Chapter 5

They got onto Main Street and hailed a cab, and that was when the dam burst. “Man, did you see their faces? We scared the crap out of those guys! Guess they're gonna think twice before they try beating on any more fags, huh? Man, that was so cool!”

Kurt didn't answer. Reaction was setting in, and he found he was shaking as he climbed into the cab.

“Kurt? Hey, Kurt, it's cool, okay? We beat them. It's cool.” He slid an arm round Kurt's shoulders, pulling him in closer on the back seat. “We're fine, okay? Don't freak out now.”

The cab driver's voice, a queasy mix of nicotine and adenoids, cut across Matt's soothing words. “You guys want to cool it till you get where you're going? This ain't a freakin' motel.”

“Hey, man, could you cut us some slack here? We just got attacked back there.”

“Yeah? Hey, is he hurt? He been cut? You need me to get you to a hospital?”