌‌to‌‌them,‌‌her‌‌blonde‌‌

pigtails‌‌bouncing‌‌in‌‌the‌‌wind‌‌as‌‌he‌‌runs.‌‌Sofie‌‌often‌‌got‌‌stares‌‌and‌‌sarcastic‌‌comments‌‌about‌‌ wearing‌‌pigtails‌‌despite‌‌the‌‌fact‌‌she‌‌was‌‌already‌‌in‌‌highschool,‌‌but‌‌she‌‌never‌‌let‌‌any‌‌of‌‌that‌‌get‌‌

to‌‌her.‌‌She‌‌holds‌‌a‌‌smile‌‌on‌‌her‌‌face‌‌the‌‌whole‌‌way‌‌until‌‌she‌‌notices‌‌who‌‌Eli‌‌is‌‌with.‌‌ ‌ “Hi‌‌Sofie,‌‌what‌‌were‌‌you‌‌doing‌‌at‌‌the‌‌gym?”‌‌Eli‌‌asks.‌‌ ‌ “Oh,‌‌I‌‌was‌‌just‌‌taking‌‌photos‌‌of‌‌the‌‌athlete‌‌club‌‌for‌‌the‌‌yearbook.‌‌Final‌‌photos‌‌are‌‌due‌‌ Friday,”‌‌she‌‌keeps‌‌her‌‌eyes‌‌on‌‌her‌‌camera‌‌the‌‌whole‌‌time.‌‌“Can‌‌I‌‌talk‌‌to‌‌you‌‌over‌‌here‌‌for‌‌a ‌‌ sec?”‌‌She‌‌guides‌‌Eli‌‌away‌‌from‌‌the‌‌other‌‌boy,‌‌who‌‌exchanges‌‌a‌‌parting‌‌wave‌‌to‌‌him.‌‌Once‌‌

they’re‌‌finally‌‌at‌‌a‌‌good‌‌distance‌‌she‌‌stops.‌‌ ‌ “Why‌‌were‌‌you‌‌hanging‌‌out‌‌with‌‌him?”‌‌ ‌ “Huh?‌‌I‌‌was‌‌just‌‌helping‌‌him‌‌out,”‌‌Eli‌‌answers‌‌her.‌ ‌ “Do‌‌you‌‌know‌‌who‌‌that‌‌is?”‌‌Sofie‌‌does‌‌this‌‌specific‌‌mannerism‌‌whenever‌‌she‌‌gets‌‌

nervous--‌‌she‌‌always‌‌plays‌‌with‌‌the‌‌red‌‌flannel‌‌uniform‌‌bow‌‌the‌‌girls‌‌have‌‌to‌‌wear‌‌around‌‌their‌‌ neck.‌‌She‌‌has‌‌a‌‌habit‌‌of‌‌loosening‌‌it‌‌since‌‌they’re‌‌known‌‌to‌‌be‌‌tight-fitting.‌‌ ‌ “No?”‌‌ ‌ “His‌‌name‌‌is‌‌Vincent‌‌Lee-Smith.‌‌He’s‌‌a‌‌transfer‌‌from‌‌Jefferson‌‌who‌‌came‌‌to‌‌McClure‌‌ just‌‌last‌‌year.‌‌Apparently‌‌after‌‌his‌‌mom‌‌died‌‌he‌‌began‌‌acting‌‌up‌‌and‌‌causing‌‌trouble.‌‌So‌‌his‌‌dad‌‌ sent‌‌him‌‌here‌‌for‌‌the‌‌reform‌‌system.”‌‌Sofie‌‌fiddles‌‌with‌‌her‌‌bow‌‌again.‌‌ ‌ “That’s‌‌stupid.‌‌McClure‌‌barely‌‌has‌‌a‌‌reform‌‌system‌‌anymore.‌‌Plus‌‌anything‌‌left‌‌is‌‌barely‌‌ enforced‌‌by‌‌the‌‌staff,”‌‌Eli‌‌kicks‌‌some‌‌pebbles‌‌beneath‌‌his‌‌shoes.‌‌ ‌ “I‌‌don't‌‌know.‌‌That’s‌‌what‌‌I‌‌heard‌‌from‌‌Angie.”‌‌ ‌ “Ooo,‌‌rumours?‌‌I‌‌thought‌‌you‌‌were‌‌better‌‌than‌‌that,‌‌Sofie.”‌‌ ‌ “Haha,‌‌Eli,‌‌very‌‌funny.‌‌I‌‌only‌‌partake‌‌in‌‌the‌‌listening‌‌of‌‌rumours,‌‌I‌‌never‌‌spread‌‌them.”‌‌ ‌ “Sofie‌‌you‌‌literally‌‌just‌‌spread‌‌the‌‌rumour‌‌to‌‌me,”‌‌ ‌

Sofie‌‌shrugs‌‌her‌‌shoulders‌‌before‌‌she‌‌holds‌‌her‌‌camera‌‌up,‌‌“I‌‌gotta‌‌get‌‌back‌‌to‌‌yearbook‌‌ photos.‌‌I’ll‌‌see‌‌you‌‌later‌‌at‌‌Denmos?”‌‌ ‌ Denmos‌‌is‌‌an‌‌old‌‌diner‌‌that‌‌Eli‌‌and‌‌Sofie‌‌always‌‌go‌‌to‌‌after‌‌school.‌‌Their‌‌menu‌‌hasn’t‌‌ changed‌‌in‌‌over‌‌60‌‌years‌‌and‌‌consist‌‌of‌‌hotdogs,‌‌burgers,‌‌and‌‌thick‌‌shakes‌‌that‌‌Sofie‌‌swears‌‌the‌‌ straws‌‌are‌‌useless‌‌as‌‌half‌‌the‌‌time‌‌the‌‌shake‌‌never‌‌gets‌‌halfway‌‌up‌‌the‌‌straw.‌‌ ‌ “Of‌‌course,‌‌I’ll‌‌see‌‌you‌‌there,”‌‌Eli‌‌responds.‌‌With‌‌a‌‌smile‌‌and‌‌wave‌‌from‌‌Sofie,‌‌he‌‌

watches‌‌as‌‌she‌‌jogs‌‌all‌‌the‌‌way‌‌back‌‌to‌‌the‌‌gymnasium‌‌until‌‌she‌‌just‌‌disappears‌‌inside.‌‌He‌‌turns‌‌

to‌‌walk‌‌back‌‌to‌‌the‌‌dining‌‌wing,‌‌hoping‌‌Vincent‌‌is‌‌at‌‌least‌‌still‌‌there,‌‌but‌‌he‌‌only‌‌finds‌‌himself‌‌

alone‌‌outside.‌‌ ‌

…‌ ‌ Eli‌‌always‌‌hates‌‌Wednesdays‌‌for‌‌how‌‌slow‌‌they‌‌are.‌‌Wednesdays‌‌at‌‌McClure‌‌are‌‌used‌‌as‌‌ busy‌‌days.‌‌Classes‌‌only‌‌last‌‌for‌‌twenty‌‌minutes,‌‌and‌‌teachers‌‌don’t‌‌plan‌‌a‌‌lesson,‌‌they‌‌just‌‌allow‌‌ it‌‌to‌‌be‌‌a‌‌catch‌‌up‌‌day.‌‌By‌‌the‌‌afternoon,‌‌all‌‌the‌‌classes‌‌have‌‌wrapped‌‌up‌‌and‌‌the‌‌remainder‌‌of‌‌

the‌‌school‌‌day‌‌is‌‌used‌‌for‌‌club‌‌meetings.‌‌Because‌‌Eli‌‌isn’t‌‌part‌‌of‌‌a‌‌club,‌‌he’d‌‌prefer‌‌to‌‌hang‌‌out‌‌

with‌‌Sofie‌‌for‌‌the‌‌rest‌‌of‌‌the‌‌day,‌‌but‌‌she’s‌‌part‌‌of‌‌McClure’s‌‌yearbook‌‌committee‌‌as‌‌well‌‌as‌‌the‌‌

junior‌‌detective’s‌‌club,‌‌so‌‌she‌‌usually‌‌has‌‌too‌‌much‌‌on‌‌her‌‌plate‌‌to‌‌hang‌‌out‌‌with‌‌Eli.‌‌Because‌‌of‌‌ this,‌‌he‌‌takes‌‌the‌‌early‌‌bus‌‌home--‌‌which‌‌seems‌‌almost‌‌pointless‌‌as‌‌his‌‌house‌‌is‌‌only‌‌a‌‌few‌‌

blocks‌‌away‌‌from‌‌the‌‌school.‌‌ ‌ As‌‌soon‌‌as‌‌he‌‌enters‌‌the‌‌quiet‌‌mood‌‌snaps‌‌and‌‌Eli‌‌is‌‌thrown‌‌back‌‌into‌‌his‌‌home‌‌life.‌‌His‌‌ mother‌‌is‌‌arguing‌‌with‌‌somebody.‌‌He‌‌can’t‌‌see‌‌her,‌‌but‌‌from‌‌where‌‌her‌‌voice‌‌is‌‌coming‌‌from‌‌he‌‌

can‌‌guess‌‌she’s‌‌in‌‌the‌‌study.‌‌Her‌‌voice‌‌gets‌‌louder‌‌as‌‌Eli‌‌gets‌‌closer,‌‌and‌‌once‌‌he‌‌enters‌‌the‌‌room,‌‌

he‌‌notices‌‌she’s‌‌on‌‌the‌‌phone.‌‌ ‌ “Well‌‌okay,‌‌alright‌‌fine.‌‌Just‌‌fix‌‌it.‌‌I‌‌don’t‌‌understand‌‌why‌‌it’s‌‌so‌‌hard‌‌for‌‌you,”‌‌she‌‌ hangs‌‌up‌‌and‌‌huffs‌‌as‌‌she‌‌places‌‌the‌‌landline‌‌back‌‌onto‌‌its‌‌base.‌‌She‌‌buries‌‌her‌‌head‌‌into‌‌her‌‌

hands‌‌and‌‌doesn’t‌‌acknowledge‌‌Eli,‌‌who’s‌‌moved‌‌from‌‌the‌‌doorway‌‌to‌‌just‌‌about‌‌in‌‌front‌‌of‌‌her‌‌ desk.‌‌ ‌ “Eli,‌‌sweetie--‌‌I‌‌need‌‌you‌‌to‌‌pick‌‌up‌‌some‌‌groceries‌‌for‌‌me.”‌‌ ‌ “Sure.‌‌Can‌‌me‌‌and‌‌Sofie‌‌go‌‌out‌‌later?”‌‌Eli‌‌tucks‌‌away‌‌a‌‌sarcastic‌‌remark‌‌of--‌‌my‌‌day‌‌was‌‌ good,‌‌thanks‌‌for‌‌asking‌‌mom.‌‌ ‌ “Again?‌‌I‌‌let‌‌you‌‌go‌‌out‌‌already‌‌over‌‌the‌‌weekend.”‌‌ ‌

