That Was Then This Is Now by S.E. Hinton (Paperback)

From the time they were children, Mark and Bryon had been as close as brothers. Now, at sixteen, they were still inseparable, but things were changing. Bryon was spending more time with girls, while Mark was still just seeing how much he could get away with—like the set-up pool games in Charlie’s Bar. Nothing serious could happen to them—they were just kids after all. Then Charlie got shot—dead—trying to protect them from an ugly little set-to behind the bar.

Mark called it fate, but it bothered Bryon. Why, as soon as anyone did anything because he cared for them, did it lead to trouble? Still close to Mark, and falling in love with Cathy, Bryon didn’t want any more trouble in his life. Then tragedy struck, and Bryon knew who was responsible. He had to make a terrible decision—a decision that would change his life and Mark’s forever.