Billy didn't explain, and that was just fine, and Neil realizes after a moment that it's because he hadn't explained. Hadn't explained the wandering or the dead-fish stare when Billy picked him up, hadn't explained what he needed or why this was so critical that he needed people right now. Billy just knew. He was like that.

Neil feels a little bit like he might cry, but he manages not to.

"I finally got my summer school assignment," he reports. It's different than when he took summer classes at Welton, keeping on top of his studies and graciously avoiding being at home for as much of the break as he could. It feels so different. "It's just English and History."