Devyn’s Struggle II
Published: 14 April 2025
Devyn was glad to have the homecoming dance behind him. He had ended up having a lot of fun with his friends and was glad he had gone. If Julie had not asked him, he would have skipped it. He had planned on not going to the Saturday afternoon game, but his friends were insisting that he go. He felt like he would just be antagonizing Ted, Dale, and especially Tanner.
Devyn had asked Joe, and Joe told him to go. “Have fun with your friends. I’ll be there, and so will most of the town.”
Devyn rode into town with Joe, Travis, and Ethan. “Wow, I think it is the whole town,” Devyn said.
“A lot of folks take football very seriously,” Joe said.
The smell of hot dogs, burgers, and popcorn filled the air as Devyn made his way towards the stands. His eyes scanned the bleachers for his friends. Devyn had never been much into football. He had blown off the homecoming dance and game last year to hang out with Terry and Dewayne. Devyn felt eyes on him. He turned around and saw Tanner staring at him. Devyn thought the man looked more pissed off than ever before. He felt a shiver run up his spine at the cold hatred that he saw in Tanner’s eyes.
Devyn turned back to the bleachers and searched again for his friends. He spotted them and started making his way towards them. He was glad that he would not need to worry about running into Ted or Dale. They would be out on the field and not in the stands harassing him.
“Hey! You made it,” Sam greeted.
“Yeah,” Devyn said.
“I’m glad you came this year,” Stacy said and put her arm around Devyn.
“Me too,” Devyn said.
Devyn noticed that everyone still seemed to be in their pairings from last night. Sam was next to Lori; Justin was on the other side of Stacy, and Charlie was sitting next to Heather. Devyn thought the two seemed a little too cozy.
Julie saw where Devyn was looking. She leaned in and whispered, “I thought they might have hit it off. They are great together. Don’t you think?”
Devyn did not believe they were. He was worried that Charlie was making the same mistake that he, Devyn, had made. Charlie was going to use Heather the way Devyn had used Sue and then Mindy.
The cheerleaders were on the field, rallying the crowd. Devyn could also hear the sound of the school band. He watched as the players began taking the field. He could not help but notice how well some of them filled out their uniforms.
“Isn’t it exciting?” Julie said. She grabbed Devyn’s hand. “I’m so glad it is such a nice afternoon.”
Devyn wasn’t sure about the excitement. He had never been too interested in school sports. He had mostly tried to avoid anything to do with them as most of his tormentors had been on the football team. According to what Kevin had told him in the locker room, that seemed to have changed. Kevin apologized for the team, except for Ted and Dale. Devyn did not believe those two were going to change their attitudes.
Devyn found the excitement from his friends contagious. He got caught up in cheering on the team. He might not know all of the rules, but he knew enough to cheer when the team made a touchdown and groan with the crowd when they fumbled.
During halftime, Devyn made his way to the concessions with the rest of the group. Sam was acting crazy, as usual. Devyn could not stop laughing as Sam tried to balance a tub of popcorn on his head while also holding a couple of hot dogs and a giant soda. The popcorn started to tumble, and Devyn caught it, saving most of it from landing on the ground.
“You can’t be that hungry,” Devyn said as he held the tub of popcorn.
“I’m starving,” Sam said. “It’s a lot of work cheering on this team, and we still have the second half.”
Devyn just shook his head, but he had to admit that he had worked up an appetite as well.
They listened to the marching band as they ate and drank their sodas. He ran into Danny who, like Sam, was obviously starving after the first half. The guy had several hot dogs and was trying to carry popcorn and sodas. “You need some help?” Devyn asked.
“Yeah, thanks.” Danny handed some of his items to Devyn. “Some of it’s for my girlfriend and for Pete.” Devyn knew that Pete was one of Danny’s best friends. Devyn had helped them both with Algebra.
After helping Danny make it to his seat, Devyn headed to the restrooms before heading back to join his friends for the second half. He spotted Terry leaning against the wall smoking. Devyn wondered if he should say anything to Terry or if he should avoid the guy. Devyn had enjoyed hanging out with Terry. When the boy wasn’t around Dewayne and the others, he was a decent person. Terry had mostly been staying back during his last few run-ins with Ted and Dale. Terry had not been involved in the whole incident in the storeroom.
Before Devyn could decide, Terry made the decision for him. The guy tossed away his cigarette and headed towards Devyn. “Um…how’s it going?”
