His eyes meet mine right as I stand, and in the same damn second, the screen door opens and Maybell walks out pretending she’s interested in conversation.
She not-so-casually steps right in my view with a smile. “How you doin’, Rae?”
I suppress a smile. If it was anyone else, I’d walk away, but Maybell’s proving to be all right. She’s real chill and doesn’t pry into shit, like the social worker did instantly.
“I’m good.”
She nods, taking a drink of her coffee as she looks out across the road. “Waiting ‘til the last second to head on out, I see. Any trouble at the school I should know about?” she asks, taking a moment to look my way. “Anybody bothering you?”
The curious tone used when she asks makes me think there’s a specific person – or three – in mind. But if she wants to know something, she’ll need to be bold enough to ask.
“Nope,” I answer, and she scoffs, but a small smile plays at her lips.
“You know...” She trails off. “I think you could fit in a place like this.”
“Not like I have a choice, but even if I did, I don’t care to fit.”
“I’m not talking about the group home, child.” She speaks low like she doesn’t want anyone else to hear. She finally looks my way again. “I’m talking about here, in this town.”
She doesn’t wait for a response but walks back inside. I have a feeling she knows I’d do the opposite of whatever it is she might have said next. Not that I had a response for her randomness.
And, gee look at that, right when she does, the guy I was waiting for is hopping into a busted ass car at the curb.
With a resigned sigh, I step off the porch and head for school, deciding to track the guy down there instead.
I spend the better part of lunch hour roaming the outskirts of the campus, trying to figure out where the outsiders – the students who make it a point to separate themselves from the democracy that overtakes the school – hide out.
I finally spot him, though, posted under the bleachers against a cement beam. He’s got dark circles under his eyes, a cut over his lip with a nice little lip ring through it, smoking a cigarette without a damn care.
“Hey.”
He lazily spares me a glance. “Don’t ask. I don’t got shit for you to bum. This is my last one.”
“No it’s not, but good thing for you, I’m not the bumming type, and I prefer the green.”
His bored stare comes back to mine.
“I’m looking for some trouble.”
He scoffs and shakes his head.
“Check it out.” I level him with a glower. “I know a solid punk when I see one. I don’t need anything from you but a number or an in. Whichever you got and I know you’ve got at least one.”
He looks me over.
Yeah, I’m skinny, but I’m not scrawny. I’ve got natural muscles made from natural things like pull-ups on broken metal fences and tire flipping in the junkyards.
What can I say, anything to keep from having to hear the moans coming from the room my mom and I once shared as I slept on the couch ten feet away in our single wide.
“Heard you caused trouble for the Brays.”
“No more than they caused me, if we’re being real.”
“They don’t like being challenged.”
“You sure?” I tease.
He crakes a small grin before it disappears. “All right, maybe they do.”
“I think they thrive on it.”
“Still. They can make surviving real hard for people like us if we push and you’re the focus lately.”
“How would you know? You spend your days hiding out here.”
“I don’t hide anywhere.” He glares. “And I have eyes and ears all around. The guys are pissed, girls are panicked. It’s bad for business.”
I shrug. “Yeah well, seems my being dropped here was real inconvenient to them and theirs. Not my problem and nothing I can do about it.”
He scoffs with a nod, taking a long drag before facing me as he blows it out.
“What’s your name?” I ask him.
“Bass.”
“Well, Bass.” No way that’s his real name, but I don’t care. “Will you hook me up or not?”
“Tell me, Raven Carver.” He pulls a fresh pack of smokes from his jacket and offers me one. “What kind of trouble you lookin’ for?”
I can’t help but grin.
I knew it.
They’re ballers.
I should have known they were. All the rough and rugged, swagged out guys are - at least the ones from my neighborhood.
My eyes trail over the big man, Maddoc, with those seriously badass eyes as he dribbles like a pro, then makes a quick crossover, cutting past his buddy with ease. He jumps, making the basket with ease.
“Oooo. That footwork, son,” Royce shouts with a laugh.
Maddoc throws the ball at Royce’s head and turns to the other one.
“Why you keep letting me cross you?”
Captain shakes his head. “That’s all you, man. I wish I could stop your ass.”
“Don’t bullshit me, Cap.”
“I’m not. Maybe if I could guard you, I wouldn’t have to trip on coach benchin’ me to start Clemmons when season begins. My focus is off lately and I don’t see it coming back anytime soon.”
“You got a lot of shit going on, man, but you’ll be good when season hits, like always. And he won’t,” Maddoc tells him.
Captain shakes his head unbelieving and Maddoc rushes him. Gripping the back of his neck, he pulls his forehead to his in a brotherly way. “He will not fucking bench you. You’re starting.”
My gaze flicks to Royce as he makes his way to them. He clamps a hand on Captain’s shoulder. “We got you, bro. We’re taking state this year.”
Captain nods.
And I’m a little taken back as I witness the silent promise made to one another that they’ll reach their goals, whatever they are, together.
It’s pretty fuckin’ rad.
Three boys choosing to play ball at this ghetto ass, run down park when I know they can play somewhere nicer if they wanted, like in the school gym or on the outside courts there. Parentless punks if the rumors they live alone are true, finding their own little tribe in each other. Something worth fighting for.
