mug: A mug is a type of cup typically used for drinking hot drinks, such as coffee, hot chocolate, or tea.

retrieve: get or bring (something) back from somewhere.

shoo-in: a person or thing that is certain to succeed, especially someone who is certain to win a competition.

breakthrough: a sudden, dramatic, and important discovery or development.

pan out: to happen, end, or develop in a particular way.

forego: forego implies something comes before something else as well as doing without something; however, forgo only means “to do without.”, give up.

I will forego my normal fee in exchange for being referred to as Tech Consigliere of the Connor Project.”

treasurer: an officer entrusted with the receipt, care, and disbursement of funds.

in the setup phase

have someone on board: involved in a project or organization, or working for a company.

pitch it to: to hurl, toss, or throw something to someone.

kick things off: to begin an event or period of time, esp. with an activity.

vague: of uncertain, indefinite, or unclear character or meaning.

had a window in: to have a period of unbooked time in your diary or schedule.

swinger: a lively and fashionable person who goes to a lot of social events.

excuse oneself: to say politely that one has to leave.

slot: a narrow, elongated depression, groove, notch, slit, or aperture, especially a narrow opening for receiving or admitting something, as a coin or a letter.

retractable: able to be drawn back or back in.

anticipation: in preparation for something happening.

decipher: succeed in understanding, interpreting, or identifying (something).

consigliere: an adviser to an important or high-ranking person.

initiative: a new plan or action to improve something or solve a problem.

eerily: in a strange and frightening manner.

mitzvah: a good deed.

recede: (of a quality, feeling, or possibility) gradually diminish.

paralyze: cause (a person or part of the body) to become partly or wholly incapable of movement.

churn: (of a broker) encourage frequent turnover of (investments) in order to generate commission.

scrunch up: squeeze it or bend it so that it is no longer in its natural shape and is often crushed.

dry off: stop talking; also, cause to stop talking.

flattered: choose to believe something favourable about oneself, typically when this belief is unfounded.

Shake the feeling: to get rid of something, or escape from something.

fuck with me: talk with me or get with me.

fumbling: doing or handling something clumsily.

frail: (of a person) weak and delicate. Voice so frail.

faculty: a group of university departments concerned with a major division of knowledge.

gauge: estimate or determine the amount, level, or volume of. I turn to gauge the crowd.

pounce: (of an animal or bird of prey) spring or swoop suddenly so as to catch prey.

gaze: a steady intent look. Bringing my gaze in, I notice, running down my chest: the tie.

wobble: move unsteadily in a particular direction.

convulse: to shake or agitate violently.

Adrenaline (epinephrine) is a hormone your adrenal glands make to help you prepare for stressful or dangerous situations.

carry off: to perform or manage successfully.

“I fell,” I say, my voice carrying off into the distance.

gut: digestive tract.

This has to be a joke. I’m being messed with. But my gut says otherwise. I mean, the story he told wasn’t real.

my gut says: my instincts tell me.

register: make an impression on a person’s mind.

The words didn’t register.

travesty: represent in a false, absurd, or distorted way.

shoelaces

take off running: to suddenly start running.

brim: fill something so completely that it almost overflows.

tribute: an act, statement, or gift that is intended to show gratitude, respect, or admiration.

gargle: wash one’s mouth and throat with a liquid that is kept in motion by breathing through it with a gurgling sound.

log out: go through the procedures to conclude use of a computer, database, or system.

clam up: abruptly stop talking.

stump: the bottom part of a tree left projecting from the ground after most of the trunk has fallen or been cut down.

dilapidated: (of a building or object) in a state of disrepair or ruin as a result of age or neglect.

perk up: to become more lively or cheerful or to make (someone) more lively or cheerful.

tee up: to prepare; to make ready.

capitalizing on: to get an advantage from (something, such as an event or situation).

tangible: capable of being perceived especially by the sense of touch.

endeavor: try hard to do or achieve something.

bountiful: large in quantity; abundant.

rendering: an artistic depiction of something.

rehearse: practise (a play, piece of music, or other work) for later public performance.

sign off: to announce the end of something (such as a message or broadcast).

obediently: in a manner that shows willingness to comply with an order or request; submissively.

wiggle: move or cause to move up and down or from side to side with small rapid movements.

sink in: to become completely known, felt, or understood.

brace: prepare (oneself) for something difficult or unpleasant.

restock: to provide (something) with a stock or supply again. restrock map

reprieve: cancel or postpone the punishment of (someone, especially someone condemned to death).

topple over: to fall over.

glean: obtain (information) from various sources, often with difficulty.

switch on: If you describe someone as switched-on, you mean that they are aware of the latest developments in a particular area or activity.