“I‌‌know,‌‌but‌‌today‌‌was‌‌long,”‌‌Eli‌‌lies,‌‌knowing‌‌well‌‌he‌‌didn’t‌‌do‌‌anything‌‌at‌‌school.‌‌“I‌‌ just‌‌wanna‌‌spend‌‌some‌‌time‌‌with‌‌Sofie.”‌‌ ‌ “No,‌‌you‌‌have‌‌your‌‌college‌‌exams‌‌coming‌‌up,‌‌I‌‌want‌‌you‌‌to‌‌spend‌‌your‌‌free‌‌time‌‌

studying‌‌for‌‌them.”‌‌ ‌ “I‌‌spend‌‌all‌‌day‌‌at‌‌school‌‌studying‌‌already,‌‌mom.‌‌Can’t‌‌I‌‌just‌‌go‌‌out‌‌for‌‌like‌‌an‌‌hour‌‌at‌‌

most?”‌‌ ‌ “I‌‌said‌‌no,‌‌Eli,”‌‌her‌‌voice‌‌has‌‌a‌‌growing‌‌impatience‌‌in‌‌it.‌‌“Don’t‌‌argue‌‌with‌‌me.”‌‌ ‌ “Mom,‌‌I-”‌‌ ‌ “Enough,‌‌Elijah!‌‌I‌‌said‌‌no!‌ ‌I‌‌don’t‌‌understand‌‌why‌‌you‌‌have‌‌to‌‌argue‌‌with‌‌me‌‌all‌‌the‌‌

time,‌‌I‌‌say‌‌something‌‌and‌‌you‌‌find‌‌some‌‌way‌‌to‌‌argue‌‌back,‌‌it’s‌‌exhausting,”‌‌Eli‌‌is‌‌caught‌‌off‌‌

guard‌‌by‌‌the‌‌sudden‌‌yelling,‌‌but‌‌he’s‌‌not‌‌surprised‌‌that‌‌it‌‌happened.‌‌His‌‌mom‌‌is‌‌never‌‌good‌‌with‌‌

patience‌‌so‌‌she’s‌‌usually‌‌guilty‌‌of‌‌ending‌‌arguments‌‌early‌‌by‌‌yelling.‌‌He‌‌watches‌‌in‌‌silence‌‌as‌‌ her‌‌eyes‌‌pulse‌‌back‌‌and‌‌forth‌‌between‌‌him‌‌and‌‌the‌‌floor.‌‌Her‌‌face‌‌contorts‌‌from‌‌anger‌‌to‌‌pity.‌‌“I‌‌ just‌‌want‌‌you‌‌to‌‌spend‌‌your‌‌time‌‌wisely--with‌‌college‌‌exams‌‌coming‌‌up‌‌and‌‌everything,‌‌ ‌ “I’ll‌‌be‌‌fine,‌‌I’ve‌‌been‌‌studying‌‌in‌‌school‌‌for‌‌months‌‌now.”‌‌ ‌ “Just‌‌listen‌‌to‌‌me,‌‌for‌‌once.‌‌I‌‌try‌‌to‌‌be‌‌lenient,‌‌I’m‌‌only‌‌harsh‌‌with‌‌you‌‌because‌‌I‌‌love‌‌ you,‌‌that’s‌‌it,‌‌I‌‌love‌‌you‌‌and‌‌I‌‌want‌‌the‌‌best‌‌for‌‌you.‌‌Can’t‌‌you‌‌just‌‌listen‌‌to‌‌me?”‌‌ ‌ “Fine,‌‌mom.‌‌Just‌‌give‌‌me‌‌the‌‌grocery‌‌list‌‌and‌‌I’ll‌‌pick‌‌them‌‌up.‌‌I’ll‌‌come‌‌home‌‌after.”‌‌ ‌ “Thanks‌‌sweetie.”‌‌ ‌ Eli‌‌is‌‌about‌‌to‌‌walk‌‌out‌‌before‌‌he‌‌remembers‌‌the‌‌pamphlet‌‌he‌‌was‌‌given‌‌earlier‌‌at‌‌school.‌‌

He‌‌searches‌‌through‌‌his‌‌bag‌‌until‌‌he‌‌finds‌‌out.‌‌He‌‌pulls‌‌it‌‌out‌‌and‌‌hands‌‌it‌‌over‌‌to‌‌his‌‌mom.‌‌ ‌ “By‌‌the‌‌way‌‌mom,‌‌all‌‌the‌‌students‌‌were‌‌given‌‌this‌‌at‌‌school‌‌earlier‌‌and‌‌were‌‌told‌‌to‌‌give‌‌ it‌‌to‌‌our‌‌parents.‌‌Apparently‌‌there’s‌‌a‌‌new‌‌staff‌‌and‌‌headmaster.”‌‌ ‌ He‌‌watches‌‌his‌‌mom‌‌as‌‌her‌‌eyes‌‌scan‌‌through‌‌the‌‌pamphlet,‌‌he‌‌reads‌‌her‌‌lips‌‌as‌‌she‌‌reads‌‌

the‌‌words‌‌on‌‌the‌‌paper--‌“ ‌ Welcome‌‌to‌‌the‌‌New‌‌McClure‌‌Academy‌‌for‌‌Young‌‌Minds!...‌‌We‌‌have‌‌ re-evaluated…‌‌understand‌‌it’s‌‌our‌‌duty‌‌to…‌‌programs‌‌that‌‌were‌‌considered…‌‌McClure‌‌

administration…‌‌leaders‌‌of‌‌the‌‌20th‌‌Century…‌‌proud‌‌face…‌‌of‌‌McClure!”‌‌ ‌ “Thanks,”‌‌she‌‌smiles‌‌in‌‌return‌‌but‌‌her‌‌eyes‌‌hold‌‌something‌‌in‌‌them,‌‌and‌‌Eli‌‌can’t‌‌exactly‌‌

figure‌‌out‌‌what.‌‌ ‌

Eli‌‌walks‌‌in‌‌silence‌‌the‌‌whole‌‌way‌‌to‌‌the‌‌grocer’s.‌‌He‌‌replays‌‌the‌‌argument‌‌in‌‌his‌‌head‌‌ and‌‌changes‌‌the‌‌outcome.‌‌Perhaps‌‌his‌‌mom‌‌would‌‌finally‌‌say‌‌yes‌‌after‌‌their‌‌long‌‌feud--‌‌or‌‌

perhaps‌‌she’d‌‌stop‌‌being‌‌a‌‌pain‌‌and‌‌just‌‌let‌‌him‌‌have‌‌some‌‌time‌‌for‌‌himself.‌‌He‌‌feels‌‌guilty‌‌the‌‌

whole‌‌time‌‌he’s‌‌at‌‌the‌‌store,‌‌knowing‌‌his‌‌mom‌‌was‌‌right,‌‌that‌‌she‌‌just‌‌wants‌‌the‌‌best‌‌for‌‌him--‌‌ but‌‌he‌‌can’t‌‌help‌‌but‌‌imagine‌‌how‌‌much‌‌better‌‌things‌‌would‌‌be‌‌if‌‌she‌‌would‌‌just‌‌loosen‌‌her‌‌grip‌‌ on‌‌his‌‌life.‌‌And‌‌his‌‌father,‌‌god--‌‌don’t‌‌get‌‌him‌‌started‌‌on‌‌his‌‌father.‌‌He’s‌‌practically‌‌never‌‌home,‌‌ and‌‌even‌‌when‌‌he‌‌is‌‌he-‌ ‌ Eli’s‌‌train‌‌of‌‌thought‌‌de-rails‌‌as‌‌he‌‌notices‌‌a‌‌familiar‌‌uniform--‌‌it’s‌‌the‌‌McClure‌‌uniform,‌‌ brown‌‌pants,‌‌plaid‌‌tie,‌‌and‌‌a‌‌dark‌‌blue‌‌blazer‌‌with‌‌the‌‌McClure‌‌emblem‌‌on‌‌the‌‌left‌‌side--‌‌no‌‌ other‌‌private‌‌school‌‌in‌‌New‌‌York‌‌has‌‌a‌‌uniform‌‌like‌‌it.‌‌ ‌ He‌‌only‌‌notices‌‌that‌‌it’s‌‌the‌‌same‌‌boy‌‌from‌‌earlier‌‌when‌‌he‌‌turns‌‌around.‌‌His‌‌face‌‌is‌‌pale‌‌ except‌‌for‌‌his‌‌flushed‌‌cheeks,‌‌his‌‌hair‌‌is‌‌a‌‌striking‌‌black,‌‌almost‌‌that‌‌of‌‌ink‌‌or‌‌a‌‌raven’s‌‌feather.‌‌

The‌‌contrast‌‌of‌‌his‌‌dark‌‌hair‌‌to‌‌his‌‌pale‌‌skin‌‌is‌‌almost‌‌too‌‌striking‌‌to‌‌be‌‌natural.‌‌Eli‌‌finds‌‌himself‌‌ moving‌‌towards‌‌him,‌‌almost‌‌cornering‌‌him‌‌in‌‌the‌‌freezer‌‌aisle.‌ ‌ “Oh‌‌hey.‌‌It’s‌‌you‌‌again,”‌‌Eli‌‌steadies‌‌the‌‌bag‌‌in‌‌his‌‌arms.‌‌ ‌ The‌‌other‌‌boy‌‌is‌‌caught‌‌off‌‌guard‌‌and‌‌jumps‌‌at‌‌the‌‌sudden‌‌interaction.‌‌“Sup.”‌‌ ‌ “Your‌‌name‌‌is‌‌Vincent,‌‌right?”‌‌ ‌ “Vince,”‌‌he‌‌corrected,‌‌“but‌‌yeah.‌‌What’s‌‌yours?”‌‌ ‌ “I’m‌‌Eli.‌‌Don’t‌‌worry‌‌about‌‌last‌‌names,‌‌there’s‌‌no‌‌other‌‌Eli‌‌at‌‌McClure.”‌‌ ‌ “What’s‌‌up,‌‌Eli?”‌‌ ‌ Eli‌‌lifts‌‌up‌‌the‌‌brown‌‌bag‌‌to‌‌meet‌‌Vince’s‌‌eye.‌‌“Just‌‌buying‌‌groceries‌‌for‌‌my‌‌family.‌‌

