A week or so later, Lark found himself right beside Joseph on that same stump, the two of them talking aimlessly about a another irrelevant topic. Well, that was until Lark stupidly brought up The Homecoming Dance—this made Joseph's heart stop for a moment.

"So, are you going to the dance?" Lark tried his best to come off casually, but one knowing look from Joseph knew he hadn't had him fooled.

"What's it to you?" Joseph knew that if the two of them quarreled amongst the topic for two long, he'd spill most likely everything Bobby had told him.

"Noting much—just wondering. And plus; I heard Carey May was planning to ask you to go with her." Lark knew he was probably jumping the gun on the whole 'Carey May situation', but he just had to know if Joseph was planning on going to the dance alone, or courted.

"Yeah, right," Joseph laughed lightly. There was no way a girl like Carey May was planning to ask him; she was a square, meaning, that she would sit idly by until one of the guys coughed up enough will to ask her. And there no way he was asking her. If he were asking anyone—it'd definitely be Betty Lee. The pretty blonde girl who sat behind him in English. And the girl who—coincidentally, had been his ex-girlfriend.

Lark shrugged, seeming casual about it all, while practically screaming on the inside. Was he reading too much into this, yeah, he thought, of course he was.

Later that evening, on Lark's trudge home, he spotted the notorious, Bobby Stinger, down the street, kicking a ball with someone who appeared to be, Troy Mavis.

He ran behind a tree, taking deep, fast breaths. Did they see him? No, how could they—he was way too fast. His heart began to quicken, when he spotted the tall and handsome Joseph Ellington exiting the house just to the left of Bobby.

Of course he'd be there, Lark thought, the three of them had been best friends since the third grade.

When he peeked an eye open, watching Joseph for a few moments. Then, Troy turned his way, catching his gaze. "Hey!" Troy shouted, "it's the boy who loves Philips!"

Then, like Lark had done a million times, he turned, beginning his sprint home. He heard feet behind him, but he didn't dare turn around, afraid he'd see Joseph looking right at him while he was chased.

"Guys—stop! He isn't worth our time." As Lark heard the two boys halt in their steps, Joseph's words stung, but he hoped they'd only been said to protect him in a sense.

"Fine, but you better watch yourself next time, queer-boy!" The words cut deep into him, as he nodded, and took off home.