“God, Bryce, how are you more of a dick with each passing year?” I say, out loud. Fuck. I just said that out loud. I look over at Bryce to see him red all over. He seems to be stunned into silence, because he just blinks at me for a few moments.

Like Charlie Brown and the football, I’d had the hope that senior year would finally put an end to Bryce’s regularly scheduled torture. After all, he left me alone most of last semester, though I’m realizing now that was probably just because I was dating Caleb.

“What’d you just say to me?” Bryce blinks himself back into motion and steps toward me, chest puffing out. I really thought I’d make it through high school without getting punched in the face, but I guess we can’t always get what we want.

“Just…” I start, having no idea how to deescalate this situation. “… leave me alone, Bryce. Aren’t you tired of this by now?”

“Listen, freak,” he whispers, getting close to my face, “just because you and Michaels were a thing doesn’t mean you can talk to me like that.”

“Hey!”

Both of our faces whip around so fast at the sharp voice our noses nearly graze each other. Caleb is standing a few feet away, jaw clenching in a familiar way that tells me he’s trying to keep his shit together. Uh-oh.

“What?” Bryce barks, and anger flashes in Caleb’s eyes.

“Leave him alone, Bryce,” he grits out, fists clenched at his side.

“It’s okay, Caleb,” I say calmly, not wanting to handle this on my own but wanting even less for Caleb to do something stupid and heroic that will land him another suspension. “I’ve got this.”

“Yeah, Michaels, he’s got this,” Bryce mocks, and Caleb takes a step toward us.

“Besides,” Bryce continues, “I thought the two of you were over.”

That stings more than anything else, even though Bryce is really just stating a fact, rather than trying to take a jab. Caleb flinches and I wonder if he’s feeling my sting or is barbed by it himself.

“Doesn’t matter,” Caleb says, and I want to drown. “You should still leave him alone.”

“Why do you always have to be in everyone’s business?” Bryce is getting in Caleb’s face now and I could easily scurry away to my next class but I’m stuck to the floor.

“I’m tired of you stepping on everyone, Bryce,” Caleb spits. “You pour so much toxic shit into this school every single day and you don’t even realize it.”

“What the fuck are you—”

“And if you don’t get your own bullshit under control,” Caleb says, steamrolling over him, large and looming and full of terrifying strength, and a shiver runs up my spine, “I’ll crush you into the small, pathetic bug that you really are.”