What‌‌about‌‌you?”‌‌ ‌ Vince‌‌copies‌‌Eli‌‌in‌‌which‌‌he‌‌pulls‌‌out‌‌a‌‌small‌‌white‌‌box‌‌and‌‌pulls‌‌it‌‌up‌‌so‌‌it’s‌‌in‌‌Eli’s‌‌line‌‌ of‌‌sight.‌‌“Ran‌‌outta‌‌these,‌‌so‌‌I‌‌came‌‌to‌‌pick‌‌some‌‌more‌‌up.”‌‌It‌‌was‌‌a‌‌box‌‌of‌‌cigarettes,‌‌Marlboro‌‌ to‌‌be‌‌exact.‌‌Eli‌‌scrunches‌‌up‌‌his‌‌face,‌‌the‌‌thought‌‌of‌‌cigarettes‌‌only‌‌reminding‌‌him‌‌of‌‌his‌‌

parents.‌‌He‌‌tries‌‌to‌‌keep‌‌the‌‌conversation‌‌flowing‌‌instead.‌ ‌ ‌ “I‌‌heard‌‌you’re‌‌new‌‌at‌‌McClure?”‌‌Eli‌‌looks‌‌down‌‌to‌‌the‌‌small‌‌pin‌‌on‌‌the‌‌blazer‌‌collar.‌‌ The‌‌pin‌‌helps‌‌to‌‌identify‌‌the‌‌year‌‌of‌‌each‌‌student.‌‌On‌‌Vince’s‌‌is‌‌a‌‌small‌‌‘3’‌‌engraved‌‌onto‌‌it.‌‌ “Oh,‌‌you’re‌‌a‌‌third‌‌year‌‌like‌‌me.‌‌I‌‌wonder‌‌if‌‌we‌‌have‌‌any‌‌classes‌‌together,”‌‌Eli‌‌says.‌‌Vince‌‌pulls‌‌

his‌‌hand‌‌up‌‌to‌‌fiddle‌‌with‌‌the‌‌collar‌‌of‌‌his‌‌uniform‌‌shirt.‌ ‌

“Why‌‌are‌‌the‌‌uniforms‌‌here‌‌so‌‌tight?‌‌Can’t‌‌feel‌‌my‌‌neck‌‌anymore,‌‌pretty‌‌sure‌‌it’s‌‌cutting‌‌ off‌‌circulation‌‌to‌‌my‌‌brain.”‌‌ ‌ “Welcome‌‌to‌‌McClure.‌‌You’ll‌‌get‌‌used‌‌to‌‌it‌‌soon,”‌‌Eli‌‌says.‌‌Vince‌‌flashes‌‌him‌‌a ‌‌ lackadaisical‌‌smile.‌‌Cigarette‌‌smoke‌‌comes‌‌puffing‌‌out‌‌from‌‌between‌‌his‌‌teeth.‌‌Eli‌‌takes‌‌notice‌‌

of‌‌how‌‌Vince‌‌doesn’t‌‌hold‌‌the‌‌smoke‌‌in‌‌for‌‌too‌‌long‌‌before‌‌he‌‌exhales,‌‌unlike‌‌his‌‌parents‌‌who‌‌ always‌‌tend‌‌to‌‌enjoy‌‌holding‌‌the‌‌smoke‌‌in.‌‌ ‌ Eli’s‌‌pocket‌‌starts‌‌to‌‌buzz‌‌and‌‌he’s‌‌caught‌‌off‌‌guard‌‌as‌‌he‌‌tries‌‌to‌‌maneuver‌‌the‌‌grocery‌‌ bags‌‌into‌‌one‌‌hand‌‌to‌‌answer‌‌his‌‌phone.‌‌He‌‌recognizes‌‌the‌‌number‌‌to‌‌be‌‌his‌‌mom’s‌‌and‌‌picks‌‌it‌‌ up‌‌before‌‌she’s‌‌left‌‌waiting‌‌too‌‌long.‌‌ ‌ “Hey‌‌mom.‌‌Yeah?‌‌Yes,‌‌I’m‌‌coming,‌‌just‌‌wait‌‌like‌‌ten‌‌minutes‌‌I‌‌still‌‌have‌‌to‌‌check‌‌out,”‌‌ Vince‌‌keeps‌‌his‌‌mouth‌‌shut‌‌the‌‌whole‌‌time.‌‌“Yes‌‌ma'am.‌‌Okay,‌‌bye.”‌‌Eli‌‌hangs‌‌up‌‌promptly.‌‌ “My‌‌god.”‌‌ ‌ “Ma’am?”‌‌Vince‌‌holds‌‌back‌‌a‌‌snicker.‌ ‌ “I‌‌don’t‌‌know,‌‌it‌‌appeases‌‌her‌‌whenever‌‌she’s‌‌upset.”‌‌ ‌ “Lemme‌‌guess,‌‌your‌‌mom‌‌bugging‌‌out?”‌‌ ‌ “Yes,”‌‌the‌‌small‌‌Nokia‌‌is‌‌shoved‌‌back‌‌into‌‌Eli’s‌‌pocket.‌‌“I‌‌gotta‌‌go‌‌before‌‌she‌‌has‌‌a‌‌crab‌‌ attack.”‌‌ ‌ “Okay?”‌‌Vince‌‌laughs‌‌with‌‌his‌‌chest,‌‌Eli‌‌enjoys‌‌the‌‌way‌‌it‌‌sounds.‌‌“Well,‌‌see‌‌ya‌‌

tomorrow,‌‌Eli.”‌‌ ‌ The‌‌two‌‌exchange‌‌parting‌‌waves,‌‌Eli’s‌‌being‌‌more‌‌awkward‌‌as‌‌he‌‌fumbles‌‌with‌‌the‌‌ grocery‌‌bags.‌‌The‌‌walk‌‌back‌‌home‌‌is‌‌miserable.‌‌The‌‌tie‌‌around‌‌his‌‌neck‌‌feels‌‌as‌‌if‌‌it’s‌‌getting‌‌

tighter,‌‌the‌‌thick‌‌blazer‌‌is‌‌acting‌‌like‌‌an‌‌oven,‌‌trapping‌‌heat‌‌inside‌‌and‌‌causing‌‌him‌‌to‌‌get‌‌hotter‌‌

with‌‌each‌‌step‌‌he‌‌takes.‌‌Even‌‌his‌‌shoes‌‌are‌‌getting‌‌heavier,‌‌and‌‌by‌‌the‌‌time‌‌he‌‌finally‌‌drags‌‌ himself‌‌through‌‌the‌‌front‌‌door‌‌into‌‌the‌‌foyer,‌‌he‌‌can‌‌hear‌‌his‌‌parents‌‌arguing‌‌back‌‌and‌‌forth‌‌from‌‌ the‌‌kitchen.‌‌His‌‌dad‌‌was‌‌home--‌y‌ ay‌,‌‌and‌‌it‌‌seems‌‌like‌‌he‌‌had‌‌a‌‌bad‌‌day‌‌at‌‌work.‌‌ ‌ Usually‌‌he’d‌‌lock‌‌himself‌‌in‌‌his‌‌room‌‌and‌‌call‌‌Sofie‌‌to‌‌chat,‌‌but‌‌he‌‌was‌‌trapped.‌‌He‌‌had‌‌

to‌‌drop‌‌the‌‌groceries‌‌off‌‌in‌‌the‌‌kitchen‌‌and‌‌face‌‌his‌‌parents.‌‌He‌‌feels‌‌sweaty‌‌again‌‌despite‌‌his‌‌ house‌‌being‌‌air‌‌conditioned,‌‌and‌‌his‌‌stomach‌‌starts‌‌to‌‌roar.‌‌His‌‌heart‌‌thumps‌‌and‌‌is‌‌in‌‌tune‌‌with‌ his‌‌walking.‌‌ ‌ Right.‌‌Left.‌‌Right.‌‌Left.‌‌Eli‌‌takes‌‌slow‌‌steps‌‌to‌‌delay‌‌the‌‌inevitable.‌‌He‌‌counts‌‌his‌‌feet.‌‌

Right.‌‌Left.‌‌Right.‌‌Left.‌‌Past‌‌the‌‌study,‌‌past‌‌his‌‌parents’‌‌room,‌‌past‌‌the‌‌laundry‌‌room‌‌until‌‌he’s‌‌

finally‌‌standing‌‌in‌‌the‌‌entrance‌‌to‌‌his‌‌kitchen.‌‌The‌‌bickering‌‌ceased.‌‌He’s‌‌eye-to-eye‌‌with‌‌both‌‌ his‌‌parents‌‌and‌‌they’re‌‌both‌‌smiling.‌‌Big‌‌smiles‌‌that‌‌reach‌‌ear-to-ear.‌‌Smiles‌‌that‌‌you‌‌only‌‌see‌‌on‌‌

those‌‌dentist‌‌brochures‌‌that‌‌are‌‌only‌‌trying‌‌to‌‌show‌‌you‌‌how‌‌white‌‌their‌‌teeth‌‌are.‌‌Smiles‌‌that‌‌are‌‌

so‌‌obviously‌‌fake,‌‌and‌‌Eli‌‌is‌‌terrified.‌‌ ‌ “Hi‌‌Elijah.”‌‌ ‌ Eli‌‌stays‌‌frozen‌‌by‌‌the‌‌entrance,‌‌“What‌‌is‌‌it?‌‌You‌‌two‌‌never‌‌smile‌‌when‌‌you’re‌‌in‌‌the‌‌ same‌‌room‌‌together.”‌‌ ‌ “So‌‌you‌‌know‌‌how‌‌you‌‌wanted‌‌to‌‌study‌‌journalism?”‌‌ ‌ “Uh,‌‌yeah?”‌‌Eli‌‌shuffles‌‌to‌‌the‌‌kitchen‌‌island‌‌and‌‌carefully‌‌sets‌‌the‌‌brown‌‌bags‌‌down.‌ ‌ “Well‌‌we‌‌found‌‌a‌‌great‌‌school‌‌that‌‌has‌‌an‌‌excellent‌‌journalism‌‌program.”‌‌His‌‌father‌‌holds‌‌

