Clare slammed her locker shut with a huff. She saw KC messing around with Dave nearby. He looked slightly unenthusiastic. Clare stomped over to him.
"KC!" she demanded. KC turned around. Dave stopped and turned too.
"Nah, man, go on," said KC.
"'Kay. See you later," said Dave, patting KC once on the shoulder.
"So. What's up?" asked KC.
"What's up? What's up?" Clare said loudly, not exactly shouting.
"Shh, Clare." KC looked around at the students that were glancing over in their direction.
"Jake came home with Jenna last night. Did you know that?"
"No," KC said. "Why should I?"
"I don't know," said Clare. "Maybe you had a kid with her?"
"Clare," said KC, "I don't really want to talk about this."
"Well, we're going to talk about it!" Clare was even angrier now.
KC grabbed Clare's wrist and dragged her into the empty music room.
"Look, Clare," said KC, and Clare was surprised to see his eyes watering. "I just gave my son up for adoption because Jenna and I couldn't stand each other enough to take care of him properly." He was speaking quietly and quickly. "I love him so much, but this is what's best for him. I don't want to talk right now."
His final sentence left no more room for arguing, but KC continued staring into Clare's eyes, tears wobbling in his eyes but not falling.
"But…you can visit him." Clare's excuse sounded lame. She really wanted to just reach out and stroke his chest.
"It's a closed adoption," said KC, finally breaking eye contact and exiting the room. Clare swallowed.