Devyn thought Terry was looking a little worse for wear. He had some dark circles under his eyes, and he seemed thinner than Devyn remembered. “Um…fine.”
“I wasn’t sure you would be here,” Terry said. “We agreed that neither of us were much into this stuff.” Terry gestured with a thumb towards the football field. “We blew it off and hung out together last year.”
“I remember that,” Devyn said. “We thought it would be lame.”
“It usually is,” Terry said. “This year was a little more interesting, though.”
“Really?” Devyn was a bit surprised by that statement. Devyn did not believe that Terry was the type to find the game all that interesting.
“The halftime show was worth watching.” Terry looked down at the ground and then back at Devyn. “I’m guessing that you missed it.”
“Um…I could hear the band…”
Terry stopped Devyn before he could finish the sentence. “No, not on the field. The one over there.” Terry gestured with his thumb towards the parking lot.
Devyn was confused. He had no idea what Terry was talking about. He did not have to ask, though.
“You know I’m not into all that sports crap,” Terry said, indicating the football field.
Devyn did know that. It was one of the things that he and Terry had in common. They had never talked about sports. Terry was more into cars. “I know.”
“I went to get a car nap in,” Terry continued. “That was when I saw Tanner and Rogers arguing. I heard your name and, well, got curious.”
“Tanner and Rogers were talking about me?” Devyn knew if Tanner were talking about him, that it could not be good.
“Yeah, they didn’t see me. I rolled down my window a bit and kept my head down. They stopped just a few cars away. He was ordering her to kick you out of that play thing.”
This was not the first time that Tanner had tried to get him kicked out of the play. He had tried that weeks ago, and Mrs. Rogers had stood up to him and told him flatly no. “He did?”
“Yeah, but she wasn’t having any of it,” Terry said. “She said if you go, she was going too, and she thought the rest of the cast would walk out.”
Devyn knew that would royally piss off Stacy. She lived for the drama club. He did not want them to have to cancel the whole thing over him.
“It got even more interesting when Jones stepped in. She sounded pissed over him trying to ban you from another event. Then Hanks showed up. Tanner also wanted you out of that FFA shit. Then Parker and a couple of others showed up. From what I gathered, Tanner was pissed after last night and sent out an email stating something about you not being allowed to participate in any school activities. Those teachers, though, were sticking up for you. Just how did you get so popular with them?”
Devyn found it hard to believe that so many of the teachers were standing up for him. They had all given him an endless supply of hall passes, but now they were being more direct with Tanner. “I’m not.”
“Well, as heated as some of it got, you are. Jones said she was going to the school board. Hanks said he’d kick you out of FFA when hell froze over. Rogers was a bit blunter and told him to keep his ass out of her drama club. She decided who was in her play and not him. Parker said you were allowed to tutor any of his students and that Tanner needed to back off.”
Devyn was a little choked up by the support the teachers were giving him. It was unexpected. He guessed things from yesterday had brought things to a pinnacle.
“I thought Tanner was going to have a stroke or something. I swear you could almost see the steam coming out of his ears.”
“I bet that is true. He doesn’t like it when someone stands up to him.” Devyn bet the man was still pissed from Joe and Lee getting in his face last night.
“I think that shit you started at the dance last night has pushed him over the edge,” Terry said. “You…um…better watch out. He’s…um…going to be really gunning for you now.”
Devyn knew it had not really been him that started the stuff at the dance. That had started with Joe and Ethan dancing together. Devyn was still amazed at how many guys went out there and danced together. “Yeah, like he hasn’t been.”
“Until now, he’s been a little more behind the scenes,” Terry said.
“Um…what does that mean?”
Terry looked down at the ground and dug around in the dirt with the toe of his shoe. “Well…I mean, it isn’t like he can punch students and stuff. He’s kind of left that up to…um…others.”
Devyn was not so sure of that. He could remember the bruises from where Tanner had grabbed him in the past. “He’s been rough with me before.”
“Not like actually beating you up,” Terry said.
Devyn guessed that was true. The actual fights had been with Dwayne, Howard, Dale, and Ted. Devyn remembered what Mrs. Jones had told him yesterday about Howard and Tanner being close. “Is he telling other people to harass me?”
Terry looked down at the ground. He then looked over at the bleachers. The crowd was cheering. The second half had started, and it sounded like it was going well for the home team. “I’d better get going.”
