Restart: Chapters 22–30

I let that jerk, that Alpha Rat, dupe me into believing he was different, that he was a nice guy.

All around me, the gridiron resounds with crunching tackles, oofs, and grunts of pain, but I’m immune to that.

Every time I’ve got a full cup, someone manages to jostle my elbow until the contents spill down my leg and into my cleats.

I decide to film his journey, inch by inch up the side, defying gravity. I’ll call it Slugfest, or maybe something lofty and inspirational, like The Ascent.

I stole Mr. Solway’s Medal of Honor from his room at Portland Street — one sleazy act of many, courtesy of Chase, Aaron, and Bear. I have no idea what I planned to do with it. Sell it, probably, and split the money with my two accomplices.

“I don’t think so, dear,” she tells me. “It was hanging in the upstairs solarium.”

Every change in the bruise topography of my face launches her into a new revenge fantasy about what she would do to Chase “if I were in charge of the world.”

“Only because the wood chipper hadn’t been invented yet,” she tells me sullenly.

In answer, Chase pulls the filter bag off the Hoover and dumps the contents onto the floor. He digs through the mound of fuzz and dirt and comes up with a star-spangled ribbon, gray with dust. Dangling off the end of it is the highest and most renowned military decoration any American soldier can earn.

I hear my mom drawing a tremulous breath as we enter the courtroom.

As Dr. Cooperman steps down, the bailiff reads the name of the next character witness.

Judge Garfinkle clears his throat. “Young lady, the purpose of a character witness is to vouch for character, not to point out faults.”

“No, I’m not going to take a seat,” Mr. Solway replies belligerently. “All this ruckus over a stupid medal! Well, here it is with its rightful owner. Case closed. Now, let’s all go home. It’s taco night at Portland Street.”

I slap myself in the face to dispel the memory before I spot Aaron or Bear and spoil it.

It has to be the most incredible transformation in the history of middle school.
No, not Chase Ambrose going from thug bully sociopath to human being — although surely that’s in the top ten.
I’m talking about the fact that Kimberly likes me now.