After a much-needed rest, something Victor had refused to believe he needed until he'd actually fallen asleep, he made his way toward the front gates the following morning.
The school was already noticeably livelier than it had been the day before. Students gathered around the entrance in small groups, some talking among themselves while others waited near the large gates with bags slung over their shoulders.
Victor idly counted them out of habit.
Forty.
Forty-one.
Forty-two.
He kept going, nearly reaching fifty before a hand suddenly landed on his shoulder.
Victor's eyes shifted sideways.
Of course.
He'd already noticed Caleb walking toward him and had dearly hoped the guy would simply keep going.
Unfortunately, that wasn't happening.
"Hey, man. You alright?" Caleb asked, a hint of concern on his face. "About what I said yesterday, I didn't..."
"The fuck are you going on about?" Victor interrupted, reaching up and pushing his hand off his shoulder.
