We both stand there, leaning on the colorful wall in silence. I don’t think he’s going to forgive me. It’s okay. I’m not even ready to forgive myself. That was so wack. What was I thinking? I flash back to that day when I signed the letter. It seems like years ago, not weeks.

“Devonte?” Alex says. I look up at him, confused. “The guy you did it for—was it Devonte?”

I nod.

“He’s been into you for a while, like, since back in elementary school.”

I shrug, not sure what to say.

“So, she really thought what the coach did was wrong,” he says, mostly to himself.

“She’s not the only one. It was wrong, Alex. That’s why I messed up when I signed the paper. It made the coach think what he did was a little thing, but it wasn’t. Please believe me. Coach was wrong. And so was I.”

He nods slowly, like he’s unraveling a mystery only he can see. “I thought about shaving it all off. You know, just no hair at all.”

“Is that what you want?” I ask.

“No, I want my locs, but it won’t be the same now, you know?”

“No, it won’t. They’ll grow back stronger because you’re stronger. That’s what they tell me about bad stuff happening to you. It makes you stronger.”

“Do you believe that?”

“Not sure yet.”

He exhales deeply and runs his hands through his hair.

“So . . . do you think you can forgive me?” I dare ask.

“No, I can’t.”

“Oh . . .” I say, hoping the lump in my throat goes away.

“I’ll forgive you . . . just not tonight, okay?”

“Sounds fair.”

He starts to walk away. I call out to him, “Don’t be mad at Devonte. He was trying to help the team.”

“I figured,” he says. “How’s your mom doing?”

“Same,” I reply as the lump gets bigger and tears spring to my eyes.

He comes back and leans on the wall alongside me once again. “Coach is afraid of her.”

I smile. “That list is long.”

He laughs. “And I’m fo’ sure on it!”

I laugh. “Listen, if you want to start growing them again, I know a few people who could really hook you up.”

“Locs are expensive.”

“It’s okay. I’d pay for them to start it,” I promise him.

“I don’t mean money. I mean locs cost—a lot.”