Fake It Till You Ace It

in lurched viole

way car was thick. It smelled like stale sweat, old urine, and the metallic dust of grinding brakes.

down at

white leather glowed under the flickering fluorescent lights. They were

not bel

lifted his right foot and brought the sole down hard on the toe box of his left shoe. He twisted his heel,

ened. He could

zz made his muscles twitch. He pulled it out of his

tton and pressed th

asted through the speaker. It was a deep, ra

asked. His voice was flat, but his grip on the

. "I just moved two boxes of winter coats from the b

a deafening screech that vibrated up through the soles of Iverson's ruined shoes.

the shoulder of a white c

rushed off his suit jacket like Iverson had infected

owly turne

man. Iverson's gaze was dead. It was the kind of cold, hollow stare born in the d

his face. He swallowed hard, broke eye contact, and pr

gh the phone. "Are you getting into

vy glare. He let out a soft, lazy breath. "

hrough the static. It was the wail of a police siren, fo

jaw locked. "What's goi

d is just getting worse. Rocco and his boys have been circling the bl

turned to ice water. His fingers dug into the plastic of th

"Just lock the front door, okay?

cracking with fatigue. "The landlord just raised the rent again

. "I have my allowance. I can cover the d

"I told you, Iverson. I am not taking a sing

d and yanked at the collar of his hoodie. The fabric felt like it was choking him. He was tor

train's intercom crackled to life.

ed for a full three seconds as the t

," Iverson said t

Brenda laughed softl

atures. He shoved the phone back into his pocket. The lazy

pulled into the station. The platform outside was c

hit him in the face. It smelled li

urnstiles. They turned their heads, their eyes scanning

r the top half of his face. He shoved both hands deep into his pockets. He stepped off