“What you did today...”
“I said don’t.”
“For us, for Captain. Your need to ease him in a way we can’t.”
I roll my neck to the side, to meet his stare.
While unease lines his eyes, gratefulness shapes his features.
“It’s not a big deal.”
“You’re wrong.” He frowns. “It is a big deal. Real fucking big deal.”
I look away.
“We’re not sure how to handle you.”
I frown at the cherry of my joint. “That’s how I like it, big man.”
“I don’t care what you like. This is our fucking future and you just became a problem.”
“Became a problem. Right.” I give him a blank stare. “I didn’t become anything. I’ve been the problem and you know it. Now I’m just more dangerous to you because in your world blackmail is a way of life. Well in mine, we don’t rat. We don’t share detail. When we learn, hear, or see things we turn the other way.”
“That’s a fool’s way of thinking.”
“That’s a smart man’s way of surviving,” I bite back. “Life isn’t this simple outside your comfort covered issues. You may not have answers to everything, but you have way more than most, Maddoc, and more than the house and the cars and the money, you have Royce and Captain, and they have you. Your side and your back are covered. People like me? We have to sleep with one eye open. I don’t need enemies, so why would I make one out of you three?”
“Money.”
“Please.” I roll my eyes at his attempt to reach for straws. “I can make money at the snap of a finger if I needed to and you know it.” It’s disgusting but true.
He glares.
I lean toward him.
“Don’t let this mixed up sexual tension we’ve got going make you forget. My being here? That was all you three. You owe me nothing, if you need me to go, tell me and I will.”
He leans forward this time, his teeth bared as he growls more than talks. “You still don’t get it, do you?”
“What’s there to get?”
“We want you here more than we should. All fucking three of us. Maybe even enough to force you to stay if you try to leave.”
When my eyes widen, he stomps to the door, but pauses and turns back to me before exiting.
Anger now acts as his shield and his eyes bore into mine. “Touch me again when you’re fighting to forget something, and you’ll regret it.” He leaves.
I drop back against the chair and shake my head.
His words are delivered as a threat, but I know better.
Seems big man wants my all and my not laughing over it proves what a dumb girl I’ve become.
I need to break away, distance myself and get my head straight.
Even thinking it I know it’s a bad idea, but most of mine are so ... fuck it.
Since tonight was an away game, more people than last time linger, waiting to see what the boys have planned, no doubt. We played a rare Friday night game, so everyone’s extra hyped to get the afterparty rolling.
“’Sup, Rae.”
I turn to find Bass coming down the bleachers. He drops beside me and raises a brow.
“Watch out Bass, you keep popping up at these kinds of things, I’ll start thinking you actually enjoy it.”
He nods, spinning his lip ring with his tongue as he eyes me.
“What?”
Laughter fills the room and his gaze flicks over my shoulder.
“Nothing.” He stands, making his way down the bleachers. “See ya.”
I frown at his back. “Later.”
I spin back around right as the team starts to shuffle from the locker rooms, freshly showered and ready to get the night started.
Maddoc steps from the back, looking all dressed to make ‘em spread in simple jeans and a T-shirt. That hair perfectly mussed on top. Lazy but sexy. Fresh fade.
He glances my way, doing a double take when he meets my eyes.
The corner of his mouth lifts.
Yeah, he knows he looks good.
In the next second, his attention is captured by a cheerleader for the opposing team. She slides up – literally, slides her foot across the squeaky, freshly polished hardwood – planting her little body in front of him.
My eyes jump to his, following along as his trail over the wide curve of her hips and thick thighs in her short skirt. She’s packing way more sex appeal than I ever could.
He smirks and her pretty painted nails plant themselves on his shoulders so she can pull herself up to whisper in his fucking ear.
Acid fills my mouth when his arm wraps around her middle to hold her there and then they stumble back a half step, laughing as he rights them.
“I see things have escalated, huh?”
My eyes snap to Vienna’s a moment. “What are you talking about?”
She rolls her eyes. “Please. You’re two seconds from shredding a pair of pom poms.”
Both our attention turns back to the boys, all three plus a few extras now standing there with a pack of fucking sharks with pink lips circling, ready to attack their prey.
Maddoc’s arm leaves the girl right as his eyes hit mine only to dip back down and whisper in her ear this time.
Are we playing this game, big man?
“He yours, Rae?” Vienna asks.
Apparently not.
My brows snap together at the thought. I don’t answer.
“You his?”
His eyes narrow as if he can hear what we’re talking about and he takes a half step forward, but another brunette plants herself in front of him.
I look at her.
She doesn’t push, but instead asks, “Feel like getting out of here?”
I glance back at the boys, finding each one’s focus elsewhere and stand. “Let’s go.”
“Wait, really?” She smiles wide, then a light squeal leaves her. “Hell yes! Let’s bounce!”
I don’t turn around again as we exit the gym and make our way to the parking lot to catch up with her other people.
I spot Victoria among them right away.
She scowls, crossing her arms as she waits for me to grow closer.