got the chills: a feeling of being cold without an apparent cause.

trump: surpass (something) by saying or doing something better.

boulevard: A boulevard is a type of broad avenue planted with rows of trees, or in parts of North America, any urban highway. Boulevards were originally circumferential roads following the line of former city walls.

be consumed with: to have so much of a feeling that it affects everything you do.

chicken out: o shy away from a daring task; to decline, refuse, or avoid something due to fear or uncertainty.
stay aloft: in the air or in a higher position.

drag down: to force (someone) into a bad situation or condition.

eighteen-wheeler: an articulated truck having eighteen wheels.

fell swoop: one action or event that achieves or accomplishes many results.

banish: get rid of (something unwanted).

squat down: to sit in a low or crouching position with the legs drawn up closely beneath or in front of the body.

screw around: fool about.

scoff: mock; speak to someone or about something in a scornfully derisive or mocking way.

offset: a consideration or amount that diminishes or balances the effect of an opposite one.

freak out: suddenly feel extremely surprised, upset, angry, or confused.

eclectic: composed of elements drawn from various sources.

A goalie is the same as a goalkeeper.

varsity: the principal squad representing a university, college, school, or club especially in a sport.

savagely: in a fierce, violent, and uncontrolled manner.

Opaqueness is the characteristic of being either difficult to see through or hard to understand. 

taking one’s time: to go at one’s own preferred pace.

creep out: to cause (someone) to have an uncomfortable feeling of nervousness or fear.

teeter: be unable to decide between different courses; waver.

straighten it out: to solve a problem or to deal successfully with a confusing situation.

rag on someone: to continually laugh at someone or say unkind things about them, either because you are joking or because you want to upset that person.

crank out: produce them quickly, in the same way, and are usually implying that the things are not original or are of poor quality.

get stale: if you get stale, you have no new ideas, interest, or energy, because you have been doing the same thing for too long.

fabricate: fake; invent (something) in order to deceive.

call it a day: decide or agree to stop doing something.

obstacle: something that blocks your way so that movement or progress is prevented or made more difficult.

look over at: to inspect or examine especially in a cursory way.

dope: very good. I got a dope new camera for my birthday.

jab: to push at something hard and quickly with a finger or a thin, pointed object.

spiral: a situation defined by a series of negative thoughts, feelings, or actions that feed into themselves repeatedly causing the situation to become progressively worse.

whip: move fast or suddenly in a specified direction.

And then, in this spiraling state, I feel a sudden chill—the sensation of being followed. I whip my head around and check behind me. But all I find is the empty night.

cryptocurrency

alkaline food

swagger: a very confident and arrogant or self-important gait or manner.

downplay: make (something) appear less important than it really is.

kick out: expel or dismiss someone.

expulsion: the action of forcing someone to leave an organization.

weathered: changed in color or form over a period of time because of the effects of sun, wind, or other weather conditions. weathered skin

Survival. But inside I was shaking. I missed home. (For once, I had something at home to miss.)

After rehab, we saw each other less. Different schools. He had a full schedule with work and Amnesty International. Also, his mom didn’t want him hanging out with me. (I never met his dad and doubt that he ever knew I existed.) But we still texted a lot. I’d complain to him about public school, how I was being treated. People hear you went to rehab and they act like you’re poison. You start to believe it, too. Fuck ’em, Miguel would say. Simple and resolute. Fuck ’em. It helped.

Whenever I stopped to think about my life, the turn it took, the anger would consume me. (I wonder now: What would’ve happened if I’d stayed at Hanover? Maybe life could’ve gone a different way.)

And then: one day, this past spring. Miguel came over. He made a big deal of it, too. I feel like maybe I’m the first Mexican in your house who wasn’t getting paid to be here. I said no. What I didn’t tell him: he was the first anyone in my house. The first person I’d ever invited over. (I’d hooked up with people by then. But it’s not like I was bringing anyone home to meet the parents.)

The house was empty. We hung in my bedroom. He made fun of one of my books. The Little Prince? Really? That actually explains a lot. He said I was a boy in man’s clothing. (He introduced me to a ton of books and authors. I never returned his copy of The Mysteries of Pittsburgh.)

There was a new energy between us. (We were older now. More experienced. Thoughts had become actions.)

We got high and lay on the floor. Your hair’s getting long, he said. I wanted to find scissors immediately. But then he said, I like it.

He played me this one song. When it was over, I asked him to play it again. One line stood out: “Don’t hold back. I want to break free.” (I listened to that song every day for months. Until it became too painful to hear.)

Lying there, I noticed a birthmark on his neck. I had never noticed it before. I reached out and touched my finger to it. We locked eyes.

That birthmark: a magic button. Once pushed, the whole world suddenly lit up.