. The Brian situation could become a problem, and Xander needed to get out in front of it. At the very least, he should tell his mom

old damage not only to his sister but also to other kids. Xander didn't regret any of that. Sendi

had consequences-something too many people ignored. With the Internet, they could drop their 'tr

ht end up in jail if they got hurt. That, and the fear of getting canceled, meant

icking Brian in the nuts. So it was better for him to tell his mom

t be trying to run before he could walk, so to speak. After all, he was only thirteen, and even he had to admit he was too young to be in a p

t was probably best for them to just be friends. T

ted to make other friends-maybe even guy friends, even though he considered the

e were some he wanted to avoid-primarily Donnie Wilson, who'd be trans

ool, Donnie became his source of condoms. Donnie's parents owned a mom-and-pop pharmacy, and the two of them would

nsas, and their time at U of A opened Xander's eyes to what Donnie really was

er out. She and Xander seemed to have a genuine connection, and Xander thought she might be the girlfriend he was looking fo

o code. When Donnie saw Xander's eyes cloud over, he

efly, I decided I had to have a piece, too. She says she's up to doing both of us, so I

in. Donnie made it sound like no b

as he tried to get his mind

d that Donnie wou

piece of ass, and you'll regre

e said, "Just come in and watch. If you don

nnie could sweet-talk almost any girl into coming home with him. Donnie fancied himself a cocksman, so of cou

ie undressed the girl

said, "Get your dick out, and she ca

t the girl looked at Xander and didn't look

hours later, Donnie grinned a

se she did me three times and got pissed off when I co

oing out now?"

e's too much of a skank for me to date. If

m, but he walked past her as though he didn't see her. Thankf

t incident had been the last straw. Xander was the one with money, and he would've had to put down the d

use he needed money. Xander had a momentary weakness and lent it to him. At the time, Xander was doing a big

an withdrawing them from an investment, which would incur penalties. To see what Donnie would do, Xander called him to see if h

Donnie and how much they loathed the guy. It seemed Donnie was all hands, and it sounded like he forced himself on more than one o

back when Kelly asked Pam, "Why di

with Donnie. I just assu

into Donnie's vortex. He might even take the time to

er and headed downstairs to find his dad had go

ou something," Xa

t had happene

called into the prin

for your sister, I'm not too

ree, but it is what

going to go to your grandpa's this mornin

ny when he retired. That almost made Xander's dad lose his mind-especially when he consistently

. Or if he had, she would've had to put her paycheck into their joint account, where he would control the mone

for

r will get involved if the

er s

ured a

a beating. His dad lived by the 'spare the rod, spoil the child' p

were both missing. The rumor mill said t

g. Somehow, his part in what happene

nder,' h

k for revenge when he returned. For

e class into teams to play softball. Coach Carlton was

r freshman football this year,

scle and get into shape if

he was doing to get

tart running or biking. The hills around here can be challenging. When you start, go uphill a

fting weights, w

ageable but not extreme amount of muscle. It'll help with athleticism far more than any other met

al workout where I do m

, but it quickly improves your strength. This way, you can run with

t/tendon health. High rep is excellent for building muscle. It's been my experience that once you can handle the high reps, you should

dy, I'll help you get sta

," Xand

u'll need a partner. It might be best to find a few guys

ome other guys want to play

lk later," Coach Carlton said, attempting

ted out to

n they learned what Karen had accused Brian of, everything blew up. Tim's older brother would no longer be all

ts into any more trouble, there wi

er w

the worst. I would almost rather take a

he's been told that if she keeps up her verba

ome, Xander t

be anywhere near

rst to buy one of the three houses his grandfather was building. While he didn

k to Grandpa

b your sister, and we'll pa

Xander

; go get yo

that particular teen response was ingrained in him. He s

m War veteran who'd hung pictures of his old unit on the walls and had an American fl

t surprise. What b

looking for work,"

be with Wayne?" Gra

icant other 24/7 isn't th

avidson j

you?" he a

would make it easier than trying to get

asked Xander, acting like t

ing a gofer or cleaning up. I

nting?" Grandpa Davids

but he can handle a spray gun and rol

s, and your grandmother has been after me to paint the exterior of

e start?" X

er smiled at

can help. Plus, it'll give you an

e before he let him loose painting one of his spec homes. It would als

l was meatloaf. She ground up all her leftover vegetables and added them to the loaf, then toppe

and run, something he'd just started. He found it humbling to learn how out of shape he was, likel

other guys in awe because the girls thought most boys their age were useless. To be honest, most of them were, but that was just middle-

er taught him some tricks with the spray gun, so he became good at using it. His mom s

d and pick up after the workers left. If he had time, he would tackle the giant pile of trees that had been removed from the building sit

ome and take a sho

xt day's classes. His mom had him study in the dining room with his sister. Xander would spen

y one who always had his back when he was older. When she died, Xander had felt the loss. This time, he planned to be more involved and

gs account so his dad couldn't get his hands on the money. Thankfully, his dad thought Xander worked for his grandfath

hought of it as additional exercise, which woul

und when he got home later that week would have shocked him. Sitting in their driveway was an old Dodge Caravan pa

ng trips. She also loved her old car, and being forced to drive a minivan gave her a soccer mom vibe

would be his when he turned sixteen. It gave his mo

nto improvements that would benefit him. He we

a cold beer while Xander did the yard work. Once he had put

ping is great," Xander sa

es. I thought having some

It always ended in a near-death e

should make some impr

rrowed, which was

do you

rted it to a foldout bed? That way, you could

talking about?

work," Xander said, and ran into the hous

egret even bringing the subject up. That was why he handed the plans to his dad and said

his idea if something ever came of it. That was why Xander hadn't put a lot of work into his design. His dad woul

icks, Kevin Moore, Jake Dolton, and Kannon 'KJ' Johnston. From his past experien

t their parents were well off, and both were popular. Mike was the best athlete in the group,

Are any of you guys going

r of logistic

ty-pants. "Explain

rop off your date. Who wants to be the guy t

r edumacate you," Xander sa

friend hated it when he launched into his good ol' Southern

wisdom," Mike

tation, traditional dating is probab

w what to say to get

ored with a girl at church camp the previous summer. Of course, Steve wouldn't reveal the girl's name becaus

were about to make smart comments that would embarrass the boy. He probably deserved

there. It solves the entire issue of ha

you told to sit and stay for the first time,

How would we go about asking a girl out? Then the big

away with asking questions that made it clear he was clueless about girls. E

ond question first:

say what?

in a group playing grab-ass all night, you wander o

he talking nons

rl, that became everyone's primary topic for the next month. It earned the guy in question rock star status until everyone figured out the ki

ure about that

ug. "I guess it's up to me to

tood

ou doing?"

Xander said as he approac

because everyone at his table was staring at Xander. Sh

ny kid who was about to ask the best-looking girl in their school to the dance. It took all of Xander's old self to calm himself down and r

e honor of meeting me at

irls squealed, and Pam jumped up and gave him

date to the dance!" Pam anno

to hammer out the arra

e, where the guys sat stunne

popped

r shr

causing a round of snickers. "Second, I just had the best set of tits at West Fork Middle School pressed again

ome back with. Xander's friends had thoughtful