One Voice 02 - Here Without You Read Online Free PDF Page A

flavors like starving men.
    “How’s shit with your uncle and you, man?”
    I had been wondering if Zander was going to ask that.
    Shrugging, Nate said, “Fair, I s’pose. Ain’t got no black eyes, right?” He chuckled a bit. Zander and I just gawked at him.
    “Nate, he can’t treat you like his perfect little punching bag. You need to tell us if he lays a finger on you… or Cindy.” Zander was mad, I could tell. “And speaking of Cindy, man. She gets him pissed off, and then you have to take the ass-kicking so she doesn’t.”
    Nate shrugged again, and again Zander and I caught eyes.
    “What’s up with that, huh? You’ve done everything for her.”
    Zander was getting worked up, and Nate was quickly retreating into his own head.
    “Maybe she thinks I haven’t done enough or somethin’. Guess you’d have to ask her.”
    Sometimes Nate got into this inexpressive mode when we pushed him too hard for details and promises about his uncle and his little sister. So I grabbed his shaggy head and pulled it down to my lips. Before I kissed his scruffy cheek, I whispered, “We only ask because we’re crazy about you.” He nodded once, and I planted a wet one on him, which landed right under his eye.
    “So, my man, we got us some big plans for tonight.” Zander had put a lot of effort into making this weekend fun. Lately he’d turned into such an organizer.
    “College parties and shit?” Nate tilted his head and wrinkled his nose.
    Zander reached across the greasy table and scooped up Nate’s big hand. “You think we’d finally get you all to ourselves and then cart you off to some beer bash where we’d have to share you with a hundred drunks?”
    “Umm… you’d better think again, boyfriend.” I giggled a little as I spoke.
    “Plus, Nate, we don’t waste our time at parties. I know I did enough of that shit in high school before I hooked up with you two. Don’t miss it one bit.”
    I hadn’t ever been exactly invited to a party, so I had nothing to add except, “Zander is kind of obsessed with launching One Voice at BCC. Last Friday and Saturday night he was staring at his laptop all night making plans and—”
    “I did launch One Voice. Maybe it’s off to a modest start, but it exists now. That’s the first step.”
    “I told you, Nate, we had nine people at the first meeting, including us. But this Sunday… this Sunday there will be ten , we hope.”
    Nate took a large sip of root beer and gave no indication he had a clue what I was suggesting.
    “Nate, on Sunday you’re coming to the meeting, right?”
    He shook his head, and his long dark hair flew from side to side. “Nah, them college kids don’t want nothin’ to do with the likes of me.”
    At hearing those words, Zander practically yanked Nate right over the table. “Shit, DeMarco, the group is called One fucking Voice . The students in it are trying to connect people, not tear them apart.”
    He abruptly let go of Nate’s hand, and I was pretty sure he was frustrated. We’d worked so hard over the past year to prove to Nate he was worth our effort, and it seemed like Nate had forgotten it in the week we’d been gone.
    “Let’s get outta here.” Zander turned and headed for the door.
    Nate and I slid out of the booth, and I told him quietly, “Zander will feel better after we eat our make-your-own sundaes. And that’s a major clue as to where we are going next.” I grabbed his hand, and we caught up to Zander.

4
    N ATE ’ S D IARY
     
     
    August 29
     
    S TELLAR WEEKEND . Fuckin’ hated like hell for it to be over. Had to pretty much drag myself away from them two. Cuz it’s like this—us three friggin’ belong together.
    Yeah. So I said it. That don’t make it real, though.
    Thought I stuck my foot in it real deep on Friday night at College Pizza with Zane. Seems I managed to piss him off big time, but thank Christ, we worked it all out and we got to keep on goin’ with our stellar weekend.
    When I first got