“Hey, listen, I didn’t say I was going to do it. I’m just thinking about doing it.”

“Dude, you totally should. That’s five hundred bucks. That’ll pay off my drone.”

“Who says I’d give the money to you if I won?”

Nate put a cool french fry back on his plate. “Bro, look. I’m really proud of you. I know you love your family, but you’ve never really seemed okay with being adopted. You’ve basically tried to hide it.”

“I have not tried to hide it.”

“Yes, you have.”

David lowered his voice and leaned forward. “Not talking about it doesn’t mean I’ve tried to hide it.”

Nate held up two fingers and pointed to his face. “Look at me. Are you okay with people knowing you’re adopted?” He whispered the word for emphasis.

“Yes,” David said. Then, like a deer in the headlights, he added, “Mostly.” And after a second or two he changed that to “Not really.”

“I don’t know why. You have a great family. A family that loves you.” Nate dipped a fry in David’s ketchup. “People would kill to have a family like yours and mine.”

“Nate!”

David looked up as Reese approached the table. David considered her one of the prettiest girls in school. She had long brown hair pulled back in a ponytail and today she wore jeans and a red shirt. David could tell she was not in a good mood the way she stomped to the table and stared her brother down.

“I didn’t say you could take my car. I said that I would meet you at my car. Come on, give me my keys. I’m late for work!”

As Nate dug in the pockets of his jacket, Reese turned to David. Her face softened a little. “Hey, David.”

David forced a smile. “Reese.”

Nate finally found the keys and handed them to her. “Did Mom drive you?”

“Craig did,” she said, grabbing for the keys.

Nate took them back. “Wait, you’re back together with Craig?”

She grabbed the keys and lowered her voice. “Look, just mind your own business, okay?” She walked toward the door, then turned back. “And take that video down. Please? Before anybody else sees it.”

As Reese left, David stared at Nate, dumbfounded. “You posted it?”

“We’ll talk later, all right?” Nate said to Reese as she walked out the door. “Catch me up then!”

As Reese passed the window, Nate said, “I’m going to need a ride home.”

“You drove me here,” David said.

Nate’s eyes darted. “That’s not good.”

Two days before the speech tournament, David found Mr. Russell in the hallway and walked beside him. He knew he was cutting things close, but he decided to risk it.

“Listen, I’ve been thinking more about that speech thing.”

“Yeah, and?”

“I’m thinking I might try it.”