Fallout (Crank 3)

there wasn’t a better choice.

They just started Pleasant Valley

Elementary, the same school I went

to at their age. The transition has

been difficult. Okay, that’s putting

it mildly. Vegas to Reno is like Palm

Springs to Placerville. Low desert

heat to foothill chill. And that’s just

the beginning. After mostly running

roughshod over Kristina, adapting

to Mom and Dad’s rules is sort of like

a homeless guy going through boot camp.

I am, in turn, sorry for them and pissed

as hell that they have no idea how

to take care of my stuff—the stuff

I had to leave behind when I moved

in with Nikki. I knew I could talk

her into it. I’m a born politician.

THE NIGHT SHE THOUGHT

She kicked me out, I sat in the dark on

her porch, waiting for her to come

home. It was a long, cold wait. But

I wasn’t about to let us flame out

because of a little fight.

Especially not

one about my

previous mom.

So I zipped up

my jacket and

waited her out. When she