Box Out Read Free Page B

pops Oreos in his mouth like they’re candy.
    Liam eats the chocolate part of his cookie.
    â€œYou got some rebounds last night.” Seth holds out the bag.
    â€œYou would have, too. I wish we both could have been called up.”
    â€œSomebody’s got to do the dirty work on JV.” Seth bounces back and forth and fakes a punch at Liam’s chest. “We won by twelve yesterday.”
    Liam eats another cookie. “You used up all your fouls?”
    â€œCount on it. A couple of hard fouls get guys thinking.”
    â€œI know. I’ve still got the bruises.”
    â€œI helped toughen you up.” Seth flexes his biceps in a muscleman pose and other kids turn to look. “If I’d gone against me in practice, I’d have been called up to varsity. Instead I had to go against a wimp.”
    â€œShut up.” Liam pushes him. “Next year, we’ll play monster defense together.”
    â€œMe love defense.” Seth holds out the bag again. “Cookieees.”
    Liam takes two and jams them in his mouth, and he and Seth head in different directions.
    Jared Drake comes around the corner and Liam ducks his head.
    â€œTough break last night.” Drake stops and rubs a hand through his short black hair.
    â€œYeah. I’d like those shots back.”
    â€œWe should have wrapped it up before then. We should have won by ten.”
    Liam twists the strap on his backpack. “It’s too bad about Darius.”
    â€œWho?”
    â€œDarius. Quitting the team.”
    â€œWho?”
    â€œDarius Buckner. You know.”
    â€œI don’t know him.” Drake shrugs his shoulders. “I don’t know anyone who quits on his teammates.”
    Liam leans up against a locker and isn’t sure what to say.
    â€œListen, I’ve got an offer for you.” Drake moves closer and Liam smells his aftershave. “Now that you’re on varsity, my dad says we can use you for a few hours at the store. Are you interested in a part-time job at Shoe Source?”
    â€œYeah. I’d love it.”
    â€œIt’s every other Saturday. Not a lot of hours. Seniors get the prime shifts, but you’d still get a forty percent discount on shoes.”
    â€œGreat.” Liam looks down at his worn Nikes. He could use a new pair.
    â€œNoon on Saturday. I’ll train you in.”
    â€œThanks.” Liam switches his pack to his other arm. “Tell your dad thanks, too.”
    â€œAlso, remember the meeting tomorrow before school.”
    â€œWhat meeting?”
    â€œHAF.”
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œHorizon Athletic Fellowship,” Drake says. “We meet at my house at seven. See you there.”
    Liam watches the clock during economics, his last class of the day. How can the hands move so slowly? Mr. Einerson diagrams something called elasticity of demand on the board. Twenty more minutes and he can call Kenz. C’mon, time, move.
    When the period finally ends, he hurries to the industrial tech wing, where the phone reception is better.
    Mackenzie picks up after three rings. “Hey, Liam. How was the game?”
    â€œLousy. I missed two free throws and we lost.” He sets his gym bag down on the floor.
    â€œThat stinks. Did you lose by a lot?”
    â€œNo, one point.” He kicks an empty juice bottle down the hall.
    â€œThat’s t…d…”
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œTh…te…b…”
    â€œI can’t hear you.” Liam moves closer to the window. “You’re breaking up.”
    â€œWho’s breaking up?”
    â€œYou were. I couldn’t hear you.” He stares out at the snow-covered soccer field. He’s been waiting all day to call. Now that he’s finally talking to her, the words are getting in the way. “How are you doing, Kenz?”
    â€œI’m really homesick. I wish I was back in Horizon. Dad keeps saying what a great opportunity this is to improve my