Kevin said nothing for so long Neil almost gave up waiting for an answer. Finally he explained, "Andrew on his drugs is useless, but Andrew off his drugs is worse. His high school counselor saw the difference between his junior and senior years and swore this medicine saved his life. A sober Andrew is…" Kevin thought for a moment, trying to remember her exact words, and crooked his fingers at Neil as he quoted, "destructive and joyless.

"Andrew has neither purpose nor ambition," Kevin said. "I was the first person who ever looked at Andrew and told him he was worth something. When he comes off these drugs and has nothing else to hold him up I will give him something to build his life around."

"He agreed to this?" Neil asked. "But he's fighting you every step of the way. Why?"

"When I first said you would be Court, why were you upset with me?"

"Because I knew it'd never happen," Neil said, "but I wanted it anyway."

Kevin said nothing. Neil waited, then realized he'd answered his own question. It startled Neil into silence for a minute. Disbelief warred with discomfort, but Neil didn't know where that unease came from. He shifted on his feet and folded his arms as tight across his chest as he could.

"So, what?" he asked in a low voice. "You think he'll sober up next summer and suddenly realize he likes Exy after all? I thought you didn't believe in miracles."

"Andrew is crazy, not stupid," Kevin said. "Even he will grow bored of being a failure eventually. When his medicine is out of his system and he can actually think for himself again I will have an easier time getting through to him."

Neil doubted it, but he said, "Good luck."

It surprised him that he meant it. Andrew was hell to deal with most of the time but he really was doing his damnedest to keep both Neil and Kevin at Palmetto State. The least they could give him in return was something of his own. Neil couldn't deny a little bit of bitterness that Andrew would have the future Neil couldn't, but he'd come to terms with that eventually.

"We should go," Neil said, because he didn't want to think about this anymore. "Don't tell Andrew about any of this, Kevin."

"I can't," Kevin said. "He won't respect your choice."

Neil started for the door, but Kevin put a hand on his shoulder to stop him. "Neil."

There was a world of regret in that name, but it was a promise, too. Neil pulled himself back together piece by broken piece and followed Kevin off the Foxhole Court.

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