Crash! Tom winced. His parents were louder than usual tonight. Tom didn't want to get in the middle of it on good days, much less today. He'd failed an English assignment, his locker got graffitied, and football had been cancelled. Tom couldn't deal with this, but if he tried to leave or even go get food, his parents would see him and bring him into their argument.
Thump! Tom picked up his phone and called Alex.
Fifteen minutes later, Tom heard a knock on his third-story window. He turned, smiling. Alex had scaled the walls to sneak in. With snacks.