Chapter 1

Sixteen-year-old Dave Felder was new to East Leyden High School. His family had moved to Franklin Park, a suburb west of Chicago, during the summer. Most kids his age would have hated to move just when they’d reached upperclassman status. But Dave was glad when his dad had gotten an offer that paid twice as much as he was making at his old job.

The teen had grown up in the small town of Hillsdale and had been happy with his life there. He had many friends, played on the school basketball team, and was very popular. That was before what had happened in the theater scene shop during a rehearsal for the all school musical. Once the incident had come to light, his life at Hillsdale High had changed drastically.

So when his mom and dad sat him down and told him they were moving, he surprised them by enthusiastically embracing the news. Dave was more than happy to make a new start somewhere where no one knew him or what had happened. And this time around he would make sure nothing like it would ever take place again.

Moving in the middle of the summer proved to be a good idea. He’d had time to make a few friends. He was tall, good-looking with his blue eyes and blonde hair. He was also athletically gifted. It wasn’t long before he found his way to the ‘in’ group, just as he had back home. Before the incident

Ralph Parker and Doug Ross befriended Dave and were happy to add him to their clique of popular kids.

“Stick with us Davey boy,” Ralph had said. “We’ll make sure you know who to know and who to avoid. You’re in the big city now, not out there in Hicksville. We’ll take care of you.”

* * * *

The first day of school went well. The only problem Dave had was finding his way around. East Leyden was much bigger than the small town school he had attended. It had over two thousand students, whereas Hillsdale High had only around four hundred.

Then he wound up in the wrong algebra class. Being academically talented, he was supposed to be put in an advanced class, but was placed into a first year class by accident. After sorting that out, the only other thing that concerned him was what happened at lunch. He ate with his new friends, Ralph and Doug, and the ‘in crowd’.

After they were done eating, Ralph, who was also a junior, said, “Time to get the year started right. Come on. Let’s go harass the freshmen and sophomore freaks.”

Ralph led the way to one of the tables assigned to the underclassmen where a bunch of kids sat together talking and laughing. When they saw Ralph’s group advancing on them, they huddled together. It seemed to Dave as if they were trying to make themselves invisible.

“Well, well, looks like they still haven’t passed a rule against letting organisms of lesser intelligence into East Leyden.”

The kids with Ralph all laughed loudly: all except Dave, who cringed. Painful memories of the previous winter swept over him. The group at the table lowered their heads and began intently studying the peas and carrots on their lunch trays.

“Hey, what have we here?” Doug reached down for the ice cream sandwich on the tray of the guy at the far end of the table.

“That’s mine,” said the boy.

“And, if I take it, you’re gonna do what, fat ass?”

The boy dropped his eyes.

Everyone laughed as Doug took the ice cream. Dave’s heart raced. He fought with himself about doing what he knew was right and taking a chance on offending his new friends.

“Hey, man, don’t,” Dave said, making his decision and stepping in.

The ‘in crowd’ all stopped laughing and turned to look at him.

“Shit, man, these guys aren’t worth the space they take up. They’re just a bunch of faggot psychos,” Ralph interjected.

“That’s no reason to steal their stuff,” Dave retorted. “Doug, give it back.”

There was a moment of tension between Doug and Dave. Then Doug tossed the ice cream back toward the boy. It missed the table and fell on the floor. Dave reached down, picked it up, and put it back on the tray.

“Sorry,” Dave said.

The boy didn’t look up.

“Fuck, man. You got a lot to learn,” Ralph said. He put his arm around Dave’s neck and gave him a nuggy with his other hand. “If you’re not careful someone’s gonna think you’re a faggot like them.”

As Ralph lead Dave away, his arm still around his neck, Dave looked back and saw the ice cream kid had looked up. His eyes met Dave’s. The boy nodded.