Read Online Something Like Thunder by Jay Bell - Free Book Online

having to say goodbye each time.”
    “I try to minimize that by being antisocial.” He laughed at himself. “I always have at least one friend or I’d go crazy, but there’s no point in getting too attached.”
    “How long have you been here?” Caesar asked. “I mean, will you be moving again soon?”
    “Why? Will you miss me?”
    “Yeah.” Caesar returned his attention to the screen. “I would.”
    The response sounded genuine. And a little too sentimental, because they didn’t really know each other. Still, he couldn’t help but find it endearing. “I don’t know what’s going to happen after I graduate. I guess that depends on whatever college accepts me. Maybe I’ll stay local.”
    Now he was being sentimental. The plan had always been to move as far away as possible. College was his best chance to escape Dwight forever.
    “I’m going to Yale,” Caesar said.
    Nathaniel raised an eyebrow. “Hard school to get into.”
    “That’s why you’re here,” Caesar said.
    True enough. This wasn’t a social call. Mr. Hubbard was paying him good money to make sure his son got into the right college. Nathaniel returned his attention to the television and watched Cary Grant scramble over Mount Rushmore. When the film reached its epic conclusion and the credits started to roll, he grabbed the remote and shut it off. “That was a waste of time. On Monday we hit the books again.”
    Caesar looked chastised, but that was fine. Nathaniel had a role to play. Drooling over a sophomore and trying to imagine what was beneath his wrestling uniform was the opposite of what he should be doing.
    “I gotta run,” Nathaniel said. “If you have any homework this weekend, make sure you get it done.”
    Starchy, but necessary. If Caesar wanted to have fun, he could spend time with his girlfriend. Nathaniel got up and left the room, wishing he had someone like that in his life. Someone he could always be himself around instead of having to pretend he was responsible or anything but fucked up. Then again, he kind of did.
    * * * * *
    “So he’s straight,” Rebecca said, making sure she understood his story correctly. She was flipping through her CD collection, tossing those she no longer wanted on her bed so she could feed them to eBay.
    “Yeah, he’s straight,” Nathaniel said. “His girlfriend was my first clue. That he’s actually happy and outgoing around her confirms it.”
    Rebecca shrugged, her attention still on her task. “One less thing for you to worry about.”
    “Easy for you to say.” Nathaniel said with a huff. “I was starting to like him. You have no idea how it feels to meet someone you like, only to find out you’re not compatible on the most basic level.”
    Rebecca stopped sorting and looked at him pointedly. “Yeah, that must be rough.”
    “Oh. Sorry. It’s just so frustrating.”
    Rebecca sighed, her shoulders relaxing. “I know. I’m sorry too. You finally noticed a guy, but he’ll never notice you. Not in the same way. Why does love have to suck so bad?”
    “I don’t know, but you’re right. I have bigger things to worry about. My mom and Dwight got into an argument today.” He told her everything that had happened. Rebecca pushed aside the pile of CDs so she could sit on the bed and listen. He didn’t have to explain the implications—she already knew what he had waiting for him at home.
    “Sleepover time?” she asked when he was finished.
    He nodded gratefully. On occasion, when the situation was dire enough, she would sneak him up to her bedroom late at night and out again in the morning. This only delayed the inevitable, but occasionally Dwight cooled down by the next day and returned to being just a jerk instead of a vicious monster.
    “Spring break is coming up,” Rebecca said.
    Nathaniel groaned. “Don’t remind me. At least I don’t have to worry about him when I’m at school.”
    “But you said he got a job. Find out his hours. We’ll make plans for