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.Half the class had been rooting for a Freddie Kruegering of Stone, but luck hadn't been on their sideand he'd survived to continue being a waking nightmare for all of them."You want to come along?" Caleb asked him.As much fun as it sounded, he hesitated."I'm supposed to head back to my mom's job."'Cause she would absolutely kill him if he didn't."And miss Bubba's Zombie Roadkill Recipes? C'mon, Nick, you know you have to see this.It's must-view entertainment on an infinite scale of epic awesomeness." Caleb pulled out his phone and handedit to him."Give her a shout and ask her if you can go."Nick wasn't so sure about this.Caleb hadn't exactly been overly friendly to him these last few years.In fact, he'd basically ignored him.So why would he care if he went or not? Unless this was a trick moment like when the cool guy askedCarrie White to the prom just so they could drench her in blood and laugh at her.Yeah, I'd look stupid in a prom dress.Worse, he didn't have the psychic powers to attack them back.Caleb frowned at him."What are you waiting for?"Lightning to strike him, 'cause let's face it, that was much more likely to happen than the most popularguy at school inviting him to watch an infamous Bubbisode."Why are you being so nice to me?"A sly grin curled Caleb's lips."My enemy's enemy is my friend.""Who's your enemy?"Caleb shrugged."You wouldn't believe me if I told you.and I know what you're thinking.How can a guy as popular as me have any enemies or problems, right?"Yeah, basically."I haven't noticed you being slammed into anyone's locker lately.""That's because you're not around me all the time.Trust me.Life's not easy for anyone.Everyone has scars they're afraid to show and we all get slammed headfirst into a proverbial lockerfrom time to time by someone bigger and badder." Riiight.He was more than sure that Caleb's idea of a bad day was no match for his."What? Your parents ground you for driving your mom's new car or did you forget to tell the maid topick up your room?"Caleb didn't respond to his sarcasm."You going to call your mom or not? No real sweat off my nose,one way or another.I'm just trying to be neighborly."/ swear if I get drenched in pig's blood, I'm going after you with an ax.Taking the phone from Caleb'shand, Nick punched in the number at the club.Tiffany answered on the sixth ring."Hey Tiff, it's Nick.Is my mom nearby?""Sure, sug, hang on."While Nick waited on his mom to get to the phone, Caleb went to stare into one of the store windows.He still wasn't sure why Caleb was willing to do this.Even though he knew Caleb, they'd never hungout before.Caleb had transferred into school not long after Nick had and though they'd had manyclasses together, Caleb hadn't really spoken to him in school except on rare occasions.Such as to tellhim to move his punk butt out of the way so Caleb could get to his locker.An extreme loner in spite of being popular and playing on the football team, Caleb ignored mostpeople.No one knew much about him.He never talked about his home life or parents.If anyone everasked a question about it, he changed topics.But it was obvious from his clothes and bearing that hisparents had more cash than most, and the rumors around school said his dad was one of the richestguys in town.Of course rumors also claimed Caleb was an ex-con who'd learned to play football inju-vey.Onerumor even claimed he'd killed his dad and then sold his liver on the black market.Given what Caleb had said a minute ago, Nick figured it must be bleak at his house.Why else woulda guy with his kind of looks, money, and popularity be wandering the streets on his way to see twolunatics give lessons on fighting off nonexistent creatures?Then again.after all that'd happened today, zombies weren't so fictional after all."Nick? Are you all right?" his mom asked as she came to the phone."I'm fine.I'm just a couple of blocks away.I dropped off Liza and met a friend from school on thestreet ""Hi, Ms.Gautier," Caleb called into the phone.Nick ignored him."It's Caleb Malphas.He wanted to know if I could go with him to Bubba's storeand attend one of Bubba's classes.""Oh Lord, what's he teaching tonight?""Zombie survival."His mom let out a tired sigh."Is he going to have dynamite there again?""I doubt it.The ATF was pretty strict after the last incident.Anytime the authorities step in, Bubbausually lays low for a while." 'And how long is it going to last?" she asked.He looked at Caleb."How long is it?"Caleb flashed a mischievous grin."It's supposed to be an hour, but usually Bubba or Mark has aserious injury about thirty minutes in and we have to break for a hospital run.Sometimes they comeback if they can get in and out of the emergency room fast enough or the burns aren't too bad.Mosttimes it ends early.I'd tell her an hour though 'cause we need to factor in the time it takes to stoplaughing so hard we can walk again."The sad thing was, Caleb wasn't joking."About an hour, Ma."And you won't be alone?""No, ma'am.Caleb's with me and he's a good-sized guy." "How old is he?"Nick clenched his teeth in frustration.Why did he have to play this game with her all the time when itwas only a matter of a simple yes or no? Dang, his mom should have been a lawyer."How old areyou?"Caleb paused as if he had to think about it."Fifteen.""Fifteen," Nick repeated into the phone."What do his parents do for a living?"This time his temper snapped and he spoke before he could stop himself."What does that matter?""It matters to me and if you want to go, I want an answer."Nick rolled his eyes at the response that grated on his last nerve."What do your parents do?"There was a strange look on Caleb's face.When he spoke, his tone was completely stoic."My dad's a broker and my mom is his eternal unwilling concubine who sold her soul to him to buythe equivalent of a Ferrari."Nick let out a long breath.Caleb definitely had a way with words."His dad's a stockbroker.""His mom?""She's a housewife."His mother hesitated before she continued grilling him."Is he a good boy?""No, Mom, he's Satan incarnate.In fact, once it's over, we're going to get liquored up and tattooed,then find some cheap hos and have a good time with his trust fund."Caleb laughed.His mom, however, did not share that sense of humor."Don't you take that tone with me, NickGautier.I'll ground you till you're old and gray.Now answer my question."Would she never appreciate his sarcasm?Realizing he had to play nice, Nick took the attitude out of his voice."Yes, he's a good boy.Neverbeen in trouble at school and he's on the honor roll.Captain of the football team.All-around psycho serial killer who hides bodies in the fridge whenever his parents go out of town." Well.he'd tried to remove all sarcasm.Thing was, for him, it was an impossible task.Caleb laughed again, then leaned in to speak so that Nick's mom could hear him."I also eat babies forbreakfast and torture small animals for fun.My therapist says that I'm making real progress though."His mother responded with a sharp note."Don't you boys get smart with me."Nick grinned at Caleb."Sorry, Mom.We couldn't resist."She spoke to her boss, then came back to Nick."All right.You can go, but I want you here in anhour.""Yes, ma'am.I'll be there." "I love you, baby."Nick felt his face turn bright red as he turned away from Caleb."I love you too," he said in a lowtone
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