out‌‌a‌‌pamphlet‌‌towards‌‌him.‌‌Eli‌‌takes‌‌it‌‌without‌‌peeking‌‌a‌‌look‌‌at‌‌it.‌‌ ‌ “Oh‌‌great.‌‌What‌‌do‌‌I‌‌need‌‌to‌‌apply?”‌ ‌ “Actually,‌‌it’s‌‌not‌‌a‌‌college,‌‌sweetheart--it’s‌‌a‌‌highschool,”‌‌his‌‌mom‌‌says.‌‌ ‌ “What?”‌‌Eli‌‌quirks‌‌an‌‌eyebrow.‌‌He‌‌finally‌‌looks‌‌at‌‌the‌‌pamphlet.‌‌Sure‌‌enough,‌‌on‌‌the‌‌ cover‌‌is‌C ‌ OLUMBUS‌‌HIGH‌‌SCHOOL‌‌‌in‌‌big‌‌letters.‌‌Eli’s‌‌eyes‌‌flick‌‌back‌‌up‌‌to‌‌his‌‌parents.‌‌ They’re‌‌still‌‌smiling.‌‌‌“I’m‌‌already‌‌enrolled‌‌at‌‌McClure,‌‌I‌‌have‌‌a‌‌year‌‌left‌‌until‌‌I‌‌graduate.”‌‌ ‌ “We‌‌know,‌‌Elijah.‌‌But‌‌we‌‌know‌‌how‌‌much‌‌you‌‌wanted‌‌to‌‌study‌‌journalism.‌‌It‌‌would‌‌ help‌‌to‌‌transfer‌‌you‌‌to‌‌this‌‌new‌‌school,”‌‌his‌‌father‌‌replies.‌‌ ‌ “We‌‌only‌‌want‌‌the‌‌best‌‌for‌‌you,‌‌you‌‌know‌‌that‌‌sweetheart.‌‌We‌‌figured‌‌we’d‌‌enroll‌‌you‌‌as‌‌

soon‌‌as‌‌we‌‌could.‌‌Hopefully‌‌by‌‌next‌‌month‌‌we‌‌can‌‌get‌‌everything‌‌set‌‌up‌‌to‌‌transfer‌‌you,”‌‌his‌‌

mother’s‌‌tone‌‌drips‌‌in‌‌oversaturated‌‌happiness.‌‌It’s‌‌too‌‌happy‌‌that‌‌Eli‌‌is‌‌immediately‌‌suspicious‌‌

of‌‌them.‌‌ ‌ “Huh--‌‌what?‌‌Where‌‌is‌‌it?”‌‌ ‌ “It’s‌‌in‌‌California,”‌‌his‌‌father‌‌answers.‌‌ ‌ “California?‌‌No!‌‌No‌‌way,‌‌no‌‌way.‌‌I‌‌am‌‌not‌‌leaving‌‌all‌‌my‌‌friends‌‌behind‌‌in‌‌New‌‌York‌‌to‌‌ go‌‌to‌‌some‌‌school‌‌in‌‌California,”‌‌Eli’s‌‌voice‌‌has‌‌gotten‌‌louder.‌‌Panic‌‌begins‌‌to‌‌knock.‌‌ ‌ “Elijah,‌‌we‌‌worked‌‌so‌‌hard‌‌with‌‌applications‌‌and‌‌enrollment‌‌and-”‌‌ ‌ “You‌‌already‌‌enrolled‌‌me?!”‌‌Eli‌‌blurts‌‌out,‌‌the‌‌knocking‌‌gets‌‌louder.‌‌ ‌ “Of‌‌course.‌‌Why‌‌are‌‌you‌‌upset?‌‌I‌‌thought‌‌you‌‌wanted‌‌this.”‌‌ ‌ “Yes!‌‌I‌‌wanted‌‌to‌‌study‌‌journalism‌‌in‌‌college,‌‌not‌‌highschool!‌‌Besides,‌‌you're‌‌forcing‌‌me‌‌ to‌‌move‌‌to‌‌California!‌‌I‌‌never‌‌asked‌‌you‌‌to‌‌do‌‌that!”‌‌Eli‌‌can‌‌feel‌‌his‌‌throat‌‌getting‌‌tight.‌‌He’s‌‌

losing‌‌his‌‌ability‌‌to‌‌keep‌‌it‌‌together,‌‌something‌‌he’s‌‌usually‌‌capable‌‌of‌‌doing.‌‌Panic‌‌begins‌‌

pounding.‌‌ ‌ “Your‌‌father‌‌and‌‌I‌‌only‌‌want‌‌the‌‌best‌‌for‌‌you,‌‌that’s‌‌it.”‌‌ ‌ “You‌‌always‌‌say‌‌that‌‌but‌‌how‌‌can‌‌you‌‌mean‌‌it‌‌when‌‌you‌‌control‌‌everything‌‌in‌‌my‌‌life?”‌‌

Eli’s‌‌question‌‌leaves‌‌the‌‌both‌‌of‌‌them‌‌in‌‌silence,‌‌and‌‌Eli‌‌is‌‌disappointed‌‌at‌‌their‌‌lack‌‌of‌‌an‌‌

answer.‌‌His‌‌only‌‌response‌‌is‌‌to‌‌bolt‌‌out‌‌of‌‌the‌‌room,‌‌throwing‌‌himself‌‌up‌‌the‌‌stairs‌‌to‌‌his‌‌room.‌‌ ‌ As‌‌soon‌‌as‌‌the‌‌door‌‌behind‌‌him‌‌slams‌‌shut,‌‌he‌‌opens‌‌the‌‌door‌‌to‌‌panic.‌‌His‌‌breathing‌‌

becomes‌‌sporadic‌‌and‌‌he’s‌‌shaking‌‌so‌‌hard‌‌that‌‌he‌‌can’t‌‌see‌‌straight.‌‌Eli‌‌tries‌‌to‌‌focus‌‌on‌ something,‌‌anything‌‌that‌‌can‌‌take‌‌his‌‌mind‌‌off‌‌of‌‌what‌‌had‌‌just‌‌happened,‌‌when‌‌he‌‌finds‌‌his‌‌ phone.‌‌The‌‌phone‌‌flips‌‌open‌‌and‌‌Eli’s‌‌fingers‌‌go‌‌to‌‌frantically‌‌type‌‌in‌‌Sofie’s‌‌number.‌‌ ‌ Beep.‌‌Beep.‌‌Beep.‌‌ ‌ “Hi!‌‌It’s‌‌Sofie,‌‌sorry‌‌I‌‌can’t‌‌answer‌‌my‌‌phone,‌‌I’m‌‌probably‌‌too‌‌busy‌‌at‌‌the‌‌moment.‌‌ Leave‌‌a‌‌message‌‌and‌‌I’ll‌‌be‌‌sure‌‌to‌‌call‌‌you‌‌back‌‌soon!”‌ ‌ Eli‌‌can‌‌only‌‌listen‌‌in‌‌stunned‌‌silence‌‌as‌‌his‌‌best‌‌friend’s‌‌voice‌‌talks‌‌to‌‌him‌‌through‌‌his‌‌ phone‌‌speaker.‌‌He‌‌wishes‌‌she‌‌could‌‌just‌‌pick‌‌up‌‌her‌‌damn‌‌phone‌‌for‌‌once--‌‌for‌‌all‌‌he‌‌knows,‌‌his‌‌ parents‌‌could‌‌decide‌‌to‌‌leave‌‌tomorrow‌‌and‌‌that‌‌voicemail‌‌would‌‌be‌‌the‌‌last‌‌time‌‌he’d‌‌hear‌‌ Sofie’s‌‌voice--‌‌and‌‌that‌‌does‌‌it.‌‌The‌‌hot‌‌tears‌‌in‌‌the‌‌corners‌‌of‌‌his‌‌eyes‌‌finally‌‌break‌‌free,‌‌running‌‌

down‌‌his‌‌face.‌‌Sofie’s‌‌soft‌‌voice‌‌is‌‌replaced‌‌by‌‌that‌‌of‌‌a‌‌more‌‌robotic‌‌one.‌‌ ‌ “Please‌‌leave‌‌your‌‌message‌‌at‌‌the‌‌beep.‌‌When‌‌you‌‌are‌‌done,‌‌press‌‌one.”‌‌ ‌ Beep!‌‌ ‌ Fine.‌‌If‌‌she‌‌won’t‌‌pick‌‌up,‌‌he’ll‌‌just‌‌go‌‌to‌‌her.‌‌He‌‌needs‌‌her‌‌help‌‌to‌‌be‌‌able‌‌to‌‌make‌‌sense‌‌

of‌‌this‌‌shitty‌‌situation,‌‌and‌‌at‌‌this‌‌point,‌‌he’s‌‌so‌‌desperate‌‌he’ll‌‌do‌‌anything.‌‌ ‌ ...‌ ‌ His‌‌parents‌‌are‌‌clueless‌‌as‌‌Eli‌‌pushes‌‌open‌‌his‌‌window.‌‌They’re‌‌clueless‌‌as‌‌he‌‌jumps‌‌out‌‌ and‌‌lands‌‌on‌‌their‌‌newly‌‌planted‌‌gardenias,‌‌crushing‌‌them‌‌beneath‌‌his‌‌shoes.‌‌They’re‌‌clueless‌‌as‌‌ he‌‌goes‌‌running‌‌off‌‌to‌‌his‌‌best‌‌friend’s‌‌house,‌‌and‌‌Eli‌‌isn’t‌‌surprised‌‌that‌‌they‌‌are.‌ ‌ ‌