“Wait, Terry.” Devyn reached out and grabbed Terry’s arm. “Come on. Has he been telling kids like Dale and Ted to fuck with me?”
“He definitely hasn’t been discouraging it,” Terry said.
“Do you know for a fact?” Devyn asked.
Terry shrugged his shoulders. “I don’t know why you can’t just be normal. Then this shit wouldn’t happen. We could be friends.”
“Terry, I am normal. I’m just gay. That doesn’t stop us from being friends. That was your choice.”
“It wasn’t really my choice,” Terry said.
“Terry, it was your decision. Once I came out, you wanted nothing to do with me.”
Terry shook his head. “That ain’t how it happened. You stopped coming to the parties. You dumped hanging out with me long before telling us you was queer. You decided, like everyone else, that I was a loser, and you dropped me. You dropped me for those in-town snobs.”
Devyn could hear the anger in Terry’s voice. He had pulled back from hanging out with Terry and Dewayne. After that blow-up with Joe, he realized that hanging out with Dewayne and Terry was only bringing out negative behaviors that Devyn did not like in himself. “Terry, I never thought that you were a loser. I actually liked it when we would cut class and hang out at your house.”
“You did?” Terry’s eyes seemed to have a glimmer of something. “Then why did you stop talking to me?”
“Terry, it wasn’t you. It was me.” Devyn knew that sounded like the typical breakup speech. “I told you about my drug problem from before.” Devyn had told Terry only a little about his drug habit that he had before coming to live with Joe. “I felt like I was going back down that path with all the drinking and pot at the parties we went to. I guess I can see how you might think I was ditching you for my other friends, but I really didn’t mean for it to be like that. I just…well…didn’t want things with my new life to get messed up.”
“You know, last spring when we showed up at that party.” Terry was referring to Julie’s Spring party when Devyn had had the altercation with Dewayne and Terry. That had been when Devyn had come out to Dewayne and Terry and all of his other friends. “I pushed Dewayne to go there. I knew you would be there, and I thought…well…I thought we could get you back. It was stupid but…”
“But what, Terry?”
“I liked having you around. You…well…treated me better than Dewayne. He didn’t want to crash that party, but I insisted. He said you were doing shit with Mr. Erikson. He tried to say that you and I had been doing stuff. He asked me if you’d been sucking my cock.” Terry snorted. “I was dumb and said hell no. You ain’t like that. Then we show up there, and you tell us you are.” Terry shook his head. “I guess I am dumb.”
“Terry, you aren’t dumb. I did a good job of hiding it. I mean, that is why I was with Mindy. I was using her to cover up who I really was.” Devyn felt a little bad about how he had dumped Terry. Maybe he should have tried harder to do things with Terry that did not involve drinking and drugs.
Terry shrugged his shoulders and looked back down at the ground. “I felt stupid being fooled like that. I mean, we hung out more than you did with Dewayne. I should have known.”
“I wish I had been comfortable enough with myself to tell you. It would have been a better start to our friendship.” Devyn wasn’t sure how good of a foundation he and Terry had to build on, but it seemed like the guy wanted a fresh start. “We could start over now.”
Terry was quiet for a while. He then looked up from the ground to Devyn’s face. “I wish it was that easy to start over.”
“Then let’s do it.” Devyn stuck out his hand. “Hi, I’m Devyn Vitanova.”
Terry looked from Devyn’s outstretched hand and then at Devyn’s eyes. Terry smiled. “Hi, I’m Terry Baldridge.” He took Devyn’s hand.
“Great to meet you,” Devyn said. “Oh, and just so you know…” Devyn paused and looked into Terry’s eyes. “I’m gay.”
Terry chuckled. “Full disclosure. I’m straight.”
“That’s cool with me,” Devyn said. “Come on up and sit with me and my friends.”
“Now?” Terry looked from Devyn to the bleachers. He then turned back to Devyn.
Devyn could see Terry’s hesitation. He knew it would be making a huge step for the other guy to sit with him and his friends. “Does me being gay bother you?”
“You know that was a big deal for Dewayne. He thought it was…well, sick. I don’t understand why he made such a big deal out of it.” Terry shrugged his shoulders before he continued. “But it’s more your business than mine.”
“So, you want to come up and hang out with us?” Devyn asked.
“Um…well…that would be kind of putting a target on me. Tanner already doesn’t like me none. He puts up with me more because…well…he wanted me to gang up with the others on you.”
“Tanner put them up to it, then?”
