Fallout (Crank 3)

He isn’t big on metal. Bryce

downs his giant burrito faster

than I can finish my taco. I grin.

What? he says. But he knows

why I’m smiling. He shrugs.

Guess I was hungrier than

I thought. Must be hormones.

THAT MAKES ME LAUGH

Unfortunately, my mouth is full.

I lift my hand, barely in time

to save the windshield from

a spray of chicken taco.

Hey, now! he says, laughing too.

I just detailed this car, you know.

He starts the Acura, aims it toward

school. And anyway, what’s so funny?

Somehow, I manage to swallow what’s

left of my lunch. I shake my head.

“It’s just the hormone thing reminded

me of something Aunt Cora might say.”

Why do you live with your aunt?

The blunt question catches me

by surprise. “Uh … actually,

we both live with my grandfather….”

But that’s not what he wants to know.

What happened to your parents?

I SHOULD HAVE AN ANSWER READY

But I never expected

I’d need one. I pretty

much figured Bryce