CHAPTER 7
Sputtering for air, Riley came up to the water’s surface. All the other guys crowded around him, laughing. “Blake had to push him in,” one of them said.
Riley felt his face turn hot. He swam toward the edge of the lake.
Blake jumped off the cliff and landed in the water nearby. When he popped his head out of the water, he was laughing.
“Where are you going, Riley?” Blake asked. “I know you’re not jumping again, since you needed a push to jump in the first place.” He swam toward Riley, smiling.
“Don’t talk to me,” Riley said angrily. “I’m going home.”
Blake looked surprised. “Why?” he asked. “I was just having a little fun.”
“Well, it wasn’t fun,” Riley said. “Seriously. I could have been hurt, or worse. You can’t just push people in like that!” he yelled.
Riley looked over Blake’s shoulder. The older guys were watching them, laughing.
“Come on, Blake,” one of them yelled. “We’re going up to the cliff again. Let your little friend go home and cry to his mommy.”
Blake looked at Riley for a second. Then he turned around and swam back toward the older guys.
* * *
Riley and Blake didn’t talk for the rest of the weekend. On Monday morning, they avoided each other in gym class. Riley didn’t bother trying to talk to Blake.
After school that day, Riley found himself in a line of people signing up for the swim team.
Mr. Casey smiled when he saw Riley in the line. “It’s great to see you here, Riley,” Mr. Casey said. “What made you change your mind?”
Riley looked down at the ground. “Let’s just say I wanted to try something new,” he said quietly.
Mr. Casey nodded. “Well, whatever got you here,” he said, “I’m glad to see you. You’re going to have fun. Where’s your buddy Blake? I was hoping he’d join the team too.”
Riley took a deep breath. Then he said, “I don’t know what he’s up to today. We’ve kind of gone in different directions.”
“Fair enough,” Mr. Casey said. “I’m glad you’re here. Let’s head to practice.”