"The basement study rooms are big enough," Renee suggested when Dan trailed off. "I doubt anyone will be down there on a Friday night, so we can make as much noise as we like. You'll invite them, won't you, Aaron?"

"No," Aaron said, like he couldn't believe they were still talking about it.

"Okay, seriously," Matt said. "What do you have against us? Andrew I sort of understand. You, I can't figure out. What have we ever done to you?"

"Besides pay your bail," Nicky supplied helpfully. "Aaron, we're going."

Aaron opened his mouth, closed it again, and fixed Nicky with an annoyed look. "You're explaining this to Andrew when he gets back."

"Oh, hell no," Nicky said, and jerked a thumb at Neil. "I'mma leave that one to him. Thanks for taking one for the team, Neil. You're a real friend." Nicky grinned over at Neil, but his amusement didn't last. He seemed confused by whatever he saw on Neil's face and backpedaled with, "Don't worry, we'll send Renee along with you for backup. Last I checked Andrew only wins half their fights, so you might actually survive. Uh. Neil?"

He should just let it go, or at least leave it to think about later, but Neil couldn't resist. "Are we?" he asked, because hadn't Betsy said it just a few days ago? He hadn't understood it then and hadn't even tried, too angry and upset over everything else that was happening. Tonight it almost meant something, though what, Neil didn't know. Realizing Nicky couldn't follow his twisting train of thought, Neil forced himself to say, "Friends?"

It was like that one word punched all the joy out of Nicky, but the look that crossed Nicky's face next was too fast for Neil to decipher. Nicky's smile was back a second later, but it didn't reach his eyes. Neil might have apologized, except Nicky reached out and scrubbed a gloved hand through Neil's hair.

"You are going to be the absolute death of me," Nicky said. "Yeah, kid. We're friends. You're stuck with us, like it or not."

"If that's been settled," Wymack said from the doorway, "get your asses to the showers. You're dripping sweat all over my floor, you stink, and I have better things to do tonight than watch you powwow."

"Yes, Coach."

The Foxes split up to the changing rooms, but Neil carried the conversation with him to the shower. He stood under the spray and stared at his upturned palms. He wondered what it meant; he wondered if it could mean anything to someone like him. He had Riko right in front of him, his father's ghost behind him, and six months before Nathaniel laid "Neil Josten" to rest for good. Having friends wouldn't change anything.

But would it really hurt?

He didn't know. There was only one way to find out.

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