Trouble is a Friend of Mine

‘Nice,’ Digby said.

‘You’ve turned the school genius into a narc. I hope you’re proud of yourself,’ I said.

‘All right. But don’t do something crazy like OD or have a heart attack and die and get me busted, okay?’ Floyd said.

‘Okay,’ Felix said.

‘I’m giving you one – just one – you take it, show me you don’t lose your mind, and maybe I’ll sell you more,’ Floyd said.

Three boys in football team jackets walked across the quad toward Floyd. One of them was Dominic Tucker, the boy who’d been tormenting Felix in the cafeteria.

‘Oh, man, no.’ Henry turned around and closed his eyes.

‘What’s the matter with you?’ I said.

‘The team honor code,’ Henry said.

‘He’s got to turn them in if he sees them doing substances … so he doesn’t want to see them.’ When I still didn’t understand, Digby said, ‘If he doesn’t physically see them, he doesn’t have to report them.’

‘What? That’s insane. Here they are buying drugs. You know they’re doing it,’ I said.

‘All I saw was a couple of guys walking,’ Henry said.

‘I’m looking at them and I’m telling you, they’re buying drugs,’ I said.

‘Didn’t see it for myself. Doesn’t count,’ Henry said.

‘That’s not much of an honor code,’ I said.

‘Welcome to team sports,’ Digby said.

‘Hey, Floyd, you got some?’ We heard Henry’s teammate say through Digby’s phone.

‘Just finishing up. Be with you in a few,’ Floyd said.

Henry plugged his ears and walked away singing ‘Rubber Ducky.’

‘That’s it? This little blue pill’s five dollars?’ Felix said.

‘That’s off-season pricing. It’s eight bucks come finals,’ Floyd said.

Felix froze, the pill in his open palm.

‘Um …’ Felix said.

‘What, kid?’ Floyd said.

‘Um … so if I need more, you can get it?’ Felix said.

‘I just said I could,’ Floyd said.

‘Because, um … my friend … she told me you could get more … my friend Marina? You know, Marina Miller?’ Felix said.

‘You know Marina?’ Floyd sounded more interested.

Felix looked our way again. Digby and I actually ducked.

‘She’s, um … she’s a friend of a friend,’ Felix said.

‘Get outta here, kid. I got business,’ Floyd said.

‘Okay, Felix, it’s obvious he knew her … that’s all I needed. Now get out,’ Digby muttered.

The football players started pushing Felix, bouncing him around like a pinball.

‘Hey, squirt, where’s my paper at?’ Dominic said.

‘Uh, yeah … it’s coming,’ Felix said.

‘Better make it good, squirt. I need a C to pass,’ Dominic said.

Felix finally got away and jogged out of the quad. He couldn’t resist flashing a thumbs-up in our direction on his way out.

Digby hung up his phone and threw a Dorito at the back of Henry’s head. ‘Hey! You can stop singing now.’

‘So Ezekiel is getting drugs from Bananaman, Floyd is dealing them for Ezekiel, and he definitely knows Marina Miller,’ Digby said.

‘Think she was a customer?’ I said.

‘Did she ever take anything in front of you, Henry? Act like she was on stuff?’ Digby said.

‘No, but she kinda kept a lot of secrets,’ Henry said.

‘Did she keep a diary or …’ Digby said. ‘You know what we should do?’

‘I see where this is going. Pass. I’m out,’ I said.

‘What?’ Henry said.

‘Come on, this again?’ Digby said. ‘Is this our dance now?’

‘What dance?’ Henry said.

‘She says no, I ask and ask her, and then she agrees like she was always going to in the first place,’ Digby said.

‘No. I’m done breaking in to places,’ I said.

‘Where are we breaking in to?’ Henry said.

‘Marina’s house,’ I said.

‘Look at you, Juvie,’ Digby said. ‘We don’t have to break in. We’re going in with the permission of Marina’s mom. Legal and legit. All we have to do is pretend we’re her classmates.’

‘Is it just me or are we in some weird place where lying to get into someone’s house seems kinda all right? I mean, I actually feel relieved,’ I said. ‘It’s just lying.’

‘Want to go tonight?’ Digby said.

‘Can’t. Working,’ Henry said.

‘I’m hitting the mall with Mom to check out dresses for the dance,’ I said.

‘Um … yeah, the dance. You got a date yet?’ Digby said.

‘No …’ I said.

‘You want one?’ Digby said.

‘Dude. Wow. Are you asking her to the dance?’ Henry said.

My stomach did a weird up-down thing at the thought of going to the dance with Digby. I couldn’t tell if that meant I wanted to or if I really, really didn’t.

‘No. Better than that. I suck at dancing.’ Digby tried a little too hard to look nonchalant. ‘Why don’t you go with Felix?’

‘Um, because he’s ten and he comes up to my armpits,’ I said.