Jesse catches up with me after the last bell. Our school is shaped like a square, with the lockers lining the perimeter. Instead of taking the shortest route, I use the other three hallways to give us extra time.

I shove my books in my locker and kneel down to stuff my binder into my bag.

“So,” I say after I stand up. “I’m meeting Brandon after school.”

Jesse shrugs. “Okay.” He walks with me.

Brandon is waiting at the flagpole. “Good to see the two of you stuck together again. You coming to tell me you’re too busy to hang out today, Record Breaker?”

I ignore the jab. “Maybe we can all do something?”

Jesse shrugs.

Hunter’s Jeep pulls up to the curb and he honks.

Brandon shakes his head. “Nah. I’ll catch you later. I don’t think my house is big enough for the three of us together.”

“Okay.” I’m about to say we can go to my house, but then I picture Brandon inside studying the Toilet Paper Tower, and I shut my mouth.

“Nobody’s allowed over when my mom’s not home,” Jesse says, “or I’d offer.”

Brandon narrows his eyes at Jesse. “No, you wouldn’t.”

Jesse shrugs. “Maybe you’re right.”

“You know what?” Brandon says. “I think I’m busy today.”

Hunter pulls up in front of the school and honks for way too long.

“No, you’re not,” I say. “Let’s just go somewhere else.”

“He says he can’t come,” Jesse says. “Let him go.”

“Don’t worry, Record Breaker.” He glares at Jesse. “Go back to your little anthill without me.”

“Are you calling me short or something?” Jesse says. “Because I’ve heard all the jokes before, and usually they’re better.”

“Whatever.” Brandon jogs to his brother’s Jeep and opens the door. He throws his backpack on the floorboard of the car and climbs inside.

Jesse and I stand there and watch him ride away. “He wasn’t calling you short.”

“Then what was that all about?”

I start to tell Jesse about the ants and the grasshopper, but I don’t think he’d get it. Not yet anyway. And it feels like I’d be talking bad about a friend.

“Nothing,” I say. “Never mind. My house?”