I shrug. “It wasn’t personal, even though it probably felt like it.”
Her glare hardens a moment before she rolls her eyes. “Whatever. Wasn’t the first time a girl with a chip on her shoulder punched me in the face.”
My mouth turns into a grin and hers follows.
“Okay, so since we’re all good now, can we get outta here?”
The three of us pile in the rear of the Tahoe while a handful of other girls fill the middle seats and front.
“We’re going to hit my house, get sexed up and go dancing!” the driver announces before spinning to face me. “I’m Mello by the way.”
I wave, glancing to Vienna who nods lightly, meaning she’s cool.
Mello’s house is only a few blocks from the school, so we’re piling into her room – a pool house built a solid hundred yards away from the main house.
One of the girls starts pouring shots for us while Mello begins tossing random dresses onto the couch.
And just like that, the other girls, Victoria and Vienna included, start stripping and trying on things my mother would die for.
Me? Not so much.
“Here.”
I turn and take a plastic shot glass full of something from a redheaded girl.
“I’m Bre.”
“Rae.”
She giggles, pointing to the side of the cup, where she wrote my name in Sharpie. “I know.”
She doesn’t stand there long enough to see me frown, disappearing to pass shots to the rest of the girls.
I down the contents then set the cup on the coffee table. Glancing around, I’m instantly aware I’m out of my comfort zone.
I should have stayed at the game, waited for the guys.
Watched the girls flock Maddoc.
Wait, no. I don’t care.
“Rae, come back here!” Mello calls from around the corner, which is really just a solid wall that separates the bedroom from the living room area.
She smiles, pulling a tiny skirt over her hips. “I thought you might want to pick something else out. You don’t strike me as the dress type.”
“Not at all.”
“That’s a shame.” She looks me over. “Your fit, bet you’d kill in one.”
I don’t say anything, and she shrugs, turning to her closet.
“I have tons of jeans in here, some tanks or more dressy shirts.” She glances over her shoulder, frowning when she sees mine.
She walks over.
“Look, this might not be your usual thing, dressing up and all, but there’s nothing wrong with that. Nobody will think you’re being a poser or whatever if you get dolled up with us, not that that’s your concern but still. And you can even do it as you. Give me ten minutes and if you hate it, we scratch it and you can wear what you have on.” She gestures to my hoodie, jeans and used Hirachis. “The club isn’t strict on dress code, it’s whatever really, so either way you’re fine.”
I’m trying to figure out her angle here. Why, would a pretty girl like her, wanna help me “sex up” as she called it. My mind screams set up, but my senses tell me this is just how friends – not that she’s mine – do things in a normal high school world. I mean a world where high schoolers have fancy cars and closets the size of my trailer and clubs they can get into.
“No glittery shit,” I tell her.
She squeals, moving back to the closet. “I have the perfect outfit in mind.”
The shot girl makes her way back, handing me a refilled cup.
“All right.” I pull my hoodie over my head and kick my shoes off. “Hit me with it.”
“Okay girls!” Mello turns around in the front passenger seat. “If you leave with someone, make sure at least one of us knows so we aren’t searching at the end of the night. We can swap clothes back Sunday. We’ll have brunch.”
She kisses the cheek of the dude she had drive us and we all climb out, making our way to the door of a place called The Tower.
“Don’t say a word, girls, and they’ll open the gate,” Mello tells us.
Vienna links her arm through mine, pulling on the hem of her dress.
“This thing rides up with each step.”
“Exhibit A why I don’t do dresses.”
She laughs. “Yeah, well. We can’t all pull off a pair of skinny jeans like you.”
“Okay, quiet,” Mello whispers and we step in front of the bouncers, bypassing the line completely.
“Mello, baby. Missed you last week.” The guy unclips the little rope blocking of his side of the door.
“Me too, Buck.” She leans over, kissing his cheek on her way past and we follow behind her.
The guy’s eyes narrow when they hit me, and he glances at his buddy quickly.
I keep quiet through the door, but peek behind after I’m down the hall a little, and wouldn’t you know both are staring this way.
“Catch you later!” Mello calls out and heads for the left side of the club with two of the other girls.
Me, Victoria, and Vienna, head right as the rest jump straight to the center to dance.
We get a few feet from the bar when Victoria spins around. “Okay, they won’t card us now that we’re inside, so bar’s ours if we want it. I have some cash but not enough for all of us to get drunk on.”
Vienna shrugs and glances around, smiling when she spots a guy staring at the end of the bar. “Don’t worry about me,” she says and walks off.
“Okay then.” Victoria snorts and turns back to me.
I pull two twenties from my back pocket, letting her know I’m covered.
We step up to the bar and give our order, but when the dude comes back with our drinks, he doesn’t take the money, only points to a group of guys at the nearby table.
The guy at the end leans back in his chair, and blond hair appears.
“Oh hell no.”
Collins waves two fingers and I yank Victoria’s drink from her hand.
“Hey!” she shouts and follows after me.
When I stop in front of their table, she yanks it back, glaring.
