They Both Die at the End

I may not be able to cure cancer or end world hunger, but small kindnesses go a long way.

Aimee begs me not to hang up and I hang the hell up anyway. I can’t believe my boys are in jail for my stupidity and I can’t believe she didn’t tell me sooner. I turn around to tell Mateo everything but he’s gone.

Twelve hours ago I received the phone call telling me I’m going to die today, and I’m more alive now than I was then.

Sean in 4A was planning on stopping by on Saturday to fix the stove’s burner, but it’s not necessary anymore. Dad will know how to fix it and might need a distraction when I’m gone.

Make a moment / World Travel Arena / CountDowners / The Last Friend app

I’m such a paranoid mess. The few times I was invited to do something fun with classmates, like roller-skating in the park or going for a drive late at night

His nose was bleeding and walking home in his socks was painful, all resolved by this boy in glasses who gave Kendrick a packet of tissues he’d had in his backpack and the sneakers off his feet in exchange for nothing.

I know there’s a good Rufus in me, the Rufus I used to be, and maybe a Last Friend can drag him out of me. Apps really aren’t my thing, but neither is beating in people’s faces, so I’m already out of my element today.

“Two dudes met. They fell in love. They lived. That’s our story.”

I’ll bet you anything Mateo has no idea how to make a fist and couldn’t imagine himself getting violent, not even when he was a kid and dumb shit was forgiven and written off because he was young.

“Take mine,” I say. I can do this. I walk to my bike, which carried me through a brutal race and everywhere else I wanted to go, and wheel it toward this guy.

…who knows where I would be without Rufus to speak up for me.I actually know where I’d be:outside this hospital,probably crying and holed up somewhere hoping I make it to nine.Hell,I’d probably still be at home playing video games...

“You’ve got the wrong person,” I tell Andrea. My heart settles down, even though I feel for this Timothy person. I truly do. “My name is Mateo.”

this energy elevates me. I guess I could call this energy freedom. No one will be around to judge me tomorrow. No one will send messages to friends about the lame kid who had no rhythm.

Rufus sees the bird too.“That sucks.”“We need to get it out of the street.”I look around for something to scoop it up with;I know I shouldn’t touch it with my bare hands.“Say what?”“I don’t have this dead-is-dead-so-just-walk-away attitude

Foster Home / Althea Park

I honestly think you’ll feel better about everything if you get back in the water. . . . Me coaching you through something is weird, right?

Mateo punches Peck in the face, which is straight unbelievable, and it doesn’t send Peck to the floor or nothing like that, but we got a chance now.