Tag Along by Tom Ryan Page B

breathe or the homophobe will get us!”
    â€œWho is that guy?” asks Candace.
    â€œThat’s Paul’s best friend,” says Roemi. I shoot him a dirty look.
    Penner finishes the joint and crushes it out on the ground. Then he leans down to look in the window of the Cruiser, his face just inches from mine.
    â€œOh my god,” whispers Roemi. “I’m going to shit my pants!”
    Penner brushes his fingers through his hair and straightens his tie. I slowly let out my breath. He’s just using the window as a mirror. But then he leans in really close, and I watch as recognition rolls across his face. He taps on the window.
    Reluctantly, I roll it down.
    â€œWhat the fuck, man?” he says. His eyes are bloodshot, and he’s obviously stoned and drunk. “Lannie told everyone your appendix burst and you’re in the hospital.”
    â€œFalse alarm,” I tell him.
    He pulls a flask from his jacket pocket and hands it through the window to me. He reeks of booze, and he’s swaying on his feet. “Want a drink?” he asks.
    â€œNah, man, I’m cool.”
    â€œSuit yourself.” He takes a big swig and shoves it back into his jacket. “Who you rolling with anyway?” He bends down and sticks his face into the SUV.
    â€œHi, Penner!” says Roemi. He grins widely and gives a little wave.
    â€œWhat the fuck?” says Penner, pulling his head back like he’s been burned. He looks at me with his mouth hanging open, and then he starts to laugh.
    â€œAre you seriously telling me that you ditched out on Lannie fucking Freston to hang out with this queer?”
    â€œNo, man. It’s not like that,” I say, painfully aware of how weird the whole thing looks.
    â€œI’d rather be gay than stupid and ugly, Penner!” yells Roemi.
    The back door of the SUV swings open and Candace jumps out. She walks over and pokes Penner in the chest. “Who the hell are you?” she demands.
    He staggers back, bewildered. “What the fuck is going on, Paul?” he asks me.
    â€œNothing man. We were just—”
    â€œI asked you a question!” says Candace, getting right up in Penner’s face.
    â€œWhoa, whoa,” he says, throwing up his hands and stepping back from her. “I’m not going to get into anything with some crazy emo bitch.”
    â€œEmo?! Oh my god, who the hell is this guy?” she asks, turning to look at me.
    â€œHe’s just a friend.”
    â€œSome friend,” she says.
    â€œPenner, come on, man,” I say. “Why don’t you walk it off?”
    â€œMan, what the hell is going on with you anyway?” he asks me. “Why are you out here with these losers instead of inside with Lannie fucking Freston? Have you lost your mind?”
    â€œIt’s not like that,” I say again. “I needed to borrow his truck to run an errand.”
    â€œAn errand?” He shakes his head as if he can’t believe what he’s hearing. “What-the-fuck-ever, York. This is some crazy shit, man.” He turns and staggers back toward the school. I figure it won’t be long before Lannie knows everything.
    I lean back in my seat and close my eyes.
    â€œWow,” says Candace, still standing outside the vehicle. “Nice work standing up for Roemi, Paul.”
    â€œWhat was I supposed to say?” I ask.
    â€œI don’t know. How about ‘don’t talk shit about my friend Roemi’? Something like that?” she says.
    â€œYou don’t understand,” I say. “I can’t just get into it with him. Ryan’s a good friend of mine.”
    â€œOh, and I’m not?” says Roemi. “I see how it is. To hell with you.” He opens the door and swings his legs out of the Cruiser.
    â€œJesus, Roemi,” I say. “He was drunk. I was trying to keep it from turning into something big.”
    â€œYeah,” he says. “I