"I'll write you a note" Mack began. Deke sat in a chair in front of Mack's desk. The teacher hardly used it. He wasn't meant to ride a desk; he wanted to be where the action was. "so you won't get in trouble with your next class teacher"
"Great" Deke scoffed. He didn't want to be late, and especially not for his next class. Auto body shop hadn't gone so well. Besides having his poems read aloud, Deke had flubbed through the lesson, getting wires literally and figuratively crossed, dropping tools by mistake, and angering classmates with his arcane factual knowledge.
"This is important" Mack sat on the edge of the desk, "You've got to pay attention in class. Now, if this girl's so special, maybe -"
"Who said she's special?" Deke looked stunned that Mack knew things about Deke.
"Come on, you practically told the whole class you're in love with her"
"No, no I didn't" Deke played it off with a grin, "That'd be silly"
"Ok then" Mack nodded, "so you're silly. But you've got to try harder. Maybe auto body isn't your speed, and sure, a lot of the guys here are seniors"
"And I'm not" Deke sighed
"You're a good kid" Mack smiled, "and I know your folks are really concerned about you"
"Maybe Nana" Deke gave a dry laugh, "but not Bobo"
"Sure, even – uh- Bobo" Mack agreed, "They might not tell you this, but I know that they care about what happens to you" he scribbled on a paper, "Now then, give this to your next teacher and – oh, go see Ms. Rodriguez after school at the gym. I want you to think about the track team. There's more underclassmen and you should fit right in?"
"Because I run away from my own shadow?" Deke was sarcastic, mimicking Fitz's words from dinner the night before.
"No" Mack shook his head, "Because you're small and fast and you know a lot more than some of these lunkheads" he grinned, "Now hurry up so you're not late for your next class" he handed over the hall pass to Deke
"Right" Deke agreed, "Computer class"