Total pages in book: 99
Estimated words: 109903 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 550(@200wpm)___ 440(@250wpm)___ 366(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 109903 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 550(@200wpm)___ 440(@250wpm)___ 366(@300wpm)
Disguises were cheap. A new hairstyle, a new color, some contacts, and an accent were usually enough to fool people. Neil used his mother's British accent when he was overseas and his father's American accent when he was in the United States. He needed an address, sometimes a new language, and ways to fill his time that would complete his persona without drawing too much attention. Luck let him squat in Millport, but he had to assume he'd be paying rent in the future.
Some changes took expensive to a whole new level. If Neil survived this year, he'd only do so by pulling out all the stops. A simple change in names and cities couldn't save him after he'd antagonized Riko Moriyama and put his face on the news. He needed to cut every string he had, up to and including the United States.
Getting a new passport wasn't a simple matter, but at least he knew where to start. His mother was born into a British crime syndicate, and he'd inherited a list of unsavory contacts from her. Because most of them were European, they were outside his father's reach. Neil wasn't entirely sure they'd deal with him in his mother's absence, but he hoped her name would at least smooth the process. The paperwork he needed came at a steep price, but it was some of the best work on the market. It had to be considering how fast technology was changing.
Because Neil could guess at how much money he'd need in May, he didn't want to make any unnecessary purchases until then. He'd been stupid with his money on that disastrous welcome party in Columbia, so he wanted to hold tight to what was left. His teammates had other ideas, however, which was how Neil wound up shopping for clothes on Tuesday.
No one had told him they weren't going straight home after practice. They'd piled him in the car and dragged him out to the mall without even a by-the-by. This Saturday was the southeastern district's fall banquet and they all knew Neil didn't have anything appropriate to wear. It was a less formal event than the winter banquet in December would be, but it still required more than ratty jeans and worn-out t-shirts.
"At some point you're going to have to try something on," Nicky said.
"I could just not go," Neil said.
"Shut up. You're going," Kevin said, like he wasn't dreading this himself. All fourteen southern Class I teams would be in attendance, and that included Edgar Allan's Ravens. Kevin wanted to see his former teammates even less than Neil did. "The other teams want to get a look at you."
"I don't care," Neil said. "The only place they matter to me is on the court."
"Don't lose face, Neil." Andrew was systematically tugging clothes off their hangers and dropping them on the floor. He chucked one of the empty hangers at Nicky, who squawked and ducked just in time. Andrew shrugged at his miss and looked at Neil. "You laughed at Riko on Kathy's show. If you don't go, he'll say you're too afraid to face him! For shame, Neil."
But Neil was afraid, and Andrew knew that.
"Here," Aaron said, handing Neil a scrap of paper. "Take this before I forget it."
It was a short list of names and numbers in bubbly blue print. Nicky leaned over to see and made a dismissive noise. "Seriously, Aaron?"
"Dan asked me to get a list from Katelyn," Aaron said.
"Who are these people?" Neil asked.
"They're the single Vixens."
"They're all women," Nicky said. "That doesn't help us."
"Nicky," Neil started.
Nicky plucked the list from Neil's fingers and crumpled it. "Your ignorance is endearing, Neil. You're nineteen and you've never looked at Allison's tits? There's no way you're straight. You and I really need to sit down and talk about this sometime."
"You know what, I'm done here." Aaron put his hands up and turned away. "I'll be in the food court when you guys are finished."
"Stop being a bad influence," Kevin told Nicky. "I am going to make him Court. It'll be easier if he remains heterosexual. You know more than any of us how prejudiced people can be. Imagine the impact it would have on his career."
"We aren't really having this conversation," Neil said.
Nicky clapped his hands to either side of Neil's head as if trying to shield Neil from their argument. It didn't really work, as he missed Neil's ears completely. "You worry about Neil's career. I'll worry about his personal happiness. Come on, Kevin. Even you have to admit this is really weird."
Andrew threw his hands up. "Newsflash, Nicky: Neil isn't normal!"
"This is beyond abnormal."
"I am standing right here," Neil said, "and I can hear you."
Nicky sighed dramatically and let go. "Fine, fine. Take a cheerleader if you want to."
"I'm not taking anyone," Neil said. "I don't even want to go to this thing."
"Do you have any idea how pathetic it is showing up stag to an event like this?"
"Are you bringing someone?" Neil asked, surprised. "What about Erik?"
"He's in Germany," Nicky said. "Yeah, I'm bringing a date, but I'm not going to date the guy. I just want someone to go and have fun with. You know, fun? That thing people have sometimes? You two are impossible."
Neil looked at Andrew, but it was Kevin who answered. "It's none of your business."
"Three," Neil said. "Allison."
Two words killed Nicky's good humor. Neil refused to feel bad about it after everything Nicky had just said about him, but he didn't feel vindicated, either. Nicky muttered under his breath and left to look at shirts further down the aisle. Neil turned his attention back to the slacks hanging in front of him, but he couldn't concentrate. He pushed a couple hangers around without paying attention to size or cuts and looked up at Kevin.
"Would you take her?"
He thought maybe he was as surprised by the question as the two men now staring at him. Neil fidgeted with the hangers but refused to look away from Kevin. "She and Seth were excited to go. It was all they could talk about when we had lunch together. Now she's going to go and he won't be there."