I bet it feels good.
Turning away, I slink back against the tree and pull out my last official joint, light it and put it between my lips. Dropping my head onto the old Sycamore, I get one good hit, and then it’s snatched from my hands and dropped before me.
“What the—”
“Don’t talk,” Maddoc’s growl cuts me off, his face a blank bill, giving me nothing. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”
My brows lift and I gesture to the joint under his foot, fucking ruined. “Smoking.” Obviously.
“This court is off-limits to you.”
A laugh bubbles out of me and his frown deepens, his buddies sauntering over to join our little party. “This is a public park.”
“Do you see anyone else out here?” His glare drops to the cut under my eye before snapping back to mine.
Now that I glance around, I don’t. Not a soul but the four of us.
“Look, I couldn’t care less about your little game. I can’t smoke at the Bray house, I can’t smoke at the school. Every fucking time I try to walk around the back of the property the staff lady flips out and says I can’t go back there. That or some scavenger tries to come with me. I don’t like people. I don’t like sharing, and I don’t want to be bothered, so go back to your game and I’ll reroll what’s still smokable. How’s that sound?”
Royce lets out a quick chuckle but covers it by clearing his throat and turning away when, big man here, cuts him a glare. Captain, however, frowns my way and of course, Maddoc isn’t impressed.
He bends until his pretty little face is level with mine. He moves his foot and looks to the joint then me.
I eye hi
m for a moment, then when it’s clear he’s about to snatch it up I make a grab for it, but he’s quicker and my hand hits nothing but dirt.
I push to my feet, shoving at his chest before stepping against him, and his features tighten. He stands stiff as a statue, peering down at the girl from the gutter much dirtier than him.
“You want in rotation, big man? Cool. But you’re not walking off with that.”
He closes his fist around it, those light eyes of his daring me to make a move.
And I would have already, if I thought there was one that would work on a guy like him. Big and bold, fearless by nature and loyal by choice. A man undeterred by a female’s body.
Rare as fuck.
Behind us, a car door slams and our attention is pulled.
“Fuck man, here we go,” Royce whispers and Maddoc’s muscles go stiff.
As the officer approaches, Maddoc’s jaw clenches tighter and tighter, his hand twitching slightly.
My joint.
Wait, he’s worried about being caught with it?
I quickly glance at all three boys, finding the same thunderous expressions etched across their faces, and my brows pull in. They’re not concerned, they’re maddened.
But why?
A low rumble leaves Maddoc and I refocus.
Sliding to the left, I tuck my body behind his large one. Not sure why, but I lightly tap the edge of his knuckle and his eyes flash to mine. There’s no time for him to decide, but still, he holds his fist tight.
“Open,” I hiss. A small pinch develops between his brows, but finally, his grip relaxes enough for me to grab the smashed up joint right as the officer steps up and we’re all forced to face him.
“Well, well. If it isn’t the last standing Brayshaws. Maddoc, Captain, Royce, staying out of trouble I hope?” he asks before his eyes slide to mine. “And a new little friend.” The man steps closer, the curiosity he doesn’t hide putting me on edge. “Don’t believe I’ve seen you around yet Miss...”
He shakes his head when I only stare.
He turns to Maddoc and Maddoc’s eyes cut to mine as he steps back. Spreading his arms out wide, his fists open so his fingers are pointing straight out. He licks his lips and drops his head back a bit in a lazy, carefree motion.
Clearly, this happens all the time. It’s bullshit but it tells me they must be on probation or something– searchable at any time. Guy’s technically just doing his job.
The officer laughs at my frown as he searches Maddoc. “Soon as I learn who you are, I might need to search you just the same.”
“She’s ours to worry about, Graven. Nothing for you to learn,” Royce grits and the officer chuckles, patting Maddoc in the back to let him know he’s done.
Maddoc shakes him off and shifts to stand beside Royce, which happens to leave me on the other side of him.
“Take care boys. Be seeing ya.” He eyes me a moment then turns for his car, gets in and drives away.
Captain lets out a low whistle while Maddoc’s flashes on me.
“You almost got me caught up!”
My head pulls back.
Is he for real?
“No ... you almost got you caught up. Had you not tried to steal my shit, I wouldn’t have had to get it back.”
“Maybe you should stay out of our damn way.”
“Maybe you should stop acting like I’m in your way!”
A deep growl fights its way up his throat but he swallows it, the corded muscles of his neck throbbing as he does.
The three turn back to the courts, picking up their belongings before heading back to Captain’s truck – seems they have three identical Denali’s. They slide in, but Royce pauses, glancing my way briefly before he too climbs inside.
And then it’s just me. Like always.
But that’s how I like it.
Being by myself means I don’t have to worry about other people, don’t have to stop and think about how what I do will affect anyone else. It makes things a helluva lot easier.
Those guys are lucky I wanted my stuff back or their lovely leader would have earned himself a shiny new set of bracelets.
Now they probably think I was trying to help them out, ‘fall in line’ as they say, but that’s not why I did it.
I did it for me.
I mean, why else would I?
