MATT STEPS INTO THE LIBRARY, stops abruptly. Ben and Becca are at a back table sorting through paperbacks. There is a shit-ton of books next to Ben’s elbow and his eyes are gleaming. What is the kid planning to do with all of those books? There is no fucking way they can pack even half of them when Dad decides to pull out of town in the next month or two.
He works his way behind the bookshelves, as few as they are. He is almost at Ben’s table when he picks up on the conversation.
“I don’t know, Ben, that’s an awful lot of books,” Becca says.
“Matt’ll have a cow.” Ben lets out a long breath, bangs fly up. He picks up the novel on the top of the pile. “There’s no way I’m going to be able to take even a quarter of these when we move. But whatever books I can’t take, you and Glory can have, right?”
Matt sinks to the floor, rests his back against the shelving that runs under the window. The urge to cry is so sudden it is overwhelming. Sometimes he forgets how smart Ben is. His little brother understands the reality of their lives. God, why is he never able to protect Ben?
“Hey, Humphreys, you have an aneurysm?”
He hops up. “Big word there, Bishop.”
“Matt!” Ben stands. Becca, at his side, offers a wide smile.
Bishop whooshes his long blond bangs out of his eyes with a well-practiced flick of his head. “Well, if it isn’t Lyne’s little sister.”
“Lay off, Bishop.” Matt pivots, partially blocks Becca. He knows about the party and Lyne, and Jeffries beating the shit out of Bishop.
“What the fuck, Humphreys?” The grade twelve student is a couple inches taller, twenty pounds heavier. His face is still mottled from the beat down he took.
Matt plants his feet. “Don’t be a dick. She’s in grade six, for fuck’s sake.”
“So?” Bishop shoves him hard against the wall. Then he flips his middle finger and stalks away.
“You should have taken him down,” Ben says, voice tight.
“Not worth the effort, Hulk Hogan.” He shrugs his shoulders to loosen up. He flicks his hand at the neatly stacked books. No doubt Becca’s doing. The girl is OCD. “What you got there?”
“The library is selling their old books. They’re only a quarter a piece,” Ben says.
“Choose whatever you want. But stay away from the how-to-crossdressing ones, okay?”
“Matt!” Ben huffs.
“Tell Ms. Cardinal to hold them for you. I’ll meet you after school. We’ll pay for them then and haul them back, okay?”
“You sure?” Ben says.
“Summer’s coming. Gotta find some way to keep you out of my porn stash.”
Becca giggles and Ben turns cherry red.
Matt sidesteps Ben’s fist. “Later, ’gator.”