Terry looked down and then back up at Devyn. “He’s got a big problem with you and even a bigger one with Mr. Erikson. He just hates him.”
“Yeah, it seems Tanner and Joe have quite the history. Do you know why he hates Joe so much?”
Terry shook his head. “He never said other than he hates gays.”
“He’s a homophobic dickhead,” Devyn said.
“He’s a dick for sure,” Terry said. “He might not have that job much longer. I mean Jones and those other teachers…they were going to the school board.”
Devyn wondered if they could get Tanner fired. That would make life at school so much easier for Devyn. Devyn just hoped that they would not find someone that was even worse than Tanner. If that were possible. “I guess I understand if you don’t want that target on you. I know both Sam and Charlie have gotten shit for being my friends.”
Terry looked from Devyn to the stands and then out at the parking lot. It was like he was looking to see if Tanner was still around somewhere. “I’ll pass this time, but I would like for us to hang out again. I’ve just got other stuff to do today.”
“Sure,” Devyn said. “We can do it sometime soon.”
“I’d better get going,” Terry said. “I need to get my application in with that new Dollar General store. I hear they’re looking for someone to work weekends.”
“Aren’t you still working at the feed store?” Devyn asked. He had not heard that Terry had been fired.
“Yeah, I just need some weekend hours. The feed store is more after school and the summer.”
There was a loud explosion from the stands. It sounded like the home team made another touchdown. “I’d better get back,” Devyn said. “I don’t want to miss the whole second half.” Devyn turned and started back to the stands.
“Devyn,” Terry called before Devyn had taken only a few steps. Devyn paused and turned back towards Terry. “Be careful. Watch your back. Tanner’s out to get you even more now. So are Ted and Dale.”
“Thanks, Terry. I’ll do that.” Devyn turned back and walked towards the stands. He could feel Terry watching him as he walked away.
Devyn wasn’t sure if he was glad the weekend was over or not. It had been so packed full of events with homecoming, the football game, the bonfire after the game at Randy’s, and then a Sunday rehearsal for the play. He felt like he had been rushing all weekend. He had managed to work in his weekly call with his grandma on Sunday afternoon.
“You have been a busy young man,” Roberta told her grandson.
“Yeah, it’s been exhausting,” Devyn admitted.
“I hope you are keeping up with your schoolwork,” she said.
“I am,” Devyn said. He had some homework he needed to work on, but his books were in the storeroom. He had decided not to worry about it and would figure it out on Monday. He’d ask the janitor or Sally if they had found them.
“I received the pictures from Joe,” Roberta said. “You look so handsome. I’m glad you cut your hair. It makes you look even more like your grandfather.”
Devyn was not going to tell his grandmother about the unplanned haircut. He guessed he may need to keep it shorter. Everyone seemed to like it. “Thanks.”
“Your date was beautiful,” she said. “You two look very close.”
Devyn wondered if his grandmother was hoping he was straight after all. She had never pushed him one way or the other. She had actually always been supportive and accepting of his sexual orientation. “We’re good friends,” Devyn said.
“It shows. It can be nice to go to a function like that with a friend. It takes the pressure off. Was your young man there, too?”
Devyn could not stop his lips from curving up in a smile. “He was,” Devyn said. “He was looking handsome as well with his date.”
“Oh, he isn’t seeing someone else, is he?” There was obvious concern in Roberta’s voice.
“No, he kind of got pushed into going with a sweet girl.” Devyn had tried to spend a little time with Charlie at Randy’s party, but he had shown up with Heather. It seemed the two were an item now.
“It’s alright,” Charlie confided to Devyn when they had found a few moments alone. “She knows, and she’s fine with it.”
“She knows? What does she know?” Devyn asked.
“She knows about us…I mean that we are…” Charlie paused to look around to make sure no one was close enough to overhear them. “She knows I’m gay and that we are like…um…boyfriends.”
“Did you just come out and tell her?” Devyn asked.
“Um…no. She kind of figured it out on her own. I guess we didn’t hide it from someone like her that pays really close attention. You…um…aren’t mad that she knows, are you?” Charlie had thought he heard some anger in Devyn’s voice.
“No, not at all,” Devyn said. “I want you to be able to be yourself.” Devyn hoped that Heather’s knowing was the first step in Charlie being able to be himself openly with everyone.
“The awesome thing is, she still wants to come to stuff like this with me. She doesn’t mind that we won’t be a couple, but folks will think we are.”
