CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
THE RESOLVE
THEO’S POV
Brian pauses the game, the sound of gunfire and moaning zombies cutting off abruptly. Mateo, who’d been halfway to popping a pill into his mouth, freezes and lowers his hand slowly. He’d missed school today, something about a debilitating headache but I know better. Mateo’s mother treats him like glass. If he so much as sneezes, she’s already fluffing pillows and calling the family doctor.
“I’m sorry, you what?” Mateo breaks the silence, his voice thick with disbelief.
“It’s not a big deal,” I reply, shrugging like this isn’t about to cause a nuclear fallout. “Mrs. Calloway already paired us in the student tutoring program. It was going to happen anyway.”
“Is this because of Derek?” Brian asks, narrowing his eyes like he’s trying to read bet
