‘Yeah, no kidding. I’m not saying everyone who saw him was out to get him, it was just that one person was, and the whole thing … was not some random accident. And then afterwards, you know, what a coincidence – I’m pretty sure someone started stalking me.’

‘Er. What?’

‘Yeah, just, just let that one settle over the room.’

‘Like, stalking how?’

‘The usual way, I guess.’

‘You’re gonna have to fill me in.’

‘They started as just, uh, texts. Just calling me … names. Being creepy. That sort of shit. But then they, like, stuck a copy of some homophobic trash into my mailbox, which was bad, and then – here, let me show you.’ I brought up the picture of me and June. Leaned across to hand it to him. ‘They sent me that. That’s me. And then they broke into my house – at least, I think they did – and smashed a picture of me and my dad.’

‘And what? You think whoever’s doing this had something to do with your dad?’

I braced myself. ‘I know. It’s crazy, but …’

Leo blinked. ‘No, I think that makes sense.’

‘Really?’

‘I mean, this is fucked. Like, it’s … calculated, you know? Have you talked to the police?’

‘The police think I’m being bullied.’

He rolled his eyes. ‘I’m sorry, man. That’s such a shitty thing to have to deal with … alongside everything else, is all.’

‘Yeah. I mean, yeah, it is.’ I shifted.

‘I’m, uh –’ Leo cleared his throat almost comically loudly. ‘Sorry. Are you gay?’

‘Yeah’

‘Me too. I’m. Yeah. Gay. Also. Sorry. Still getting used to that.’

‘I know.’

‘Come on, man. Don’t give me that “I could tell” shit.’

‘No, I honestly wouldn’t have known. But I – I looked you up. I mean. You could’ve been bi, or whatever, but –’

‘You looked me up?’

‘Yeah. Sorry. I was just curious.’ I bit my lip. ‘Galileo.’

He couldn’t believe it at first, mouth open, but then he broke into a smile, bit his lip. ‘Unbelievable. What is this? Are you blackmailing me?’

I shrugged. ‘You have it as your Facebook name.’

‘Because I haven’t gone on Facebook since – man. Not for a while. My – ugh. My dad’s a freaking physicist. And I don’t go by that any more.’

‘Why? It’s cool. But, uh, shouldn’t it be Lay-O?’

‘I’ve reached my question limit. Sorry. No more answers today.’ But he was smirking. And he offered to swap numbers – ‘just in case you miss a group and need a picture of a handout, or something.’

When I left with Mom, I felt full up, ecstatic to have met someone who so easily mirrored my frequency.

Chapter 12

Chapter 12

Four months since.

Me and June had gotten to school early, and I didn’t really feel like talking to Olivia, so I headed to Mr Carlisle’s room before the seven-thirty bell rang.