Rainbow Boys by Alex Sanchez Read Free Book Online

jibe with the back of the book.
    Kyle suggested they skip over it, but for nearly an hour his dad worked and reworked. Finally he tossed his pencil down. “I’ve gotten the same answer three times. The book must be wrong.”
    “Dad, the book can’t be wrong.”
    “Of course it can. The book’s wrong.”
    Kyle sighed to himself. Come out to his dad? Not tonight. Not ever.
    Thursday morning Kyle’s mom suggested he take the car. “You can drive straight to your orthodontist’s appointment after school.” She didn’t need to persuade him.
    A fter the final bell, he bolted to the car and started down Washington Boulevard. A t the third intersection, he spotted a familiar red backpack. His heart began to pound. He adjusted his glasses and slowed down for a better look. Sure enough, it was Jason.
    The rational thing would have been to keep driving. He didn’t want to be late for his appointment. But this was a chance he might not get again. He tapped the horn, leaned across the passenger’s seat, and rolled down the window. “Hi!” Jason hesitated, then strode over to the car. “Wha’s up? I didn’t know who you were.”
    “It’s me,” Kyle said. Ugh. Dumb. Try again. “Want a ride?”
    Jason stared at him, raising his hands as if to apologize, then dropping them again. “I live pretty far.” Kyle said, “I know.” He had looked up Jason’s address in the student directory and walked, biked, and driven by the white ranch-style house at least a million times over the past three years. He knew exactly where it was.
    Jason’s brow furrowed. “You do?”
    Uh-oh. Way to go, Kyle. Get yourself out of this one. “Sure.” He pointed in the general direction in which Jason was headed. “That way.”
    Jason laughed and his curls bounced. “Okay.” He peeled off his backpack and climbed into the car, folding his frame into the front seat.
    Kyle’s heart throbbed against his chest. Jason Carrillo was sitting in his car, right there in the seat beside him! A faint musky essence wafted up Kyle’s nose and into his memory.
    “Do you live this way?” Jason asked.
    “No, the other way.” Kyle pointed over his shoulder.
    “Oh.” Jason gave him a confused look. “Where you going?”
    Kyle looked ahead of him and had to think for a moment. “Uh, I have an orthodontist’s appointment. I’m getting my braces removed.”
    “Oh,” Jason said.
    Kyle drove in silence, trying to come up with a topic of conversation. “It’s turned out to be a nice day,” he said, motioning out the window.
    Jason looked up at the sky and gave a polite smile. “Yeah, sure has.”
    They passed by the county hospital. Now, that was a handy topic. “I was born there,” Kyle said.
    “Really?” Jason said. “Me too.”
    Kyle imagined Jason sleeping in the crib next to him. “When’s your birthday?”
    “January thirteenth,” Jason said. “First day of bad luck in the year.”
    “Oh,” Kyle said, disappointed. “May fifth.”
    “It sucks being born in January,” Jason said. “So close to Christmas, I don’t get half as many presents as my sister. She was born in July. Course, she would probably get more presents no matter when she was born.”
    “Is she older or younger?”
    “Younger. Six. She’s a pain in the butt. A lways getting into my stuff. But she’s all right.” Kyle smiled and tried to think of what else to talk about. “So … where you going next year?” Jason shrugged. “I don’t care. A nywhere, to get out of the house. Maybe Tech. Coach says I should be able to get a scholarship if I keep my grades up. My math sucks.”
    Kyle felt his synapses popping. “Really? Math’s my favorite subject.” His breath came fast. “I could probably help you.” He tightened his grip on the steering wheel, trying to calm down. “If you wanted.”
    Jason gave a noncommittal nod. “Sure.”
    That didn’t offer Kyle much encouragement. They continued for a few blocks. Kyle sneaked a glance at Jason and