Page 105 of Untouchable Player

“Is this Engels’?”

A nervous laugh escapes me and my voice sounds crazy when I speak.

“What! Why would it be Jesse’s?”

“Because he has this stupid t-shirt and he’s been hanging around here a lot - ‘studying.’”

I try to formulate a lie, but as soon as he looks at me, my face gives me away.

His eyebrows shoot up, but I’m still not sure he really believes it himself.

“Why are Jesse’s clothes on your bathroom floor? And why are there two toothbrushes in that glass?”

I would really like to consult with Jesse before telling Harrison about us, but if I lie to him now, it’ll only be worse later.

“He stayed over.”

Harrison’s dumb expression would be funny in any other situation.

His eyes shoot to the bed. I’ve made it, but by the way he looks at it, you’d think it was the scene of a crime.

“Him, you, him and…” he shakes his head and tosses Jesse’s t-shirt back on the floor. “Let me get this straight, Jesse spent the night inyourroom, because, what?”

I open my mouth.

“No, don’t fucking say it.”

He runs his hands through his hair as he paces the room. “I can’t believe this, I can’t fucking believe it, he’s dead.”

“Harrison…”

He wriggles effortlessly free when I try to pull him back, and by the time I’ve chased him down the stairs, he’s out of the house and getting in his car.

Mom comes out from the den to see what’s going on.

“I need to borrow your car.”

“Oh hell, what happened? Did you tell him about Jesse?”

“I didn’t really have a choice.”

“Come on, I’m driving.”

“No, Mom, just let me…”

“No arguments mister, get in the car right now.”

Jesse

The lounge at the ice rink is a way more relaxed place to do some schoolwork than the library. Plus, they’ve usually got food here.

Except sometimes it can be loud, like when Petroski’s making everyone smoothies. He’s sitting in the corner drinking some green thing right now and luckily, I think he’s retired the blender for the day.

Jones comes barrelling in like a hurricane, slamming the door open and peering at everyone like he’s looking for his next victim. His gaze lands on me and it looks like he’s found it.

Fuck.

He storms over and looks down at me, nostrils flaring, and if this is over what I think it is, I’d better not even open my mouth.