The Bullet List (The Saving Bailey Trilogy, #1) by Nikki Roman

wish you would participate in our plays,” Mrs. Herrera says.
    “I don’t like acting,” I say, breathing heavily.
    “Neither do I,” Clad says, less sympathetically.
    “Well, just the same, you guys have a wonderful gift for entertaining,” she says, not at all upset by our refusal.
    We return to our seats with Ashten and Holden.
    “You guys are great,” Holden says. “Too bad Trenton doesn’t like you or I would let you come to the bonfire tonight.”
    “I’m busy tonight,” Clad says with a wink at me. I’m baffled as to why he winks. “Why doesn’t he like me?” he asks.
    “He calls you Iron Boy, but after what I just saw, I think he should change it to Elastic Boy.”
    “Iron Boy, real funny. He’s a jokester,” Clad says coldly.
    “Honestly, I think he doesn’t like you because he thinks that you and Bailey are a thing,” Holden says, coming clean.
    “We are,” Clad says. “A friend thing. What, is Trenton stuck in his preschool days, doesn’t know how to share friends?”
    Holden gnashes his teeth. “He’s my homeboy, so don’t say nothin’ ‘bout him, got it?”
    Clad puts his hands up. “Whoa, whoa, no need to get feisty with me. I’m just tellin’ you like it is.”
    “Shut up Holden, Clad has no reason to be scared of you, you’re all talk,” I say, defending Clad, because I owe him at least that.
    “You better watch your mouth little girl, because I could crush you with one hand,” Holden advises me.
    I’m livid, and Clad is reeling from the threat.
    “You wouldn’t touch a hair on my head, because you are Trenton’s little bitch, and he would smear you,” I say without fear.
    Holden looks ready to smack me, but I don’t worry. He would never even attempt to do so in front of Clad.
    “Don’t even think about it,” Clad says, lightly punching Holden’s arm.
    “Can you guys cool it? I’m trying to fucking sleep down here, and I can’t with your stupid bickering,” Ashten says, stirring from her slumber. “Holden, don’t smack Bailey, she’s a girl, and that would just make you a wimp. And Clad, don’t be a dick about Trenton, because he might just kick your ass. I’m going back to sleep, good night!” she glowers.
    Ashten’s rant settles things right before the final bell.
    “Forget about it,” Holden says.
    “Already forgotten,” Clad says, and they bump fists.
    “I’ll text you later,” Clad says and gives me a parting hug.
    Strange, he almost never texts me, and I can’t think of a reason why he would choose to now.
    The grey skies and rainy clouds have cleared, leaving the air smelling fresh and the skies blue and bright. I am walking home, thinking of what Mom will do when she finds out I failed my math test. I look up at the sky and say out loud, though there is no one to hear, “Please don’t leave me, light!”
    I don’t know how I would handle a week in darkness. It is worse torture than anything Miemah could think up. Mom can be so cruel sometimes. Or maybe she doesn’t understand the way it will affect me.
    I would rather be burned alive than to have to go one night without my lamp shining while I sleep . If she does choose to punish me in that way, I will have seven very sleepless nights.
    There is a strange car parked beneath our apartment, a silver junker. The passenger side door is held on by duct tape, and plastic covers the place where a back windshield used to be. I ascend the stairs and trot up to our door. It is unlocked and I push it open. Cigarette smoke comes billowing out; Mom is sitting on the couch, with a guy. They are both smoking from two packs of Marlboros set on the coffee table. Mom has been putting her cigarette butts in a plastic cup I gave her for Mother’s Day. NUMBER ONE MOM is printed on the side, decorated by pink flowers.
    “Who is this?” I ask.
    “Don’t be rude,” Mom says.
    “His name is Saint,” she says, and I laugh because I think she is joking.
    “He doesn’t look like a saint,” I