“What do we do about the girl?” Cap questions and I grit my teeth, moving the icepack from one knee to the next.
“Her name’s Raven,” Royce tosses over his shoulder.
“I know her fucking name. And I don’t know yet,” I answer and Captain nods, falling beside me on the old sofa.
“There’s something about her. She’s not like the others.” Royce pulls up a chair, flipping it around to sit in front of us. “She’s—”
“Fine,” Captain cuts him, making him laugh.
“Damn fine and feisty and—”
“A problem.” I look between the two. “She’s a fucking problem.”
Royce glances off while Captain licks his lips. “What kind of problem, brother?”
“The kind you need to stay away from.” I glare.
They fight it real hard, then both start laughing like dicks.
I pop up, tossing my icepack at Royce who tosses it at Captain, then head for my room, done with this fucking day.
The assholes laugh harder.
But Royce is right and I think Captain knew what he was getting at before they started fucking with me.
Other than the obvious banging body, Raven’s got that ‘fuck you and your world’ attitude - something we’re not used to. It only adds to her appeal.
She’s sexy, likes to argue, and breaks the mold we’ve set.
But it’s more than that. There’s something about her that screams at something deep inside me, only I have no idea what. She’s almost a mystery, one I need to unravel ... with my teeth.
Like I said, she’s trouble.
Problem is, I like the taste of trouble.
“Get up, let’s go.”
I lift my eyes to the girl in front of me. I forget her damn name again but don’t bother asking. “And where is it you think I’ll be going?”
“Maybell goes to bingo and has a few the first Saturday of the month, you know, after payday. She won’t check beds tonight.”
“So lemme guess ... you’re going out?”
She sneers. “We are going out. No way are we letting you stay here to snitch us out. Let’s go.”
I slowly stand, dusting off the back of my sweats. “First of all, don’t imply I’m a snitch – if it doesn’t affect me, I don’t give a shit. And second, I do what the fuck I want, not what I’m told.”
The girl takes a half a step toward me but pauses when Nira calls out behind her.
“Back off, Victoria.”
Oh right, that was her name.
Nira walks over. “Just come to the party, Rae. You don’t have a damn thing better to do.”
“True, but now I wanna stay to spite Victoria, here.”
When Victoria’s eyes narrow farther, my mouth tips up in a grin.
“You’re gonna need someone to buy from when your stash runs out, right?”
My eyes cut back to Nira and she smirks. Little does she know, Bass could help me out with that. Not directly, but still.
“Come on, girl. There’ll be plenty of wannabe dealers there happy to skimp you on a sack. Weed’s not as good here as you’re probably used to, but it’ll serve its purpose.”
I laugh lightly, knowing she’s right about that. The Valley grows the good shit.
I look to Victoria. “Guess you’ll be getting your way tonight.”
Her eyes rake over my outfit and her pointy nose scrunches. “Maybe you should change.”
“Maybe you should fuck off.”
With a huff, she stomps toward the curb and looks down the street.
I turn back to Nira.
“Victoria’s boyfriend is driving us tonight, so don’t start shit b
y flirting with him, we don’t need added problems and he won’t cheat on her.”
Suspicion has me frowning.
When Nira glances off, I let out a humorless laugh. “You read my file.”
She considers lying, but stands taller instead. “We read all the new girls’ files. We deserve to know about people we’re forced to live with.”
“So you gathered I’m a whore?”
“You’re the daughter of one,” she throws out unapologetically. “I know firsthand our parents’ problems are quick to become ours.”
I don’t say anything because there’s no point. Nothing I say would matter.
If she lived half the life I did, the only thing we can trust is what we see with our own eyes.
The words of others mean jack.
Promises are a way of ending an unwanted conversation.
And lies make our world go round.
“You good in what you have on? ‘Cause her guy will be here in a few minutes.”
I look down at my joggers and black long sleeve. “Kinda party we talkin’?”
She grins. “House party for spoiled assholes. Huge, flaunty house and hoes galore. You think the jerks at our school come off privileged? These people are so flaunty they could give Beverly Hills a run for their money.”
“Yeah, I’ll be right back,” I tell her and head for the house.
Last thing I want is to draw attention to myself and if these people are as flashy as she’s letting on, then they’ll pick me and my baggy sweats out in the crowd in an instant. At least with pants I can shoot for invisible.
I walk past the girls playing around in the living room and make my way to my room, pulling out a pair of jeans and a white tank that hits just above my stomach. I grab my grey and black flannel and throw it over, stuff some cash in my back pocket, my pocket knife in my front, and head out the door.
And speaking of cash, I’m gonna need to talk with Bass again before I get too low.
Right when I reach the girls, Victoria’s boyfriend pulls up – a guy I recognize from school.
“Hey, baby,” he greets her and gives us a small wave.
She pulls the seat forward in his ancient, two-door and we silently climb into the back.
I ignore the conversation on the way over, quietly considering what I’m willing to spend on what’s probably shitty weed in the first place while I note the street names the entire way over – never know when you might need to find your own way back. Before I realize it, we’re pulling behind a pile of cars on a huge court.
Boys of Brayshaw High Page 4