Devyn could tell that having Heather provide him with some cover had lifted a weight off his friend’s shoulders. Devyn just was not sure if it would just give Charlie an excuse to keep his and Devyn’s relationship even more of a secret.
“I just want to be able to be out with him,” Devyn confided to Roberta. “I don’t like hiding our relationship.”
“I understand that,” she said. “He’s still new to this. Give him some time.”
How much time did Devyn need to give Charlie? He guessed it was as much as Charlie needed. He just wished Charlie would come out to Sam. If Sam knew, it would make everything easier.
Devyn looked up from the book he was reading when he heard the knock on his door. The door was not closed, so he looked up to see Joe standing in the doorway.
“I wanted us to talk for a minute,” Joe said.
Devyn thought Joe sounded more serious than normal. “Sure.” Devyn put his book aside.
Joe moved into the room and sat on the edge of Devyn’s bed. He had wanted to have this talk earlier, but there had not been a chance with Devyn’s activities, Travis, and Ethan. Ethan had just left for home, and Joe had just finished tucking Travis in for the night.
“I was kind of expecting this talk,” Devyn said.
“I thought you might,” Joe said. “You know I talked to your teachers.”
“Yeah,” Devyn sighed. He was sure they had informed him just how bad some of the stuff at school had been.
“I want you to be honest,” Joe said. He placed a hand on Devyn’s bare leg. Devyn had just finished taking a shower and was lounging on his bed in just a pair of shorts. “It sounds like a few students have been trying to bully you and that Tanner has been…joining in with them.”
“You told me that it was going to be rough with me being out,” Devyn said.
Joe nodded. “I believe I also told you to tell me if it got too bad. I knew Tanner was giving you more detentions than you likely deserved.”
Devyn looked away from Joe’s intense blue eyes. “It hasn’t been…”
“Devyn, don’t lie to me,” Joe said. “Be honest with me.”
“The stuff at school has honestly gotten better,” Devyn said. “Before, there were a lot more kids joining in with Dale and Ted. Now it is really only those two.”
“And Tanner,” Joe added.
“Yes, and Tanner. He’s got issues with me. I’m not sure why.”
Joe placed his hand again on Devyn’s bare leg. “It’s not you…well, it might be you being gay, but his issues are with me. He’s never gotten over some stupid old childish grudges.”
“Were you and he friends? I mean before you were out.”
Joe shook his head. No. We were never friends. He never liked me. The only thing he liked was to torment me and beat me up.”
For Devyn, it was hard to believe that Joe was once smaller for his age. Now the man was built. Tanner probably outweighed him, and maybe Tanner was a little taller, but Devyn was sure Joe could take him in a fair fight.
“Tanner never liked that I wouldn’t back down. He never liked that Dan would stick up for me. Like I said, it is all stupid, childish stuff, and he just has not gotten over it.”
“He’s…um…threatened to call family services,” Devyn admitted.
“You’ve been adopted,” Joe said. “There is nothing he can do.”
“He said he had friends at Family Services, and he could get an investigation going and get Travis taken away. That was what I was worried about. I can handle what they might do with me, but Travis shouldn’t be hurt because of me.
“Tanner has figured you out. He knows you will do anything to protect those you love.” Joe shook his head. “It is a wonderful heart you have, but sometimes you need to not think everything falls onto your shoulders. I’ve got a set of broad shoulders, and I can manage the load.” Joe paused before he went to his next concern. “When I was talking with Deloris, she said a student came to her and said Tanner was hurting you. Is that true?”
Devyn could not see Sam going to Mrs. Rogers. He wondered if it had been Adam. Adam had caught Tanner being rough with Devyn in the hall not too long ago.
“Devyn, is it true?” Joe prompted.
Devyn nodded. “He has gotten a little rough a couple of times.” Devyn had looked down and now looked back at Joe’s face. He thought he saw a new anger burning in the blue eyes. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you.”
Joe’s lips curved into half a smile. “I should have pushed more to know about how you were being treated. I thought Tanner could get over our stupid past.” Joe’s eyes traveled over Devyn’s bare chest and stomach. His eyes took in the dark bruises on Devyn’s chest, stomach, and arms. There was also some on one of his shoulders. “Are any of these from Tanner?” Joe indicated the bruises.
