Mateo nodded his head toward the crowd and started walking. Josiah stepped up to his side and asked, “So the shorts... Are you going to do it?”

“Will it make you stop being mopey if I do?”

Josiah laughed. “I’m not moping, but yeah. I’ll be happy if you do.”

So they did. Each of them picked out three new pairs of shorts. Josiah even picked one of Mateo’s out for him. Once they bought everything they still had an hour before Molly would pick them up.

“We can call her to come early?” Josiah asked but Mateo just shook his head.

“Follow me.” Mateo led the way out of the mall. They took the far exit. Once outside, he went to the left, toward the back of the building.

“Where are we going?”

“I saw an alley back here when she brought us.”

Josiah looked around, wondering how Mateo could have seen it. There was a small walkway close to the building that led to the deserted alley, empty street, or whatever it was. He didn’t think cars really came back here seeing as it was blocked off by bushes.

“How’d you see this?” Josiah asked. There was a little hill running the length of the alley. Mateo plopped down on it, out of the view of the parking lot.

“Pay attention to your surroundings, Jay. Always. My dad taught me that shit. Always fucking pay attention. You should know where you’re gonna run if you have to.”

Josiah’s heart dropped at that. Mateo didn’t talk very often about his past but when he did, it was never something good.

“Don’t look at me like that. Don’t feel sorry for me. Just come sit by me.”

That he could do. Josiah walked over and sat beside him on the hill. As soon as he did, Mateo cupped his cheek and said, “Haven’t got to kiss you all day. Can I?”

Josiah’s body temperature went up. “You don’t have to ask.”

Anticipation pulsed through him. Mateo leaned closer. Right before his lips pressed against Josiah’s, Mateo jerked back. It wasn’t until then that Josiah heard the noise behind them. Mateo was already scrambling to his feet.

“I saw you faggots in the mall. What the fuck makes you think it’s okay to touch each other like that? Like we want to see that shit.” One of the three guys stepped toward them. He had red hair and was even taller than Mateo.

Josiah’s hearing went foggy, his pulse slamming in his ears. “We didn’t do anything.”

“You jealous, pretty boy? Mad I’d rather fuck him than any of you?”

Josiah stumbled backward at the harshness in Mateo’s voice. He’d never heard him talk like that, not even with the near fight at school.

“Fuck you,” the bald guy said.

“Aww, don’t worry. There’s enough of me to go around. Leave the kid out of it and step the fuck up if you think you can take me.” But it was Mateo who moved toward them as he spoke.

Josiah’s heart slammed against his chest, trying to break free. “Mateo, come on. Let’s just go. We don’t want any trouble.”

“You think you can take us? What do you guys call each other? Vato, or something like that?” This from Red.

“Try me, vato. I didn’t think pretty boys like you could fight. If that’s really what you came back here for.”

“Mateo.” Josiah headed toward him. As he did, Mateo glanced over his shoulder.

“Stay back.” Before he could face forward again, the red head slammed into him. Mateo hit the ground. As soon as he did, he was able to punch the guy who’d tackled him in the face. “That all you got? See, I knew I wouldn’t even need my boy’s help to take you guys.”

“Queer motherfucker!” The guy tried to grab Mateo but he made it to his feet.

“If I’m such a queer, then show me what’s up. Beat my ass. Bet the three of you can’t fucking take me.” His fists were balled tight.

“You’re a stupid bastard.” All three of the guys went at Mateo. Josiah ran to him, when the guy added, “Grab the kid.”

“You fucking hurt him and you die, you hear me? And it won’t just be me doing it. You’ll have the streets on your ass before you know what hits you.”

“Mateo, don’t.” But before Josiah could reach him, the shortest guy, but the biggest around, grabbed him. He fought, kicked, pulled trying to get out of the guy’s grasp, but he outweighed Josiah by probably sixty pounds.

Mateo’s fist flew through the air. It slammed into one of the guys but the other kicked him in the stomach. Mateo almost lost his balance but it didn’t matter. He caught himself and punched the dark-haired guy. Blood gushed from his nose. It didn’t stop Mateo. He hit him again, then elbowed Red in the face.