“Raven Carver.” Collins leans back with a grin. “Surprised to see you.” He glances around.
What he really means is he’s surprised to see me without the guys.
“We can pay for our own drinks.”
He looks to my cup. “Came straight front the bartender, it’s safe. And if you leave it, it’ll be wasted. No point in that.”
I look around seeing they’re all drinking beers like pussies.
I snag Victoria’s back, lift both our Jack on the rocks and fling the alcohol across their table.
“What the fuck?!” they shout.
I slam the glass tumblers on the table top and move back for the bar, signaling for two new drinks.
“What the hell, Raven?” Victoria complains, sliding up beside me. “That was free!”
“I’ll buy you another one. We’re not taking shit from him.”
She scoffs. “Look who’s feeding into all the Brayshaw and Graven shit now.”
I spin, getting in her face. “Brayshaw problems or not, Collins is a piece of shit. You want something from someone who will put hands on you without permission, be my fucking guest.”
I grab our fresh drinks and turn to hand her hers.
She eyes me warily. “Did he ... I mean, were you ...”
I shake my head. “He’d only got brave a split second before my boys showed up.”
She fights a grin and I frown.
“Your boys, huh?”
I drop my eyes to the floor, a light laugh leaving me. “I don’t even know. Feels like it sometimes but ... anyway they’re for sure flippin’ their shit right now.”
“Well ...” She trails off and I look up. “Gotta keep them on their toes, right?”
I scrunch my nose and she laughs.
She’s not half bad.
“Come on, let’s dance.” She pulls me along and Vienna meets us halfway, drink in hand.
“You two kiss and make up?” she jokes, but we shrug it off.
We’re quick to finish off our drinks and after a second trip to the bar, I’m feeling good. The lights die down, the music shifts, and my body starts to roll on its own.
With Vienna dancing in front of me, Victoria and her new dance partner to my right, Mello and the redhead on my left, I relax a bit without my newfound shadows and let loose, pushing all thoughts from my head for first time in weeks.
I toss my water bottle in the trash, glancing around the store parking lot.
We came here after the school officials kicked us off the grounds so they could lock up.
“Dude, where the fuck would she go?” Royce complains. “You sure she wasn’t in the bathroom?”
“I told you, I checked myself.” Captain shrugs. “She wasn’t there.”
“Think she left with Bishop?” he asks me.
I shake my head. “Bishop was gone before she was. She was talking with that chick from the home.”
Leo turns to us then. “Vienna?” he asks, and I glare, waiting for him to talk since it seems he knows who she is. “She was with that Mello chick from West Wood earlier.”
“If she’s with West Wood girls, they’re—”
My phone beeps in my pocket right then and they look at me.
“It’s Buck.” I look to my brothers. “She’s at The Tower.”
“Fuck.” Royce shakes his head and we slide in the vehicle, Leo and our boy Mac with us.
We head south on the highway and ten minutes later, we’re walking toward Buck and the other guard dog.
“You sure she’s in there?” We give props and he nods.
“Girl you sent me that picture of a few weeks ago and told me to tell you if I ever saw her coming in? Yeah, man, I’m
sure.” He waves a few girls in and they slip past us, dragging their nails across our shirts as they do.
I shrug the last one off and look back to Buck.
“I’d have called you earlier, but got caught up. Dickheads in line started brawling.”
I glare. “How long she been here?”
He shrugs. “Hour or so.”
Royce shoves past and into the club. We follow.
Leo and Mac make a move for the bar while Cap, Royce and I scan the room.
I tilt my head, peeking through bodies when the ones in the front shift left.
My eyes zone in on shiny black hair.
But the girl in front of me doesn’t quite fit my Raven.
“Is she—”
“Did she—”
She sure as fuck did.
Her body continues to sway, more and more until her front is facing us and goddamn, a lax Raven in sweats and T-shirt is sexy, but this Raven is ... fuck me.
She’s got on white jeans so tight I might have to cut them off with a tiny ass black top that has half her stomach out and ties around her neck. Her eyes are closed, and framed in jet black color like her hair, and those lips, a little parted and a lot pink.
I hold in my groan.
One of the girls from the home steps up, wedging herself between Raven’s legs, and draping her arms over her shoulder.
Raven’s quick to grab the chick’s hips.
I look to Captain and Royce.
Captain shrugs with side grin. “I say we let her have some fun.”
Raven laughs at the girl in front of her, and then her head lifts.
She spots me instantly and those eyes pop wide open, an obvious “oh fuck” making its way past her painted lips.
Her movements slow as she gauges me, but when I stay planted where I stand a small smirk appears and she winks.
I look to Cap, just about to agree with him, when a get a drug out, “Oh, shit,” from Royce, and our eyes cut back to her.
A hand reaches between Raven and the girl and they separate. Right as the girl steps back, the hand drops to Raven’s waist and she tenses.
And then his head slowly lifts and my blood boils, a fog taking over my eyes.
“Fuck,” Cap spits and starts forward, but I stop both him and Royce with a palm raised.
Boys of Brayshaw High Page 30