Jake could feel their eyes following him in the hall, like they always did. Only a week left, he told himself. Next year he would be a senior, and everything would change…

He looked pointedly at his shoes as he shuffled to his locker, trying to exchange his books quickly. “Hey, Jack,” somebody called loudly. He winced. Not fast enough.

Brady crashed against his locker, blocking Jake’s way. “It’s Jake,” he mumbled. Brady’s beady eyes widened.

“Okay, then, Jake,” he sneered. His cronies snickered. “Well, I heard that you was flirting with Katie the other day. And you know what? I really don’t like guys who hit on my girl.”

Jake sidestepped in an attempt to get away from him. Brady blocked his way again. “Nothing happened,” Jake murmured. His voice was strange in comparison to Brady’s loud one. “I didn’t do anything. She hit on me-”

Brady laughed loudly. “Oh, right, man. I’m really going to believe your word over my girl’s.” He grinned. “We’ll see, man. Watch out.”