“Ted, Dale, and Howard got a little rough when giving me a haircut. I guess I should thank them. I got a number of comments on how good I looked after the haircut. Of course, that was due to Maggie’s talents and not theirs.
“I’ll let her know that,” Joe said. “So, Tanner never touched you?”
Devyn hesitated before he decided to be honest with Joe. “He did grab my shoulder. I jerked away from him. Devyn indicated the bruises on his shoulder. “These could be caused by him or by Ted, Dale, or Howard.”
“So, at school, you have Ted and Dale to deal with. Anyone else?”
“Not for a while now. I even got an apology from Kevin for the whole team…well, except for Ted and Dale.”
“What about Terry?” Joe remembered Terry being hesitant to join in on ganging up on Charlie in the alley. He also remembered the boy seeming sorry for that altercation.
“Terry…well…he did give me some grief. More when Dewayne was around. He actually gave me a warning.” Joe arched an eyebrow, so Devyn explained. “I ran into him during the game. He said Tanner was going to be out to get me and to watch my back.”
“Out to get you, huh? We will see about that. I think it’s time Tanner and I had a little talk.”
“Um…didn’t you just do that before the dance?”
“No, that was Lee more throwing his weight around. He was…well…trying to protect me. He knows when it comes to Tanner…well…I’m likely to lose my temper. He was afraid if he left that situation to me, that someone would get hurt.”
Devyn bet it would not be Joe getting hurt…or if he did, Tanner would be more messed up. “I’d rather you not get into trouble over this.”
“Devyn, I’m not going to stand by and let him abuse you. I’m also not going to let those other pussies get away with ganging up on you. Three against one is just not fair.”
“It wasn’t fair, but I did hold my own against them. If Howard hadn’t been involved, I could have managed Ted and Dale.”
Joe’s lips curved into a smile. “I am sure you could have, and I’m proud that you didn’t let all of those hours in the barn go to waste.”
“I should have kept up with that.” Devyn regretted not having spent more time training with Joe and Lee. If he had, he might have been a little better prepared to take on Dale, Ted, and Howard.
“I know you’ve been busy with everything going on. We can start up again.”
“I’d like that,” Devyn said. “I’d like to get where I can kick Lee’s hairy ass.”
Joe laughed. “Have you been checking out Lee’s ass?”
“I may have looked once or twice. Those jeans he wears are a bit snug and I’m guessing from as hairy as his chest is, that his ass is just as hairy.”
“It is,” Joe confirmed.
“I guess I’m not the only one checking Lee out.”
“I’ve known Lee far too long to not know what all of his two thousand parts are like.”
“So, after the play, we can work on some of the self-defense stuff?”
“Definitely,” Joe confirmed. “I want to know every time Tanner touches you. Even if it doesn’t leave a bruise. If it does, I want to know the instant you get home.”
“Honestly, it isn’t that bad…most of the time.” Devyn would have to admit to himself, if not to Joe, that the time Tanner had slammed him against the lockers, it had been bad.
“I want to stop this from getting worse. I’ll be having a talk with Tanner.” Joe could see the worried look on Devyn’s face. “Don’t worry, I won’t break a single bone in his body…at least not yet. If he touches you again though, well…”
“He said he’s got friends and could break us up,” Devyn told Joe. “I can handle what he throws at me, but I couldn’t handle losing our family.”
Joe was ready to make Tanner regret everything the man had done to Devyn. How low would the man stoop? He was using Devyn’s good heart against the teenager. Devyn might be mature for his age, but he was still a vulnerable boy when it came to those he loved. “Tanner isn’t the only one with friends. It’s time you left him to me.”
Devyn sat up on the bed. He placed his hand on Joe’s muscular arm. “Joe, please don’t get into trouble. Tanner…well…he’s tried provoking me a couple of times. He might be doing the same for you. He wants you to come after him so he can break up our family.”
“I’ll control myself,” Joe said. Joe got up from the bed. “Now get some sleep. Tomorrow is a school day.”
“Yeah, Monday after the big weekend. It will suck. Plus, I’ve got that detention with Tanner.”
“You can skip that,” Joe said. “I’ll be taking that detention for you. You just go on and get on the bus and come home with Travis.”
“Joe, I don’t think…”
“Devyn, do as I say this time. Get on the bus and come home with Travis. I’ll take the detention.”
Devyn nodded. He knew there was no arguing with that tone in Joe’s voice. “Thanks, Joe…I love you, Batman.”
“I love you too, Boy Wonder.”
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