by Rachel Jonas
Her stern gaze is locked on me. “I heard about that little prank in the main hall this morning. Did Parker and her friends have anything to do with that? Is that what this is about?”
Yes! They’re all guilty.
I want to scream those words, but know it’ll only give me a motive, which would make pinning this on me that much easier. So, I lie.
“Honestly, I’m not sure who was behind it, but I don’t have any reason to believe Parker was involved.”
Speaking these words makes my chest throb.
She keeps her eyes on me a moment longer, before jotting something down on her clipboard.
“Consider this a warning, Riley,” she states dryly. “If I hear of anything else brewing between you and Parker, I won’t hesitate to take action.”
“Of course. I understand.”
She keeps eyes on me as I rise from my seat and head back out into the gym. The moment I reach the stairs, preparing to make my way back up, the main door opens suddenly. I half expect it to be West and Sterling returning after escorting Parker, but I’m wrong.
Thank God.
“I was starting to think you wouldn’t show.”
Lexi gives an easy smile, and then makes sure Mrs. C. hasn’t noticed her slipping in.
“Just went to the bathroom to make a call first,” she shares. “Pandora’s post has my mother up in arms. So, naturally, I needed to put out that fire before I went home. Or, better yet, so I could decide if I even wanted to go home.”
My heart lurches a bit. “Yeah … about that. I guess I should’ve mentioned I’m patient zero around here. Apparently, even being seen talking to me is social suicide.”
Lexi waved me off before I could even finish. “Don’t worry about it. My rep is shot to hell already. Mom’s just sensitive about my sister’s name being dragged further into the mud,” she explains. “Although, getting her third DUI and hitting a family of four head-on did most of that damage, so…”
I don’t know what to say to that.
“It’s been years, but Pandora doesn’t forget the past. Keep that in mind,” she warns. “She sees to it that none of us can outrun even the slightest mistakes we make.”
I nod, thinking about what she said. “Your mom’s okay, though?”
“She’ll be fine. Just wanted to make sure I wasn’t hanging out with the wrong crowd,” Lexi says with a laugh. “Obviously, she doesn’t know her own kid very well,” she jokes. “I am the wrong crowd.”
I manage to smile despite still feeling bad for having caused a disturbance in her home.
“Don’t sweat it,” she assures me. “It’ll take more than some stupid post to scare me off, New Girl.”
She’s tough, and those are the kinds of friends needed to weather a storm. We might, literally, be from different sides of the track, but it seems we’re still cut from the same cloth. West may have gone out of his way to make me feel like an outsider, but I told him he wouldn’t win.
And I meant it.
@QweenPandora: Ashes, ashes, we all fall DOWN! Too soon PrincessParker? Let’s hope that nasty spill doesn’t mean an early end to your dance season. But don’t cry too hard, Princess. I hear KingMidas made sure you got the help you needed right away. Hopefully, NewGirl doesn’t take it to heart that her boo might still be hot for an old flame. You know what they say, a king with two queens may as well burn down his own palace. Actually, no one said that, but I should totally start putting this stuff on t-shirts.
Later, Peeps.
—P
Chapter 10
WEST
We’re all at our best this year, well-conditioned and completely focused. Every practice, we’re showing improvement. In the very least, we’ve got State semifinals on lock, which will definitely up the ante for college next fall.
With NCU’s star quarterback set to graduate next spring, this is guaranteed to put me in the running for their QB-1 slot. With any luck, my soon-to-be coach, Coach Wells, will allow it.
“So, Pandora got it right, huh?”
The question jars me from my thoughts, and as I glance over my shoulder, I catch Austin’s nosey ass waiting for a reply.
“What are you talking about?” There’s a clear lack of interest in my tone, as I toss my helmet into the locker with the rest of my gear. Somehow, he misses it. Slipping off my jersey, I’m down to just pants and ready to shower.
“She says you and that new chick are into each other,” Austin clarifies, filling me in on what the queen of gossip has had to say about my run-ins with Southside.
“What’s her name again?” Trip asks. “Blue or something?”
“It’s weird, but she’s hot enough that I don’t really care.” Now Ryder’s getting in on this, too, and things are quickly headed in the wrong direction.
Up to this point, only my brothers and Parker and her girls know Southside has a target on her back, but now I’m thinking I should’ve cast a wider net. Should’ve known my boys couldn’t look past a set of nice tits and an ass any one of us would happily eat a meal off of.
But that’s beside the point.
“So, you hitting that or what, West?” Austin finally gets to the point he’s been trying to make all along.
This conversation might take a while, so I get comfortable, lowering to straddle the bench.
“Depends,” I say calmly. “There a reason you’re asking so many questions?”
When I peer up at him, it looks like he regrets bringing it up. Only, now, there’s nothing left to do but follow through at this point.
“Just saying, it’d make sense that she knocked Parker on her ass today in gym. You know, if you two have a thing,” he explains.
The fact that he wasn’t even there, and yet already has the play-by-play isn’t a surprise. Not at this school. Not in this city.
A frustrated sigh leaves my mouth. I’m tired, drenched in sweat, and this idiot wants to gossip like a couple grannies sipping tea on the porch.
“I mean, cause let’s just put it out there,” Trip jumps in again, “chick’s sexy as hell. There’s all kinds of fun I could have with a body like that,” he adds. “You know, if you’re not already hooking up with her, that is.”
That’s his attempt at showing respect if, in fact, I do confirm that Blue and I are a thing.
There are muffled laughs floating from every direction when he finishes and then zones out, imagining some of those ‘fun’ things he’d like to do to Southside, I’m guessing.
I hadn’t taken this into account, that some of the guys might see Blue and think she’s an option. But there’s no way in hell I’m letting them get near her. The last thing I need is her getting inside any of my boys’ heads, thinking my people are candidates for becoming her allies. As it stands, the only reason I haven’t shut down the whole Lexi Rodriguez thing is because the girl’s damaged goods. That train wreck self-destructed a long time ago.
“She’s off limits,” I grumble, not bothering to meet anyone’s gazes.
Without even turning, I feel Dane and Sterling’s stares, wondering what the hell is up with me. They wouldn’t understand, though. