Sunday: 9:00 a.m.

A light crossed his face and Lionel groaned. He opened his eyes.

“Lionel, honey? I wanted to check on you.”

He groaned again and rolled onto his side.

“Do you still have that migraine?” his mom said.

“Yeah, a little,” he mumbled.

He didn’t really, but he also didn’t want to get out of bed. His mom would believe he was sick so he could miss school next week; then he had to pray they’d forget about him. He’d spent half the night trying to figure out how he could get transferred out of English and math. He would quit school rather than be there with Kiana or Nick. He was serious this time. He didn’t care what Ryder said, or Whellan, or anyone.

“I’m sorry about yesterday.” His mom came over, sat on the edge of his bed, and began to stroke his hair.

He closed his eyes.

“I had that bookkeeping test. I felt bad about leaving you for that long.”

“I just slept,” he said.

“Poor thing. Did you take a pill?”

He shook his head.

“Okay … but take one if you need to. Anyway, after class I went out for coffee with someone from the class, so that was why I was a bit late.”

He opened his eyes. “Who’d you go with?”

“A friend … from class.”

“A guy friend?”

“Yes, Lionel, a guy friend. But don’t worry, not another Brent. He’s nice. He has two kids. His wife passed away a few years ago and he wants a job where he doesn’t have to work such long hours. He was in construction.”

Lionel closed his eyes again. “I saw Brent on Friday.”

“Okay.”

“He told me to tell you he has a new car and a new girlfriend.”

She sighed. “Good for him.”

“I think he’d been drinking at the Uptown.”

“Not a surprise. Let’s forget about him.” She sighed again and began stroking his hair. “Actually, let’s not. I’m embarrassed about that, and I shouldn’t have put you through it. I was so down, so sad, not sure why, and he was someone who happened to be around. I know it sounds pathetic, but I guess I thought any man is better than no man. Definitely wrong. Anyway, we went to Binny’s Café. I finally got there. It’s such a great place, and when I told them I was your mother, they made such a fuss over me and wouldn’t let me pay for anything — and they showed me the room you cleaned up. My goodness, they’re big Lionel fans over there.”

He raised himself on one elbow. “Not all of them,” he said.

His mom’s eyes narrowed. “They did mention something about Friday night. You left a party?”

“I was feeling sick.”

“They sounded a bit worried,” she said.

He lay back. Kiana had texted him, but he wasn’t falling for it again. Deepak and Afonso had texted a few times too, asking where he was.

“Poor Lionel. Are you hungry?”

“I could eat.”

Truth was he’d been so upset about the party he’d barely eaten yesterday. He was starving, actually.

“How about a little hot cereal?”

He nodded.

“Anyway, let’s get out of that bed, and it wouldn’t kill you to take a shower — and if you’re not up for a run, at least you should take a walk. You could visit your friends at Binny’s. Some fresh air would be good, even if you have a headache. Might make it better. You shouldn’t be cooped up in this bedroom for another day.”

He was getting bored, but he sure wasn’t going to Binny’s! Kiana must’ve told her parents the story and they’d misunderstood it as him just leaving the party. It made him sad to think he’d never see Binny and Gwen again. They were nice people. He’d also never see Deepak or Afonso or Georgina.

“I’ll get up, Mom,” he said. “Give me a sec.”

She patted his arm and left. Lionel swung his feet out of bed. He felt a bit dizzy and the headache was still there, but not as bad as before. He actually felt pretty good. Maybe he would go for that run. A shower was a good idea. He hadn’t taken one after running home Friday.

He took a quick shower, dressed, and sat down to eat. He was so hungry he felt sick.

“So … I was speaking to Gwen,” his mom said, sitting down with him. “She told me you organized the running club, the Marketeers, and also you’ve been helping out at the shoe store and the garage, and that you’ve done a great job.”

He didn’t need to be reminded of the Marketeers.

“She also told me how much your work upstairs meant to her family and how much happier Binny is,” she said.

Lionel shrugged. “All I did was throw out some broken furniture.”

She hesitated. “Are you going to take that walk?” she said.

“Maybe later. I’ll game a bit,” he said.

He didn’t want to blow his cover.

“Why don’t you walk first?”

“Don’t feel like it.”

“Lionel, it’s not healthy.”

“It’s Sunday. I’m … still kinda tired.”

“You were in bed all day yesterday.”

“I know.”

“Lionel, are you … Is something wrong? You’re not … yourself.”

“I’m just sick. No big deal.”

She rubbed his arm. “You know you can tell me anything.” She paused. “Are you feeling a little … anxious? Maybe you should take one of your pills. Remember, the doctor said you shouldn’t wait until you’re really upset. I could set up an appointment next week.”

She wasn’t going to leave him alone. “Okay, how about I go for a quick walk and see if I feel better,” he said. “I don’t need a pill, honest.”

She leaned over and gave him a kiss. “Promise to tell me if you’re not … feeling yourself. It’s okay to admit it. There’s nothing to be ashamed about.”

“I will. Thanks.”

“Do you want more cereal?”

He shook his head and went to get changed. She began to clean up. He threw on some sweatpants and a hoodie and left.

The recycling was gone from the hallway. He felt bad about that. Donna must’ve done it herself. He’d messed up.

He waited for the elevator for a minute.

“As usual,” he muttered, and headed for the stairwell.

“Lionel, there you are,” Donna called out.

She had a bag slung across her shoulder — and she was limping badly.

“Are … you okay?” he asked.

She waved him off. “It’s nothing. I’m so clumsy. I was carrying out some recycling yesterday and I fell. What do you kids say, my bad?”

That didn’t help with the guilt.

“Sorry about that. I wasn’t feeling well,” he said.

“Your mom told me you were ill. Don’t worry about it. It’s good to see you’re feeling better,” she said.

The elevator opened.

“A miracle,” she laughed.

She began walking back, but she was moving very slowly. She was going to miss it.

“Ach. Being old is a pain.” She waved her cane at the doors. They were closing.

Lionel slipped by her and threw his arm between the closing doors. They popped back open.

“My hero,” Donna cried out. She walked in and gave his arm a squeeze. “Thanks. I probably would’ve had to wait another half an hour.” She looked out. “Are you coming down or going back home?”

She’d seen him walking away from the elevators. “Go ahead. I have to talk to Mom.”

She pointed at him. “You going for a run?”

“Um … yeah.”

“How’s the watch?”

She pointed at his wrist. He’d gotten into the habit of wearing it and had put it on without thinking when he finished his shower.

“It’s great. Yeah … awesome. It keeps good time.”

“Wonderful. I’m glad. Enjoy your run.”

The doors closed. He had to laugh. The elevator finally comes and he can’t take it.

“Hello stairs,” he said out loud.

He headed over, rubbing the back of his neck. A walk was actually a good idea. He thought about the conversation with his mom in his bedroom, and what Brent had said to him. She wasn’t the same person Brent knew. Whether it was talking to that Andrea woman, or this bookkeeping course, she’d changed. She was way happier and more positive. She’d started to cook — and bake — and sometimes he caught her singing to herself. She didn’t even watch tv that much anymore.

She kept telling him he was the reason. That she saw him running, and getting in shape, and cleaning his bedroom, and decided she hadn’t been a good mother, and that she felt especially bad about letting Brent into their lives. Lionel couldn’t help but wonder if this new guy didn’t have something to do with her feeling better.

At least one of them was doing well.

He checked that Donna wasn’t in the lobby. He didn’t want to run into her again. Then he’d have to lie about why he didn’t take the elevator. The coast was clear and he left. When he stepped outside he heard a bang. Donna was recycling. He ran in the opposite direction as fast as he could.

“Lionel! Yo! Wait up.”

Georgina waved from across the street. She wore black leggings and a black top with a zipper in the front. He had no choice but to slow down. She ran over to him.

“Hey, Georgina. How’re the muscles today?” Lionel said.

That was their private joke. She was skin and bones.

“Sore and ready to go,” she said, like always.

Something was different about her today. Lionel took a closer look. “Your earrings … and your other stuff,” he said. “Did you lose them?” She wasn’t wearing her piercings. She only had one pair of earrings, and they were normal. Then he noticed her hair had been cut shorter and wasn’t as black. She was almost like a new person.

She laughed nervously and tucked her hair behind her ears. “I decided to tone it down a bit. I don’t want to terrorize the customers.”

“It suits you,” Lionel said. “Looks good — not that you didn’t look good before,” he hurried to add.

“You’re sweet to say that,” she said. “But I get it. Maybe I was overdoing the Goth a bit. Do I need twenty-five earrings, two nose piercings, and one in my tongue?”

Lionel agreed, but he wasn’t going to say it. Fortunately, she continued.

“I started dressing Goth in high school. I went to a new school in grade nine. I had no friends, not that I had a ton in my primary school, which made it kinda scary. I tried fitting in and meeting people, or maybe I only pretended too, but anyway, before long I was kinda alone, eating by myself all the time, hanging in the library at lunch, all those cliché things. It was definitely not a good time. Got worse when a few of the girls decided it was fun to pick on me. I noticed there was one group of kids that no one picked on — the Goth kids. They hung out at the front of the school and smoked cigarettes when the teachers weren’t looking. I bought myself some black clothes and black boots and pierced my ears, and one day, I just joined them. For a week no one talked to me; they didn’t tell me to leave either, and eventually they just accepted me. After that I kept going until I was hard core.”

Lionel listened intently. He knew all about trying to fit in.

“I don’t think the other Goths really liked me, but it’s not like there were hundreds of kids trying to get into their little club; you’re basically in as long as you wear the right clothes. Not all the Goths were self-destructive, but some were, and we began drinking by the end of grade ten and then … well … then I lost interest in school and began failing. I acted like I didn’t care, and dropped out when I was sixteen. My parents and I were basically fighting all the time by then, and I got tired of it, and my parents got tired of my behavior and staying out late. Anyway, I started working at the café when I was seventeen and moved out.”

“Well … I guess you’re doing okay then,” he said.

She made a sour face. “Not sure of that. Since we’ve been running, I don’t know, I’ve started thinking about my life,” Georgina said. “It’s like running is the only time I think clearly, without distractions. I like running with the Marketeers, but I think better when I’m on my own. Does that make sense?”

He nodded.

“I started running at night — long runs,” Georgina continued. “Not fast like you, but long, and I just think about things, how I feel, whether I’m happy or not, my family.” Georgina tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear. “I’ve made some bad decisions, I think, and it started with me dropping out of school. I’m thinking that maybe I’m still letting those girls bully me. They made me change the way I dress, the way I talked, and acted, and then they made me quit school.” She looked at Lionel closely. “I guess I’m tired of being afraid.”

She began bouncing lightly from foot to foot. “Were you sick? We went for a good run yesterday. Kiana said you were at some party and left.”

“That’s what she said?” He’d had enough of Kiana’s garbage. “Not exactly. She invited me to a party and … she bet Nick, this guy, that she could get me there … for five bucks, and … she thought it would be funny.”

Georgina stopped bouncing. “Not understanding you. What are you talking about?”

“Kiana, she tricked me into coming to that stupid party — to make me look dumb in front of everyone.”

“Why would she do that?”

“So everyone would laugh at the fat loser who wasn’t actually invited?”

She stared up at him. “I’m a little confused. You said Kiana invited you to the party.”

“Yeah.”

“So how is it that you weren’t invited?”

“She invited me because Nick didn’t believe she could get me to show up. I obviously wasn’t invited — no one wanted me there. They all think I’m a joke. Kiana bet she could make me come. I never go out. I never get invited to parties, not even birthday parties when I was a little kid. It’s like what you said …” He felt a rush of emotion and he struggled to keep calm. “I don’t ever fit in, and … Anyway, she got me there, and, of course, everyone was laughing at me because … they knew about the bet and …”

He had to turn away. His eyes were burning. The memory of Kiana coming out of the house flooded back — and in that instant, he saw his father staring at him, mocking him.

Three strikeouts. You’re useless.

His dad’s voice echoed in his head.

“Lionel?”

He practically jumped out of his skin. “Sorry, I was …”

“I don’t know what happened,” Georgina said quietly. “I obviously wasn’t there. But I don’t think Kiana would do that — especially to you. I … I can’t see it. She likes you, more than you think.”

Georgina pulled him by the elbow so he was facing her.

“I know all about hiding from people,” she said. “I do it differently than you. I hide behind my Goth armor. It’s like I’m saying, ‘Don’t mess with me. I’m dressed in black and I’m covered in skulls and tattoos and piercings. You can’t hurt me. I’m too tough.’”

A tear fell down her cheek.

“You hide by not getting involved,” she continued. “You literally hide from people so you won’t be hurt. You don’t go out, you don’t make friends, and you put yourself down.”

“You don’t know me,” he said, barely louder than a whisper. “I’m … nothing. I’m just here. Other than my mom, who cares what I do?”

“I care.”

“You’re being nice, but … what about every kid at school …?”

“Lionel, you drive me crazy. You drive us all crazy. You’re an awesome kid and you’ve done so much to help people, like me,” Georgina said. “You invited me to run with the Marketeers. No one else even thought of me. Only you. The Marketeers …” She was crying now. “They’re maybe the first friends I’ve had who just accepted me, who didn’t care what I wore and what I looked like. You helped Binny get over his hoarding, and Deepak and Afonso to get in shape, and Rajeev to fix Adler Shoes — and Manuel to fix up his garage. How can you say no one cares? We do, and we’re all worried about you. Deepak and Afonso sent you texts and wanted to go to your place. But we didn’t know where you live …” Her voice trailed off for a moment. “Do you live nearby?”

“Yeah, in that apartment.”

He pointed to the building.

She reached out and gave him a hug. He felt awkward about it — she was a few years older — but he hugged her back. At least he had one friend.

“Keep believing in yourself,” she said. “You’re better than you give yourself credit for, and you’re a Marketeer, so don’t even think about not running with us. And you’re wrong about Kiana. I can’t believe she would do that. Maybe you misunderstood something … I don’t know this Nick guy, but would she really do that for him?”

She had a point there. Kiana had told him Nick wasn’t her boyfriend — and the notes seemed to irritate her more often than not.

Georgina scrunched her mouth to the side. “Talk to her. I bet you have it wrong.”

“I don’t think so.”

She grinned. “She’s at the café right now. She told me she was doing some homework. Let’s ask.”

“I’m not …”

“Chicken?”

“No. I just ...”

She began making clucking noises. He tried not to laugh. It was impossible not to. Then he got mad again.

“I’m not going. Whatever. It doesn’t matter. Kiana and I are … we were … I don’t know what we were, but who cares? It’s not like she does.”

“That’s it. You’re talking such garbage, it’s ridiculous. You and I are going to the café right now.”

“Georgina!”

“Either that, or I’m bringing her to your apartment.” She laughed. “You look like you’re going to faint, Lionel. Trust me on this. Let’s talk to her. What’s the worst that can happen? She laughs at you. You can run out of the café and never come back. But don’t you want to know for sure?”

He did more than she’d ever know. Was it possible he’d misunderstood?

He groaned. “This is gonna be painful.”

Georgina grinned. “Let’s run, then. Take your mind off it.”

“I’ll be all sweaty.”

“It’s less than ten minutes away. That’s not even a warmup for you.”

He took a deep breath. “Okay. A little more humiliation can’t hurt me. But you have to come with me.”

“Of course,” she said. “Oh, and one more thing. If you’re wrong about Kiana, you have to try out for the track team. Deal?” She held her hand out.

He shook her hand without thinking about it.

All he could think about was Kiana.

Despite all that had happened, he still wanted to see her. A little humiliation would be worth it. Humiliation he could take. He was an expert on that.

He set off beside Georgina as they settled into an easy pace.

Sunday: 10:15 a.m.

Fear he knew — but never like this. The café door seemed like a massive castle gate, and the sidewalk an alligator-filled moat, like in his video game. He barely remembered running here. His mind had gone blank. He couldn’t imagine what he’d say.

“We sorta … gotta go in … if you want to talk to her,” Georgina said.

He groaned again.

She laughed and began to push him. Her hands were so tiny. He was a mountain compared to her.

“Okay, okay. I’ll go,” he said.

He stepped inside. It was fairly busy. A line of people snaked along the counter waiting to order. Binny was standing behind the espresso machine.

“Lionel! Bro! How are ya?”

“I’m good, Binny.”

The people in line turned to look at him.

“A day off and you can’t stay away from me?” Binny said to Georgina.

“You’re irresistible,” Georgina said. “I needed to see your face. I also need to deliver Lionel. Is Kiana here?”

“Kiana and Rashmi are in the corner,” Binny said. “I heard you were sick, Lionel. Was it like a twenty-four-hour flu?”

“Something like that, I guess. I’m okay now.”

“Two mango-banana smoothies, then?” Binny laughed.

“Can you make mine a latté?” Georgina said.

“Consider it done,” Binny said. He turned away to the coffee grinder before Lionel could object.

“To the corner,” Georgina whispered.

“I didn’t know Rashmi was here,” he said.

“Neither did I,” Georgina said. “Now man up and talk to her.”

He walked over, barely feeling the floor under his feet.

Kiana saw him coming. Her face turned serious and she waved him over.

“What happened?” Kiana said. “You just ran off, and then you didn’t come out for our run yesterday. I’ve texted you twenty times, and so did Deepak and Afonso. You didn’t answer once.”

“I wasn’t feeling well,” he said.

“But … why …?” Her voice broke. “What’s going on, Lionel? I was so worried I didn’t sleep last night.”

She was exaggerating, obviously. She didn’t worry about anything. What could she be worried about?

“Ask,” Georgina said, poking him in the ribs.

He glared at her.

“Don’t give me the eyes,” Georgina said. “You ask or I will — and get ready for that tryout.”

“Ask what?” Kiana said. “And what tryout?”

Georgina gripped Lionel’s forearm. “Out with it.”

Lionel quieted his nerves. It couldn’t get worse. His reputation was mud at school anyway. Nick and his crew were going to chirp him forever.

“Nick told me,” he blurted.

That didn’t get the reaction he expected. Kiana screwed her eyes tightly and stared at him.

“He told me,” he repeated.

“I’ll ask the obvious question. Told you what?” Kiana said.

Lionel began to turn away. “I knew she’d …”

Georgina stopped him. “Lionel thinks you bet some kid, this Nick, that you could trick Lionel into coming to the party so you could all make fun of him.”

Kiana sat back in her seat. Tears formed in the corners of her eyes.

“Lionel, you’ve lost it,” Rashmi said. “Kiana asked if she could invite you and I said sure, why not.”

Kiana remained perfectly still. Two tears had fallen.

“He told me … Nick … that you bet five dollars … to get me there … to Rashmi’s,” Lionel said.

“There was no bet,” Kiana said.

She wiped her tears. Her eyes were ablaze. Lionel felt them burn into him.

“I’m going to check on those smoothies,” Georgina said.

“I’ll help you,” Rashmi said.

They both got up and went to the counter. Lionel sat at the table.

“You think I’m that kind of person?” Kiana said.

“I … don’t think … It’s …”

“It’s what?”

“Nick said …”

“If Nick said I was a mass murderer would you believe him?”

“Obviously …”

“Obviously what?”

“Obviously not … I don’t think … I …” He sat back and closed his eyes. “Nick said there was a bet and I believed him. I guess that’s it.”

She leaned forward. “Why would you think I’d do that … to you of all people?”

“I guess … It made some sense to me at the time.”

“I don’t understand you.”

“You’re so nice. You don’t chirp people or gossip, even though you could because everyone likes you. You let me run with you guys, which is fun because … sometimes it’s fun to run with other people and not by myself all the time. I don’t know why you bother with me. I appreciate it, but I don’t get it. You’re the most popular girl in grade eight and I’m … me. I guess that’s why I believed him.”

He put his hands on the table and lowered his head.

“Lionel,” she said softly.

He raised his head. She put her hand on his and looked into his eyes. “I’d never do that to you. You have to believe me.”

He didn’t know what to believe.

“I don’t understand why you’re so hard on yourself,” she said. “You get so embarrassed if I say you’re a fast runner, which you are. You won’t accept that for some reason, like …” She leaned forward. “You’re different from other boys. I can talk to you, and I feel like you understand me. All the time we’ve spent together has been …” She suddenly began to cry again.

Her hand was so soft and warm, like a piece of velvet.

“I’m sorry, Kiana,” he began. “Nick got on me and I …” No point hiding the truth. “I’ve spent my life avoiding guys like Nick — and I’m good at it. Guys don’t bug me much because they don’t notice me. Obviously they get on me a little, you can’t really be invisible, but you sort of can. When you came out of the house, and I thought you’d bet Nick, I felt like I was in a spotlight and the only way out was to run. Nick somehow knows a person’s weakness and goes for it … and it’s like there’s no way to fight back.”

Lionel noticed Georgina and Rashmi were talking at the coffee counter.

“I wonder where those smoothies are?” he said.

“Do you remember when I said I wouldn’t mind having a boyfriend, if he was the right boy?” She put her hands in her lap, slumped her shoulders. “Do you think … maybe … you would be the right boy?”

This was impossible. It couldn’t be happening.

“Are you sure?” he said.

She straightened up. “No, Lionel, I’m just saying it because I’m that kind of girl.”

“I’m sorry …”

She pointed her finger at him. “And you have to promise not to say sorry all the time. It bugs me. You don’t have anything to be sorry for.”

“It’s a bad habit, I guess.” He looked over to the counter again. “Those smoothies are taking forever.”

“Lionel, a girl just asked you out and …”

“What does a guy say in this situation?” he said, helplessly.

She put both her hands on his. “Look at me,” she said.

She was so beautiful.

Kiana gave him a gentle kiss, so soft, like a breath of warm air.

“I think you’re a wonderful person, the kindest, nicest, most honest boy I’ve ever met, and I feel comfortable with you — and one day you’re going to have to accept that,” she said.

Georgina and Rashmi came back to the table. Each of them held two smoothies.

“Mango-strawberry-banana for Kiana,” Rashmi said, handing it over to her.

“And one mango-banana smoothie for Lionel,” Georgina said.

They sat down, both grinning away.

“Shut up,” Kiana said, laughing.

“You lost a bet,” Georgina said to Lionel.

“What bet?” he said.

“How quickly you forget … after one little kiss,” Georgina giggled. “You said you’d try out for the track team if you were wrong about Kiana.”

“You did?” Kiana beamed. “That’s awesome. We have a practise on Monday after school.”

“It’s too late for me …”

“You lost the bet,” Georgina said. “Now drink up.”