“Of course it’s that simple for you.” I roll my eyes, walking toward the door.

“Hey, wait,” he says, pulling at my arm. “Come on, talk to me.”

“It’s not giving up,” I say, glaring at him. “I’m trying to protect myself. Did you see my locker? They don’t want me in their school, and I’m not staying in a place where I’m not wanted. I’m not going to stay here and have people stare at me every time I walk into a room like I’m a pariah. I’m not—”

My voice catches in my throat, and I shut my eyes.

“You weren’t there,” I say. I’ve spent so much time trying to stuff the memories back into my gut. Now they’re all rising back up. “After—after everyone found out at my old school, I hid in the bathroom the whole day. These parents started a petition to put me in separate classes. No one would talk to me. I didn’t have anyone.”

I’m not Ryan White, or Javier Muñoz. I’m just me. I just want to be normal.

“I—I don’t even know what to say,” he says, hands coming up like he’s going to touch me. He settles on my shoulders. “I’ll kick their asses.”

“Everyone?”

“All of them,” he says, nodding. “Every single one. I’ll—I don’t know. I’ll take care of them. I don’t want you to worry. I’ll make it go away.”

“You can’t,” I say, giving him a small smile. “You can’t just change the way everyone thinks.”

“Maybe I can’t, but you can.” His eyes roam over my face. “I don’t think anyone could hate you if they knew you.”

Oh, man. I’m definitely going to cry. “Miles—”

“Can I hug you?”

I place my head on his chest before he finishes. He smells like sweat and laundry detergent. His arms slip around my back, and I let him pull me closer.

“I’m sorry,” he says. “I wish I knew what to do.”

“Me too.”

I’m not sure how long we stay like that, my heart slowing down and my breathing evening out, until it’s ruined.

“Simone Garcia-Hampton, please report to the principal’s office. Please report to the principal’s office.”

I tense. Why would they announce that?

“Don’t worry. We’re gonna go together,” he says, squeezing me closer to his chest. “And I’ll get the sweatshirt from my locker for good luck. It won’t be that bad. I promise.”

I try to force myself to believe it.

CHAPTER 31