Chapter‌‌II‌ ‌ Vince‌‌always‌‌knows‌‌what‌‌time‌‌his‌‌father‌‌comes‌‌home‌‌from‌‌work.‌‌Seven‌‌pm‌‌sharp‌‌the‌‌

garage‌‌door‌‌always‌‌opens,‌‌and‌‌his‌‌father‌‌comes‌‌storming‌‌into‌‌the‌‌house,‌‌desperate‌‌to‌‌relieve‌‌

work‌‌stress‌‌by‌‌laying‌‌into‌‌him.‌‌So‌‌he‌‌usually‌‌tries‌‌to‌‌leave‌‌the‌‌house‌‌to‌‌be‌‌by‌‌himself‌‌for‌‌the‌‌few‌‌ calm‌‌hours‌‌he‌‌has.‌‌He‌‌can‌‌do‌‌without‌‌the‌‌yelling‌‌and‌‌the‌‌constant‌‌back‌‌and‌‌forth‌‌arguing‌‌

between‌‌him‌‌and‌‌his‌‌dad.‌‌It‌‌was‌‌the‌‌one‌‌thing‌‌he‌‌had‌‌gotten‌‌from‌‌his‌‌dad--‌‌his‌‌temper.‌‌Nearly‌‌ everything‌‌else‌‌he‌‌inherited‌‌from‌‌his‌‌mother.‌‌Her‌‌eyes,‌‌her‌‌hair,‌‌her‌‌love‌‌of‌‌cheesy‌‌love‌‌ballads,‌‌ even‌‌her‌‌addiction‌‌to‌‌cigarettes‌‌Vince‌‌has‌‌picked‌‌up‌‌from‌‌her.‌‌He‌‌remembers‌‌one‌‌day‌‌after‌‌ school‌‌when‌‌he‌‌had‌‌noticed‌‌a‌‌box‌‌of‌‌Marlboros‌‌laying‌‌on‌‌the‌‌coffee‌‌table‌‌in‌‌the‌‌living‌‌room.‌‌He‌‌

stole‌‌one‌‌and‌‌smoked‌‌it‌‌outside‌‌by‌‌his‌‌old‌‌tree‌‌house.‌‌Ever‌‌since‌‌then‌‌he‌‌hasn’t‌‌been‌‌able‌‌to‌‌put‌‌a‌‌

stop‌‌to‌‌the‌‌poor‌‌habit.‌‌ ‌ His‌‌watch‌‌beeps‌‌a‌‌harmonious‌‌tune,‌‌reminding‌‌Vince‌‌of‌‌the‌‌time-‌‌8:30‌,‌‌and‌‌he‌‌finds‌‌

himself‌‌strolling‌‌the‌‌streets‌‌back‌‌home.‌‌He‌‌knows‌‌his‌‌way‌‌back‌‌perfectly,‌‌knows‌‌that‌‌by‌‌this‌‌ hour,‌‌the‌‌streets‌‌are‌‌usually‌‌empty‌‌and‌‌quiet.‌‌Except‌‌tonight‌‌he‌‌hears‌‌the‌‌muffled‌‌sobs‌‌of‌‌

someone‌‌near‌‌him.‌‌Vince’s‌‌eyes‌‌dart‌‌around‌‌the‌‌area‌‌until‌‌he‌‌settles‌‌on‌‌Eli.‌‌He’s‌‌in‌‌front‌‌of‌‌one‌‌

of‌‌the‌‌houses,‌‌talking‌‌to‌‌an‌‌older‌‌woman‌‌standing‌‌inside.‌‌Her‌‌face‌‌is‌‌contorted‌‌and‌‌her‌‌eyebrows‌‌ are‌‌narrowed‌‌onto‌‌her‌‌face.‌‌Vince‌‌tries‌‌to‌‌eavesdrop‌‌from‌‌a‌‌distance.‌‌ ‌ “Sofie’s‌‌still‌‌out.‌‌She‌‌said‌‌she‌‌has‌‌a‌‌lot‌‌of‌‌things‌‌to‌‌finish‌‌up‌‌for‌‌school.‌‌Sorry,‌‌Eli.‌‌I’ll‌‌let‌‌ her‌‌know‌‌when‌‌she‌‌gets‌‌back‌‌home.”‌‌ ‌ “Thanks‌‌Mrs.‌‌Dubois.”‌‌ ‌ “Of‌‌course‌‌Eli,‌‌feel‌‌better.‌‌I‌‌hope‌‌things‌‌work‌‌out‌‌for‌‌you‌‌in‌‌the‌‌end,”‌‌Vince‌‌watches‌‌as‌‌

the‌‌woman‌‌closes‌‌the‌‌door,‌‌and‌‌Eli‌‌slowly‌‌makes‌‌his‌‌way‌‌off‌‌their‌‌porch.‌‌He‌‌notices‌‌Eli’s‌‌face,‌‌

notices‌‌the‌‌heavy‌‌tears‌‌flowing‌‌from‌‌Eli’s‌‌eyes.‌‌When‌‌the‌‌two‌‌make‌‌eye‌‌contact,‌‌the‌‌other‌‌boy‌‌ tries‌‌to‌‌hide‌‌it,‌‌immediately‌‌using‌‌the‌‌sleeve‌‌of‌‌his‌‌jacket‌‌to‌‌wipe‌‌his‌‌face‌‌dry.‌‌

“Why‌‌are‌‌you‌‌crying?”‌‌ ‌ Vince‌‌gets‌‌no‌‌response‌‌from‌‌Eli.‌‌He‌‌tries‌‌again.‌‌ ‌

‌

“Hello?‌‌Uh-‌‌what’s‌‌up?‌‌Is‌‌something‌‌wrong?”‌‌ ‌ It‌‌takes‌‌Eli‌‌a‌‌second‌‌to‌‌find‌‌his‌‌voice,‌‌“Of‌‌course‌‌something‌‌is‌‌wrong!”‌ ‌ “Do‌‌you‌‌uh,‌‌wanna‌‌talk‌‌about‌‌it?”‌‌ ‌ “No,‌‌no.‌‌I‌‌don’t‌‌know‌‌if‌‌you’d‌‌get‌‌it,‌‌it’s‌‌hard‌‌to‌‌explain.”‌‌Eli’s‌‌crying‌‌only‌‌gets‌‌more‌‌ violent,‌‌at‌‌this‌‌point‌‌he’s‌‌practically‌‌shaking.‌ ‌ “Hey,‌‌hey,”‌‌Vince‌‌pulls‌‌out‌‌the‌‌cigarette‌‌box‌‌from‌‌his‌‌back‌‌pocket‌‌and‌‌offers‌‌one‌‌to‌‌Eli,‌‌ who‌‌shoos‌‌it‌‌away‌‌with‌‌his‌‌hand.‌‌ ‌ “God,‌‌no‌‌thanks--‌‌those‌‌just‌‌remind‌‌me‌‌of‌‌my‌‌parents.‌‌I‌‌really‌‌wouldn’t‌‌like‌‌to‌‌think‌‌ about‌‌them‌‌anymore‌‌than‌‌I‌‌already‌‌have‌‌to.”‌‌ ‌ “I’m‌‌guessing‌‌something‌‌happened‌‌with‌‌your‌‌parents‌‌then?”‌‌ ‌ Eli’s‌‌head‌‌nods‌‌in‌‌silent‌‌response.‌‌Vince‌‌pushes‌‌the‌‌cigarette‌‌and‌‌the‌‌box‌‌back‌‌into‌‌his‌‌

pocket‌‌and‌‌instead‌‌pulls‌‌out‌‌a‌‌thin‌‌piece‌‌of‌‌paper.‌‌“Hey,‌‌if‌‌you‌‌wanna‌‌take‌‌your‌‌mind‌‌off‌‌your‌‌ parents,‌‌why‌‌don’t‌‌you‌‌come‌‌with‌‌me‌‌right‌‌now‌‌to‌‌see‌‌a‌‌movie?‌‌They’re‌‌showing‌‌my‌‌favorite‌‌ horror‌‌flick‌‌right‌‌now.”‌‌ ‌ “That’s‌‌nice,‌‌but‌‌I‌‌think‌‌I’m‌‌good.‌‌I‌‌don’t‌‌wanna‌‌bother‌‌you.”‌‌ ‌ “Nah,‌‌trust‌‌me‌‌you‌‌won’t.‌‌It’s‌‌whack‌‌anyways‌‌to‌‌watch‌‌a‌‌movie‌‌by‌‌yourself,”‌‌Vince‌‌ shrugs‌‌his‌‌shoulders.‌‌“Here,”‌‌he‌‌hands‌‌a‌‌piece‌‌of‌‌paper‌‌to‌‌Eli,‌‌who‌‌takes‌‌it‌‌without‌‌looking‌‌at‌‌it,‌‌ “It’s‌‌the‌‌ticket‌‌for‌‌the‌‌theater.”‌‌ ‌ “Alright,‌‌fine.‌‌You’re‌‌probably‌‌right‌‌anyways,‌‌I‌‌can’t‌‌think‌‌about‌‌my‌‌parents‌‌if‌‌I’m‌‌too‌‌ busy‌‌screaming.”‌‌ ‌ “Exactly.”‌‌ ‌ ...‌ ‌

