Chapter 17
Long Night Ahead

“I’m glad your Bio test went well,” Aunt Sarah says as we clean up after dinner. “Mrs. Kriegson is going to babysit again tomorrow while we’re at the meeting with Constable Haddad.”

I turn to Carter and Lawson. “You guys will be on your best behaviour, right?”

Lawson nods.

“Why?” Carter asks.

Aunt Sarah laughs. “You can think about that while you’re putting on your PJs.”

It’s only after the twins and Aunt Sarah have gone to bed that Fletch and the Clones’ words push their way back into my head again.

Just wait.

Good thing your big brother showed up, Cripple. You’re not gonna be so lucky next time.

Next time.

My heart speeds up. All along, it felt like they were yelling at me. First, because I wouldn’t join the gang with them. Then, because I stuck up for Lucas. But really, they were yelling those words at Lucas.

I remember something else they’d said about Geezer and Lucas a few days back. We could all go break into his house.

And what else did Fletch say today?

We’ve got a long night ahead of us, boys.

Oh my god! Is that what they’re planning to do tonight? Break into Geezer and Lucas’s house? After what I saw today, I wouldn’t put it past them. Something suddenly becomes clear to me. My quiet night at home just took a different turn.

Up until now, my curfew was no big deal. I didn’t have any friends to go out with anyway. But tonight, the curfew matters. I’ve got to break it. Even if it means I get kicked out of the house.

I pause to take a few deep breaths. Then I lift the curtain and slide my bedroom window open. The screen has never fit properly. It pops out right away when I shove a pair of scissors under the window frame. I set the screen outside on the grass. As I step through the window, I check the time. It’s almost ten o’clock. I’m already violating my probation.

That’s okay, I tell myself. All I’m doing is walking down the street. That’s not illegal.

Then again, it probably is illegal since the cops gave me a nine o’clock curfew.

I circle around behind the house. I take the back alley to the end of our block before I step onto the sidewalk. I’m trying not to look suspicious, except I don’t know how to do that. I try to copy the people I see across the street. I stand up straighter. I loosen my arms and let them swing at my sides. I slow down. I never would have thought that looking relaxed was so hard.

My head is spinning. What if I didn’t need to come out tonight at all? What if I’m risking getting kicked out of the house for nothing? Maybe I should just turn around and go back home.

Then again, Fletch and the Clones might have already gone to Geezer’s place. I have to keep going. I don’t have enough proof to go call the cops. Maybe they wouldn’t believe me anyway after all the trouble I’ve been in. But I need to check in on Geezer and Lucas. I need to know they’re okay.

I slip behind the plaza. As I step into the ravine, my ears are tuned to every little scurry in the bushes. I force myself to slow down so I’m walking as quietly as I can. I’m finally by the same fence where I threw the wrench all those weeks ago. That’s when I hear footsteps.

I slip deeper into the woods and crouch down behind some pine trees. In the darkness, I can see three people. And I can almost hear the sneers in their voices.

“. . . old guy with a cast . . . kid with one leg . . . easy targets.”

And last of all: “Zaine’s going down.”

A wave of rage washes over me. My heart is racing. Even though they have me outnumbered, I’m ready to take on all three of them right here. To take them by surprise.

But it’s too soon. So far, they haven’t done anything wrong. Unlike me, they’re not even breaking curfew.

With no warning at all, they rush straight for Geezer’s back door. Glass shatters against the steps. Suddenly, they’re inside. Shit! I wish I had a cell phone so I could call the cops.

Then again, that wouldn’t work anyway. If I made the call, they’d know it came from me. They’d know I was breaking my curfew!

I sneak around to the side window. In the darkened room, I can see one guy rummaging around. Moments later, he holds up a bottle of booze. That’s definitely Fletch. It seems that he and the Clones are trying to be heard. I don’t get that, but it might work in my favour. Hopefully Geezer or the neighbours will hear them and call the cops. Then I can just go home. Nobody would even have to know I left my house tonight.

One of the Clones grabs the bottle from Fletch and takes a swig. Then he gives a loud whoop.

Fletch grabs the bottle back. He smashes it against the side of the TV. “Here, Zaine!” he yells. “This one’s for you, buddy!”

An upstairs light blinks on just as I realize what Fletch and the Clones are doing. They’re making it look like I’m involved in the break-in. They’re trying to get me arrested again.

The next thing I know, Geezer is thundering down the wooden staircase. He has a crutch in one hand and his cast is bouncing against each step.

“Stay in your room, Lucas!” he yells.

As soon as Geezer says Lucas’s name, the scene from the school hall flashes before me again. Lucas stumbling over the obstacles they’d pitched at him. The ugly name they’d pitched at him too. Cripple.

Next thing I know, my feet have landed on the back porch. If there was ever a time for me not to get involved, it’s long gone.