I stare up at Vick's massive house. It's a four-story brick mansion with marble pillars, a circular drive, and a stone fountain. If his parents are this loaded, why's he delivering pizzas after school? I engage the bike's kickstand and climb off.

After my surfing lesson, I went home to shower and change, and now I'm here to hang out with Vick. Dad's working late again - another rush job - so he told me to have fun. I hang my helmet on the handlebar, walk onto the porch, and ...