Tutoring my Rival Boy novel · Chapter 4 of 24

Chapter 4: The Dish Line

Bradford Endicott had a voice that carried across the whole dining hall.

"Look, it's the scholar tray," he said.

Chris stopped with his plate halfway to the table.

It was Thursday lunch, and the room was full.

Bradford sat at the lacrosse table, a thick-necked boy in a letter jacket with a sunburned nose, and he was grinning at his friends.

"Free lunch and free dinner, and the school's still short on his board," Bradford said.

"Heard the bursar sent him a letter."

A few of the boys laughed.

Chris's face went hot.

He kept walking, because stopping would be a kind of answer.

"Hey, Chesbro," Bradford called.

"Is it true you're tutoring Lee? Is that charity for him or for you?"

More laughter.

Chris turned the plate in his hand, deciding.

Someone stepped in next to him, shoulder to shoulder, and a bright red head came into view.

Finley McGrath, from the dish line, still wearing his apron.

"Bradford," Finley said pleasantly.

"The last time you were that funny, you cried when your mom took your phone."

The whole hall made one low sound.

Bradford's smile fell.

"Stay in your lane, dish boy."

"I'm in it," Finley said.

"It's wet, and I'm going to splash you."

"Sit down, Bradford."

It was Leander.

He hadn't raised his voice.

He sat at the end of the lacrosse table with a fork in one hand.

He did not look up.

"Lee, come on, I'm only joking."

"It wasn't funny. Sit down."

Bradford sat.

The hall waited, then slowly went back to its noise.

Chris stared at Leander in disbelief.

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