I think of Skylar’s house and the mess in every room. Even when we were little, we always played at my house. I think she was embarrassed then and still is. It’s no big deal to me.

After we leave Gepetto’s, we stop at a Dairy Queen out on Route 203. It’s the old-fashioned kind, with a walk-up window and no inside seating. Greg and Mom get sodas but my appetite is back and I order a peanut butter shake.

We carry our stuff to a picnic table. It’s almost sunset. The shadows are long, and cicadas are tuning up for the night. The first star hangs in the sky, and I make a wish that Mom and Greg will get married. He’s the only thing close to a father I’ve ever known, and I’m always afraid he might drift away.

While I slurp my shake, I notice Jason and Carter in line at the walk-up window. I slump down and lower my head. Please don’t let them see me, please, please, please.

Keeping my head down, I watch them. They’re laughing and pushing each other in that dumb boy way. They bump the man in front of them. He turns and says, “Don’t do that again, Jason.” His voice has a really ugly edge, like he’s angry.

“What’s wrong with you?” Jason asks. “Geez, I was just kidding around.”

The man is about Greg’s age. He has muscles like he works out in a gym. His arms are inked in sleeves from his wrists to his shoulders. It’s clear to me that no one should mess with him. But not to Jason.

The girl with him says, “Let it go, Paul.” She’s got tattoos too, but not as many as he does. Or maybe I just can’t see them all. Her hair is dyed purple and blue, and she’s got a stud in her nose.

“Maybe I don’t like kidding.” Paul shoves Jason so hard he staggers back and lands on the ground.

“Hey, that hurt!” Jason scrambles to his feet.

“Come on,” Carter says to him. “Get your bike, let’s go.”

But Jason isn’t ready to leave. He pulls away from Carter and steps close enough to Paul to stand toe to toe. He clenches his fists, and his face turns an ugly shade of red. “Don’t push me like that again,” he says.

Paul grabs Jason by the shirt. The snake tattoos writhe up and down his arms. “Keep it up and I’ll punch your face in.”

The girl tugs Paul’s arm. “Can’t we just have a nice night out?”

He shrugs her off. Carter has already backed away, but Jason scowls at the man.

Jason’s in big trouble. Even though I don’t like him, I’m scared of what Paul might do to him.