The‌‌two‌‌stroll‌‌down‌‌the‌‌streets,‌‌Vince‌‌leading.‌‌Despite‌‌his‌‌best‌‌efforts,‌‌Eli‌‌still‌‌lets‌‌the‌‌ thoughts‌‌of‌‌moving‌‌to‌‌California‌‌linger‌‌in‌‌his‌‌brain.‌‌Leaving‌‌his‌‌friends,‌‌basically‌‌starting‌‌a‌‌new‌‌ life‌‌in‌‌California.‌‌He‌‌should‌‌be‌‌excited,‌‌to‌‌get‌‌a‌‌blank‌‌canvas,‌‌to‌‌finally‌‌be‌‌studying‌‌journalism,‌‌ but‌‌right‌‌now‌‌nothing‌‌makes‌‌sense‌‌and‌‌he‌‌hates‌‌his‌‌parents,‌‌and‌‌his‌‌mind‌‌is‌‌fluttered‌‌with‌‌way‌‌ too‌‌many‌‌emotions‌‌that‌‌he‌‌feels‌‌as‌‌if‌‌he‌‌might‌‌go‌‌into‌‌shutdown‌‌mode.‌‌A‌‌door‌‌flies‌‌open‌‌right‌‌by‌‌

his‌‌face‌‌and‌‌a‌‌small‌‌bell‌‌rings‌‌upon‌‌entry--‌‌Vince‌‌had‌‌brought‌‌them‌‌to‌‌a‌‌bodega.‌‌ ‌ “I‌‌thought‌‌we‌‌were‌‌going‌‌to‌‌the‌‌theater?”‌‌Eli‌‌asks.‌‌ ‌ “We‌‌are,”‌‌Vince‌‌answers‌‌him‌‌back.‌‌“Don’t‌‌you‌‌want‌‌some‌‌candy‌‌for‌‌the‌‌movie?”‌‌ ‌ Eli‌‌begins‌‌to‌‌answer‌‌when‌‌Vince‌‌goes‌‌pacing‌‌down‌‌the‌‌aisles.‌‌Eli‌‌rushes‌‌to‌‌follow‌‌him,‌‌

watches‌‌as‌‌he‌‌grabs‌‌candy‌‌bars‌‌from‌‌the‌‌boxes‌‌and‌‌bags‌‌of‌‌chips‌‌off‌‌the‌‌rack.‌‌Eli‌‌reaches‌‌to‌‌his‌‌

back‌‌pocket,‌‌already‌‌offering‌‌to‌‌pay‌‌for‌‌the‌‌two‌‌of‌‌them.‌‌His‌‌empty‌‌pockets‌‌tell‌‌him‌‌he‌‌left‌‌his‌‌ wallet‌‌at‌‌home.‌‌ ‌ “Wait,‌‌Vince.‌‌I‌‌didn’t‌‌bring‌‌my‌‌wallet.”‌‌The‌‌other‌‌boy‌‌doesn’t‌‌seem‌‌bothered‌‌by‌‌this‌‌as‌‌ he‌‌continues‌‌to‌‌grab‌‌another‌‌two‌‌bags‌‌of‌‌candy.‌‌ ‌ “It’s‌‌cool.‌‌It’s‌‌on‌‌me,”‌‌Vince‌‌answers‌‌him‌‌back.‌‌“Well‌‌actually,”‌‌He‌‌closes‌‌the‌‌space‌‌

between‌‌him‌‌and‌‌Eli‌‌and‌‌begins‌‌to‌‌unbutton‌‌the‌‌front‌‌of‌‌Eli’s‌‌blazer.‌‌“It’s‌‌on‌‌you.”‌‌Right‌‌as‌‌the‌‌ blazer‌‌opens‌‌up,‌‌Vince‌‌begins‌‌stuffing‌‌the‌‌inside‌‌pockets‌‌with‌‌the‌‌candy‌‌bags.‌‌ ‌ “Hey--‌‌wait!”‌‌Eli‌‌pushes‌‌the‌‌other‌‌boy’s‌‌hands‌‌away.‌‌“What‌‌the‌‌hell‌‌do‌‌you‌‌think‌‌you’re‌‌ doing?”‌‌ ‌ “Uh,‌‌getting‌‌some‌‌candy‌‌for‌‌the‌‌movie?”‌‌ ‌ “Obviously,‌‌smartass.‌‌Aren’t‌‌there‌‌security‌‌cameras‌‌though?”‌‌ ‌ “Don’t‌‌worry,‌‌I‌‌scoped‌‌the‌‌place‌‌out.‌‌No‌‌cameras,‌‌and‌‌it‌‌looks‌‌like‌‌the‌‌cashier‌‌is‌‌on‌‌ break.”‌‌Vince‌‌ushers‌‌to‌‌the‌‌register.‌‌Eli‌‌peeks.‌‌There’s‌‌no‌‌one‌‌there--‌‌they‌‌got‌‌real‌‌lucky.‌‌ ‌

With‌‌the‌‌last‌‌of‌‌the‌‌bags‌‌tucked‌‌away,‌‌Vince‌‌buttons‌‌the‌‌blazer‌‌back‌‌up,‌‌struggling‌‌with‌‌

the‌‌top‌‌one‌‌as‌‌it’s‌‌stuffed‌‌full‌‌with‌‌stolen‌‌snacks.‌‌His‌‌hand‌‌flies‌‌up‌‌to‌‌pat‌‌Eli‌‌on‌‌the‌‌back,‌‌as‌‌if‌‌he‌‌

was‌‌given‌‌the‌‌choice‌‌to‌‌steal‌‌voluntarily.‌‌ ‌ “Alright,‌‌c’mon.”‌‌Eli’s‌‌right‌‌arm‌‌is‌‌pulled‌‌and‌‌he’s‌‌quickly‌‌led‌‌out‌‌through‌‌the‌‌front‌‌ doors.‌‌He’s‌‌left‌‌with‌‌no‌‌words‌‌except‌‌for‌‌broken‌‌sentences‌‌as‌‌he‌‌can’t‌‌find‌‌the‌‌right‌‌words‌‌to‌‌ finish.‌‌His‌‌heart‌‌is‌‌racing‌‌just‌‌thinking‌‌about‌‌getting‌‌caught.‌‌Except‌‌he‌‌knew‌‌Vince‌‌was‌‌right,‌‌ there‌‌were‌‌no‌‌cameras,‌‌the‌‌cash‌‌register‌‌was‌‌empty.‌‌He‌‌could‌‌probably‌‌just‌‌walk‌‌up‌‌to‌‌it‌‌and‌‌

start‌‌taking‌‌bills‌‌out‌‌if‌‌he‌‌really‌‌wanted‌‌to.‌‌That‌‌slight‌‌fear‌‌boiled‌‌away‌‌and‌‌instead‌‌brewed‌‌an‌‌ excitement‌‌that‌‌Eli‌‌hasn’t‌‌felt‌‌in‌‌a‌‌while--‌‌an‌‌excitement‌‌of‌‌not‌‌knowing‌‌what‌‌will‌‌happen‌‌next.‌‌ ‌ Only‌‌steps‌‌away‌‌from‌‌the‌‌theater‌‌Vince‌‌ducks‌‌into‌‌a‌‌nearby‌‌alleyway‌‌and‌‌Eli‌‌has‌‌no‌‌idea‌‌ what’s‌‌happening,‌‌but‌‌he‌‌knows‌‌he‌‌won’t‌‌put‌‌in‌‌the‌‌effort‌‌to‌‌ask.‌‌It’s‌‌only‌‌when‌‌Vince‌‌begins‌‌to‌‌ climb‌‌the‌‌fire‌‌escape‌‌that‌‌Eli‌‌realizes‌‌he‌‌has‌‌no‌‌plans‌‌on‌‌paying‌‌for‌‌tickets.‌‌ ‌ “I‌‌thought‌‌you‌‌paid‌‌for‌‌the‌‌tickets‌‌already?”‌‌ ‌ “Check‌‌the‌‌‘ticket’‌‌I‌‌gave‌‌you,”‌‌Vince‌‌responds.‌ ‌ Eli‌‌reaches‌‌into‌‌his‌‌pocket‌‌and‌‌pulls‌‌out‌‌the‌‌ticket‌‌Vince‌‌had‌‌given‌‌him.‌‌When‌‌he‌‌checks‌‌ it,‌‌he‌‌realizes‌‌it‌‌actually‌‌isn’t‌‌a‌‌ticket‌‌for‌‌the‌‌movie--‌‌it’s‌‌a‌‌membership‌‌award‌‌card‌‌for‌‌Antonia’s‌‌

Pizza‌‌Place.‌‌He‌‌shoots‌‌Vince‌‌an‌‌unimpressed‌‌glare.‌‌ ‌ “What?‌‌I‌‌needed‌‌to‌‌convince‌‌you‌‌to‌‌see‌‌this‌‌movie‌‌with‌‌me.‌‌If‌‌I‌‌told‌‌you‌‌we‌‌were‌‌gonna‌‌

sneak‌‌in‌‌I‌‌know‌‌you‌‌wouldn’t‌‌have‌‌agreed.”‌‌ ‌ Eli‌‌follows‌‌behind‌‌Vince,‌‌being‌‌careful‌‌of‌‌where‌‌he‌‌steps.‌‌The‌‌metal‌‌from‌‌the‌‌ladder‌‌

creaks‌‌beneath‌‌their‌‌feet.‌‌Once‌‌he‌‌steps‌‌off‌‌the‌‌ladder‌‌onto‌‌the‌‌fire‌‌escape,‌‌Eli‌‌feels‌‌disoriented.‌‌

He‌‌leans‌‌against‌‌the‌‌railing‌‌and‌‌looks‌‌down‌‌from‌‌where‌‌he’s‌‌standing,‌‌he‌‌figures‌‌he’s‌‌at‌‌least‌‌

fifty‌‌feet‌‌off‌‌the‌‌ground.‌‌Vince‌‌copies‌‌him,‌‌learning‌‌against‌‌the‌‌railing‌‌until‌‌he‌‌jolts‌‌back‌‌up‌‌out‌‌ of‌‌fear.‌‌ ‌ “I‌‌just‌‌remembered‌‌how‌‌scared‌‌I‌‌am‌‌of‌‌heights.”‌‌ ‌ “Not‌‌scared‌‌of‌‌getting‌‌caught‌‌shoplifting‌‌but‌‌you’ll‌‌shit‌‌yourself‌‌because‌‌of‌‌heights?”‌‌ ‌ Vince‌‌pops‌‌a‌‌playful‌‌punch‌‌to‌‌Eli’s‌‌shoulder,‌‌who‌‌finds‌‌his‌‌punch‌‌to‌‌be‌‌harder‌‌than‌‌ expected.‌‌A‌‌few‌‌more‌‌steps‌‌up‌‌the‌‌fire‌‌escape‌‌lead‌‌them‌‌to‌‌a‌‌metal‌‌door‌‌with‌‌an‌‌“Employees‌‌ Only”‌‌sign.‌‌The‌‌two‌‌forgo‌‌the‌‌given‌‌warning‌‌and‌‌enter‌‌through‌‌the‌‌door,‌‌which‌‌ends‌‌up‌‌leading‌‌ them‌‌to‌‌the‌‌projection‌‌room‌‌above‌‌the‌‌cinema‌‌room.‌‌ ‌ “You‌‌seem‌‌to‌‌know‌‌your‌‌way‌‌around‌‌here.”‌‌ ‌ Vince‌‌shrugs,‌‌“Eh.‌‌I‌‌worked‌‌here‌‌last‌‌year‌‌for‌‌like,‌‌a‌‌week.‌‌I‌‌needed‌‌to‌‌earn‌‌some‌‌money‌‌ somehow.”‌‌ ‌ The‌‌room‌‌is‌‌muggy‌‌and‌‌humid‌‌from‌‌the‌‌late‌‌spring‌‌air,‌‌with‌‌only‌‌a‌‌standing‌‌fan‌‌perched‌ in‌‌the‌‌corner‌‌of‌‌the‌‌room‌‌fighting‌‌off‌‌the‌‌hot‌‌air.‌‌Eli‌‌glances‌‌out‌‌through‌‌the‌‌small‌‌window‌‌from‌‌ which‌‌the‌‌movie‌‌is‌‌being‌‌projected‌‌from.‌‌The‌‌previews‌‌have‌‌ended‌‌already,‌‌and‌‌it‌‌seems‌‌like‌‌

they’ve‌‌missed‌‌the‌‌first‌‌five‌‌or‌‌ten‌‌minutes--‌‌probably‌‌from‌‌how‌‌long‌‌it‌‌took‌‌them‌‌to‌‌sneak‌‌in.‌‌

