"I can't speak for how he's doin' outside of class," Reno noted, frowning thoughtfully. "But when he is in my class, he's tough. Takes shit that makes other students cry with a grain of salt, does what needs to be done. He gets what's goin' on in a way most kids his age don't. In a way they shouldn't have to, yo."

Reno shrugged his shoulders.

"I think he's gonna be fine. He's too friggin' stubborn not to be."