Angsty rock showtunes poured out of Robbie's room as Alex peeked his head in.

"Alex!" Robbie exclaimed, pulling the blankets around him as he lay in bed. "What are you doing here?"

"You haven't been to school all week. You haven't returned any of my texts."

"How did you get in?"

"I told your mom I had your homework. Do you even know what's going on?"

Robbie started to tear up. "How did you?"

Alex pulled out the printed picture of Robbie kissing Mr. Parker. "Robbie, the whole school does."

Robbie burst into tears. "Oh God!"

"Is this why you haven't been back to school?"

"My parents won't let me go back until Mr. Parker's fired."

"Well, he's almost there. He's suspended."

"Oh God, what have I done?"

Alex put on the bravest face he knew how. "It's not too late to stop this. You have to tell them it was all a misunderstanding, that you did it on accident."

"Alex, you don't understand... "

"It will all blow over," Alex said, grabbing his hand and pulling him off the bed. "All we have to do is... " The blanket that was covering Robbie dropped to the floor, revealing Robbie bare chested, black and blue and covered in bruises.

"Jesus," Alex exclaimed.

"Don't you see?" Robbie sobbed, pulling the blanket all around himself. "I can't."

"What do you mean?"

"I told my parents that Mr. Parker kissed me. I had to."

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Just joining us? Catch up here:

Volume 1 -
Week One, Week Two, Week Three, Week Four, Week Five

Volume 2 -
Week One, Week Two, Week Three, Week Four, Week Five

Volume 3 -
Week One, Week Two, Week Three, Week Four, Week Five

Volume 4 -
Week One, Week Two, Week Three, Week Four, Week Five

Volume 5 -
Week One, Week Two, Week Three, Week Four, Week Five


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