Vince‌‌drags‌‌two‌‌chairs‌‌up‌‌to‌‌the‌‌projection‌‌window.‌‌The‌‌two‌‌sit‌‌down,‌‌the‌‌crinkling‌‌in‌‌his‌‌blazer‌‌

remind‌‌Eli‌‌of‌‌the‌‌snacks‌‌they‌‌pocketed‌‌earlier,‌‌prompting‌‌him‌‌to‌‌pull‌‌them‌‌out.‌‌He’s‌‌shocked‌‌at‌‌ how‌‌much‌‌Vince‌‌was‌‌able‌‌to‌‌fit‌‌in‌‌his‌‌pockets,‌‌about‌‌five‌‌bags‌‌of‌‌M&M’s,‌‌three‌‌Twix‌‌bars,‌‌a‌‌bag‌‌ of‌‌Twizzlers‌‌and‌‌a‌‌small‌‌bag‌‌of‌‌chips.‌‌Vince‌‌reaches‌‌over‌‌and‌‌helps‌‌himself‌‌to‌‌some‌‌candy.‌‌He’s‌‌ halfway‌‌through‌‌his‌‌Twix‌‌bar‌‌when‌‌he‌‌notices‌‌Eli‌‌hasn’t‌‌been‌‌paying‌‌attention‌‌to‌‌the‌‌movie.‌‌ ‌ “What’s‌‌wrong?‌‌Don’t‌‌like‌‌horror‌‌movies?”‌‌Vince‌‌asks.‌ ‌ “No,‌‌they’re‌‌fine,‌‌I‌‌guess.”‌ ‌ “Well,‌‌you’re‌‌missing‌‌half‌‌the‌‌movie.‌‌It‌‌gets‌‌better,‌‌I‌‌swear.”‌‌ ‌

Eli‌‌continues‌‌to‌‌stare‌‌at‌‌the‌‌bag‌‌of‌‌Twizzlers.‌‌Vince‌‌takes‌‌quick‌‌notice‌‌of‌‌this.‌‌ ‌ “Is‌‌it‌‌about‌‌your‌‌parents?”‌ ‌ “Why‌‌does‌‌it‌‌matter?”‌‌ ‌ “Because‌‌you’ve‌‌been‌‌a‌‌sad‌‌sack‌‌all‌‌night.‌‌I‌‌thought‌‌this‌‌would‌‌make‌‌you‌‌feel‌‌better,‌‌but‌‌

you’re‌‌still‌‌moping‌‌around.”‌‌ ‌ “Because‌‌you‌‌used‌‌me‌‌to‌‌shoplift‌‌and‌‌then‌‌made‌‌me‌‌climb‌‌a‌‌thousand‌‌feet‌‌up‌‌into‌‌some‌‌ hot‌‌ass‌‌room‌‌to‌‌watch‌‌a‌‌crappy‌‌horror‌‌flick!”‌‌ ‌ Vince‌‌is‌‌taken‌‌aback‌‌by‌‌Eli’s‌‌sudden‌‌harshness.‌‌“I’m‌‌sorry!”‌‌he‌‌says,‌‌although‌‌it‌‌comes‌‌

out‌‌more‌‌defensive‌‌than‌‌apologetical.‌‌“I‌‌can’t‌‌pay‌‌for‌‌a‌‌bunch‌‌of‌‌candy‌‌and‌‌movie‌‌tickets,‌‌this‌‌is‌‌ how‌‌I’ve‌‌been‌‌doing‌‌things‌‌for‌‌a‌‌while,‌‌sorry‌‌if‌‌your‌‌parents‌‌are‌‌different.”‌‌ ‌ The‌‌comment‌‌about‌‌his‌‌parents‌‌tips‌‌Eli‌‌over‌‌the‌‌edge.‌‌“Stop‌‌talking‌‌about‌‌my‌‌parents!”‌‌

Eli’s‌‌voice‌‌rips‌‌through‌‌the‌‌tension‌‌in‌‌the‌‌room,‌‌and‌‌both‌‌boys‌‌are‌‌convinced‌‌everyone‌‌in‌‌the‌‌

cinema‌‌just‌‌heard‌‌them.‌‌ ‌ “Shit.‌‌Sorry,”‌‌Vince‌‌lowers‌‌his‌‌voice.‌‌I‌‌didn’t‌‌realize‌‌you‌‌were‌‌so‌‌upset‌‌about‌‌your‌‌

parents.”‌‌ ‌ “You‌‌literally‌‌saw‌‌me‌‌bawling‌‌my‌‌eyes‌‌out‌‌earlier,‌‌of‌‌course‌‌I’m‌‌upset!”‌‌Eli‌‌responds‌‌in‌‌a ‌‌ whisper-yell.‌‌ ‌ “I‌‌just,”‌‌Vince‌‌chooses‌‌his‌‌next‌‌words‌‌carefully,‌‌“I‌‌was‌‌trying‌‌to‌‌make‌‌you‌‌feel‌‌better.‌‌I ‌‌ didn’t‌‌like‌‌seeing‌‌you‌‌just‌‌moping‌‌around.‌‌Sorry,‌‌I’m‌‌no‌‌good‌‌at‌‌being‌‌honest‌‌and‌‌stuff.”‌‌The‌‌ apology‌‌wasn’t‌‌perfect,‌‌but‌‌it‌‌was‌‌just‌‌fine‌‌for‌‌Eli.‌ ‌ Eli‌‌rubs‌‌his‌‌temples‌‌with‌‌his‌‌fingers.‌‌“It’s‌‌fine.‌‌I’m‌‌sorry‌‌for‌‌snapping‌‌at‌‌you,‌‌I‌‌didn’t‌‌ mean‌‌to,‌‌it’s‌‌just...‌‌my‌‌parents‌‌fucked‌‌me‌‌over‌‌basically.”‌‌ ‌ “How?”‌‌Vince‌‌asks,‌‌he‌‌pushes‌‌his‌‌hair‌‌out‌‌of‌‌his‌‌face.‌‌ ‌

“I’m‌‌moving‌‌to‌‌California.‌‌They’re‌‌pulling‌‌me‌‌out‌‌of‌‌McClure‌‌to‌‌send‌‌me‌‌to‌‌some‌‌

journalism‌‌school‌‌in‌‌Sacramento.‌‌In‌‌a‌‌month‌‌I‌‌have‌‌to‌‌leave‌‌everything‌‌behind‌‌in‌‌New‌‌York.”‌‌ ‌ “What?‌‌That’s‌‌bullshit,‌‌they‌‌can’t‌‌make‌‌you‌‌do‌‌that.”‌‌ ‌ “They‌‌can,‌‌that’s‌‌the‌‌thing.‌‌I’m‌‌only‌‌seventeen.‌‌I’m‌‌a‌‌minor,‌‌I’m‌‌basically‌‌nobody‌‌on‌‌my‌‌ own.”‌‌Eli‌‌darts‌‌his‌‌eyes‌‌down‌‌to‌‌avoid‌‌eye‌‌contact‌‌with‌‌Vince.‌‌ ‌ “Can’t‌‌you‌‌just‌‌say‌‌no?”‌ ‌ “I‌‌can’t!‌‌If‌‌I‌‌even‌‌try‌‌to‌‌protest‌‌they‌‌manage‌‌to‌‌turn‌‌things‌‌around‌‌on‌‌me.‌‌Suddenly‌‌I’m‌‌ the‌‌bad‌‌guy‌‌because‌‌they‌‌‘only‌‌want‌‌the‌‌best‌‌for‌‌me,’‌‌“‌‌Eli‌‌begins‌‌to‌‌unwrap‌‌a‌‌chocolate‌‌bar‌‌out‌‌

of‌‌pity.‌‌“It’s‌‌useless.‌‌I‌‌can’t‌‌do‌‌anything.‌‌My‌‌hands‌‌are‌‌tied,‌‌and‌‌my‌‌parents‌‌are‌‌the‌‌ones‌‌holding‌‌ the‌‌rope.”‌‌ ‌ “So‌‌you’re‌‌really‌‌leaving‌‌for‌‌California,‌‌huh?”‌‌There’s‌‌no‌‌verbal‌‌response‌‌from‌‌Eli,‌‌just‌‌a‌‌

silent‌‌head‌‌nod.‌‌“That’s‌‌fucked.‌‌You‌‌have‌‌to‌‌leave‌‌behind‌‌your‌‌friends‌‌and‌‌everything.‌‌I‌‌just‌‌met‌‌ you,‌‌and‌‌you‌‌seemed‌‌like‌‌a‌‌cool‌‌guy.”‌‌ ‌ Eli’s‌‌eyes‌‌move‌‌up‌‌to‌‌Vince‌‌while‌‌he‌‌thinks‌‌of‌‌what‌‌to‌‌say.‌‌It’s‌‌the‌‌first‌‌time‌‌he‌‌looked‌‌at‌‌ him‌‌the‌‌whole‌‌time.‌‌He‌‌wasn’t‌‌wearing‌‌his‌‌uniform‌‌anymore.‌‌Just‌‌a‌‌pair‌‌of‌‌jeans‌‌and‌‌a‌‌white‌‌ tank‌‌top.‌‌He‌‌looked‌‌almost‌‌unrecognizable‌‌without‌‌the‌‌uniform‌‌on.‌‌The‌‌tank‌‌top‌‌exposed‌‌his‌‌ arms‌‌which‌‌were‌‌pale‌‌and‌‌covered‌‌in‌‌freckles.‌‌Eli‌‌blinks,‌‌realizing‌‌he’s‌‌staring.‌‌ ‌ “You‌‌look‌‌good‌‌in‌‌a‌‌tank‌‌top,‌‌Vince,”‌‌it‌‌comes‌‌out‌‌stuffy‌‌and‌‌muffled‌‌through‌‌his‌‌tears.‌‌ ‌ “‌‌Thanks?”‌‌ ‌ “Sorry--‌‌just‌‌trying‌‌to‌‌not‌‌think‌‌about‌‌anything‌‌right‌‌now.‌‌If‌‌I‌‌allow‌‌myself‌‌to‌‌keep‌‌

