Page 36 of As You Walk On

“Seriously? This is my life right now?”

8

HI, MY NAME IS...

I can’t believethis.

Shaggy haircut. Crooked, full-rimmed glasses. Five colorful, woven bracelets running up a thin forearm. It’s the student I collided with in the quad yesterday. The reason I failed to ask Christian to prom and was at the top of the #BOHSFail pile for hours after lunch.

After my heartbeat slows to a reasonable level, I say, “Why were you hiding under the bed? And who are y—”

“Sick shirt!” Luca proclaims.

I pause to inspect it.

At first glance, it’s only an oversize, black graphic tee. But I guess it’s the artwork that has Luca bouncing on his toes. Katsuki Bakugo, one of the more popular characters from the animeBuko no Hero Academia. I’m behind on the last two seasons, but Bakugo’s literally explosive personality always makes me laugh.He’s drawn with his trademark scowl, wearing the classic blazer-and-tie UA uniform rather than his hero costume.

Above his spiky blond hair is one of those adhesive name badges. I quirk an eyebrow at the Sharpie scribbled on it.

HELLO

MY NAME IS

RIVER (THEY/THEM/THEIRS)

“River?” I ask, studying them as they push their glasses up a thin nose. Oval face, warm ivory skin. Their lengthy bangs cut right into their eyes. “Nice name tag.”

Up close, I realize I recognize River from somewhere else. I’ve seen them shuffling down the halls of Brook-Oak with a Black boy.Devaughn. Well, Iusedto see them together.

He died last year.

River smiles nervously. “Oh! Hold on,” they say with this smoky voice. “Be right back!”

And just like that, they’re scurrying back under the bed like an anxious mouse.

Whoisthis person?

When River reemerges, they’re clutching a drawstring cinch bags. It’s red like the borders of their name badge with anime stickers all over. They fish around in it, tongue peeking out the corner of their mouth, before yanking out a stack of blank adhesivename badges. Every shade of the rainbow is represented.

“Here!” River holds up two Sharpies. “Um, if you want to...?”

I hesitate.

“Hell yes!” Luca whoops, plucking a green badge from the stack. “Thank you!”

He scribbles his name and pronouns in a funky cursive script, smacking the sticker over one of theOs inFoodon his chest.

After taking my own blank name badge and Sharpie, I ask, “Is Bakugo your fav?”

River shakes their head. “Todoroki. But I got a stain on that shirt before coming here.”

“Join the club,” sighs Luca, fanning a hand at his still-darkened pants.

“Do you have a favorite?” River asks, trading glances between Luca and me.

Without hesitation, Luca lists his top five characters. Then his favorite episodes, which turns into a rant about why the manga’s emotional journey is superior to the anime. I like watching this side of him. Nothing like the defeated boy knocked on his ass in the middle of a hallway. Or the boy trying too hard on the dance floor. He’s natural, relaxed. I wouldn’t mind listening to him more.

The entire time, River flails like one of those trailer-reaction-video analysts geeked up on too many energy drinks.

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