thinking‌‌about‌‌it‌‌I‌‌think‌‌I‌‌might‌‌implode.‌‌Although‌‌things’ll‌‌be‌‌a‌‌lot‌‌easier‌‌that‌‌way.”‌‌ ‌ Vince‌‌decides‌‌then‌‌and‌‌there‌‌that‌‌he‌‌has‌‌to‌‌help‌‌Eli.‌‌Whatever‌‌he’s‌‌going‌‌through,‌‌he‌‌has‌‌ to‌‌help‌‌him‌‌overcome‌‌it.‌‌It’s‌‌the‌‌least‌‌he‌‌can‌‌do.‌‌In‌‌less‌‌than‌‌four‌‌weeks‌‌Eli‌‌will‌‌be‌‌off‌‌to‌‌some‌‌

school‌‌in‌‌California,‌‌and‌‌Vince‌‌will‌‌never‌‌see‌‌him‌‌again.‌‌He‌‌has‌‌to‌‌make‌‌sure‌‌Eli‌‌can‌‌make‌‌a‌‌ few‌‌good‌‌last‌‌memories‌‌of‌‌New‌‌York,‌‌whatever‌‌it‌‌takes.‌‌ ‌ ‌

Chapter‌‌III‌ ‌ “I’m‌‌sorry,‌‌Mr.‌‌Prescott,‌‌but‌‌they‌‌gave‌‌me‌‌no‌‌reason.‌‌They‌‌just‌‌simply‌‌requested‌‌to‌‌ transfer‌‌you‌‌out‌‌of‌‌McClure.”‌‌ ‌ Eli‌‌sits‌‌across‌‌from‌‌Ms.‌‌Schaeffer.‌‌It’s‌‌only‌‌been‌‌a‌‌couple‌‌days‌‌since‌‌she‌‌took‌‌over‌‌Mr.‌‌ Yeagerman‌‌as‌‌headmaster,‌‌yet‌‌she’s‌‌already‌‌dealing‌‌with‌‌problems‌‌with‌‌students.‌‌Not‌‌exactly‌‌ how‌‌she‌‌wanted‌‌to‌‌start‌‌her‌‌first‌‌day,‌‌but‌‌she’s‌‌happy‌‌to‌‌be‌‌helping‌‌any‌‌way‌‌she‌‌can.‌‌ ‌ “So‌‌you‌‌know‌‌nothing‌‌about‌‌why‌‌I’m‌‌being‌‌pulled‌‌out‌‌of‌‌here?”‌‌ ‌ “Unfortunately,‌‌no.”‌‌ ‌ “Great,”‌‌Eli‌‌slumps‌‌back‌‌into‌‌the‌‌chair.‌‌He‌‌lets‌‌himself‌‌go‌‌limp‌‌in‌‌the‌‌green‌‌velvet.‌‌He‌‌

remembers‌‌his‌‌first‌‌day‌‌at‌‌McClure.‌‌He‌‌remembers‌‌sitting‌‌in‌‌that‌‌same‌‌green‌‌velvet‌‌chair‌‌while‌‌ Mr.‌‌Yeagerman‌‌rambled‌‌on‌‌and‌‌on‌‌about‌‌how‌‌great‌‌McClure‌‌was.‌ ‌ “Although,‌‌if‌‌you‌‌excuse‌‌my‌‌suspicions,‌‌the‌‌timing‌‌is‌‌weird.”‌‌ ‌ “I‌‌know!‌‌I’m‌‌graduating‌‌next‌‌year‌‌already,‌‌it‌‌doesn’t‌‌make‌‌sense.”‌‌ ‌ “No,‌‌no,‌‌that’s‌‌not‌‌what‌‌I‌‌meant.‌‌My‌‌first‌‌day‌‌here‌‌as‌‌headmaster,‌‌when‌‌I‌‌created‌‌a‌‌new‌‌ administration‌‌and‌‌got‌‌rid‌‌of‌‌the‌‌outdated‌‌programs‌‌of‌‌gender‌‌roles,‌‌as‌‌well‌‌as‌‌the‌‌strict‌‌ reforment‌‌system,‌‌your‌‌parents‌‌came‌‌to‌‌me‌‌to‌‌request‌‌they‌‌transfer‌‌you‌‌out‌‌of‌‌here.‌‌That‌‌was‌‌the‌‌ same‌‌day‌‌I‌‌sent‌‌out‌‌this‌‌pamphlet.”‌‌She‌‌pushes‌‌a‌‌familiar‌‌pamphlet‌‌towards‌‌Eli,‌‌who‌‌sits‌‌back‌‌

up.‌‌At‌‌the‌‌top‌‌was‌‌plastered:‌W ‌ elcome‌‌to‌‌the‌‌New‌‌McClure‌‌Academy‌‌for‌‌Young‌‌Minds!‌I‌ t‌‌was‌‌the‌‌

same‌‌pamphlet‌‌he‌‌had‌‌gotten‌‌explaining‌‌all‌‌the‌‌new‌‌changes‌‌to‌‌the‌‌school.‌‌Gears‌‌begin‌‌turning‌‌ in‌‌Eli’s‌‌brain.‌‌He‌‌remembers‌‌giving‌‌that‌‌same‌‌pamphlet‌‌to‌‌his‌‌mom‌‌the‌‌other‌‌day.‌‌ ‌ “If‌‌you‌‌could‌‌please‌‌excuse‌‌my‌‌speculation,‌‌but‌‌do‌‌you‌‌believe‌‌your‌‌parents‌‌may‌‌have‌‌ pulled‌‌you‌‌out‌‌because‌‌of‌‌the‌‌new‌‌changes‌‌I‌‌made?”‌‌ ‌ “Maybe.‌‌Now‌‌that‌‌I‌‌think‌‌about‌‌it,‌‌they’re‌‌pretty‌‌controlling‌‌of‌‌me.‌‌They‌‌want‌‌control‌‌ over‌‌everything‌‌about‌‌me.‌‌In‌‌my‌‌seventh‌‌grade‌‌year‌‌I‌‌was‌‌getting‌‌rebellious‌‌towards‌‌them,‌‌and‌‌

later‌‌that‌‌year‌‌they‌‌enrolled‌‌me‌‌into‌‌McClure.‌‌At‌‌the‌‌time‌‌they‌‌said‌‌it‌‌was‌‌for‌‌the‌‌strong‌‌

curriculum,‌‌but‌‌now‌‌that‌‌I’m‌‌thinking‌‌about‌‌it‌‌again,‌‌maybe‌‌they‌‌enrolled‌‌me‌‌for‌‌the‌‌reforment‌‌

system--‌‌another‌‌way‌‌to‌‌control‌‌me‌‌and‌‌how‌‌I‌‌think.”‌‌ ‌ “It‌‌makes‌‌sense.‌‌A‌‌lot‌‌of‌‌parents‌‌enrolled‌‌their‌‌kids‌‌here‌‌for‌‌the‌‌strong‌‌reforment‌‌system.‌‌ Another‌‌student‌‌was‌‌put‌‌here‌‌just‌‌this‌‌year‌‌for‌‌it,‌‌uhh--‌‌Vincent‌‌Lee-Smith,‌‌I‌‌believe.‌‌His‌‌father‌‌ told‌‌us‌‌he‌‌was‌‌misbehaving‌‌at‌‌his‌‌old‌‌school‌‌and‌‌at‌‌home‌‌and‌‌wanted‌‌a‌‌school‌‌with‌‌a‌‌reforment‌‌ program,‌‌but‌‌the‌‌timing‌‌was‌‌bad‌‌and‌‌he‌‌enrolled‌‌him‌‌just‌‌right‌‌before‌‌I‌‌was‌‌assigned‌‌headmaster‌‌ and‌‌changed‌‌everything.”‌‌ ‌ “Vince,”‌‌Eli‌‌whispers‌‌under‌‌his‌‌breath.‌‌ ‌ “Pardon?”‌‌ ‌ “‌‌Uh,‌‌may‌‌I‌‌be‌‌excused?‌‌I‌‌need‌‌some‌‌time‌‌to‌‌think,‌‌there’s‌‌a‌‌lot‌‌to‌‌unpack‌‌right‌‌now.”‌‌ ‌ “Of‌‌course,‌‌go‌‌ahead,”‌‌Ms.‌‌Schaeffer‌‌excuses‌‌him,‌‌to‌‌which‌‌Eli‌‌bolts‌‌out‌‌of‌‌her‌‌room.‌‌ ‌ ‌

More‌‌to‌‌come‌‌soon.‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

‌

‌ ‌

Matteo‌‌Silvero‌‌is‌‌a‌‌distinguished‌‌writer‌‌from‌‌Edison,‌‌New‌‌Jersey.‌‌He’s‌‌a‌‌junior‌‌ at‌‌his‌‌highschool‌‌and‌‌is‌‌part‌‌of‌‌his‌‌school’s‌‌creative‌‌writing‌‌class.‌‌With‌E ‌ li‌‌& ‌‌ Vince‌b ‌ eing‌‌his‌‌first‌‌published‌‌novel,‌‌he‌‌hopes‌‌to‌‌become‌‌a‌‌well‌‌known‌‌name‌ in‌‌the‌‌YA‌‌genre.‌‌Matteo‌‌lives‌‌with‌‌his‌‌family,‌‌as‌‌well‌‌as‌‌his‌‌dog‌‌Benji‌‌who‌‌loves‌‌ to‌‌terrorize‌‌him‌‌after‌‌school.‌‌ ‌ ‌ ‌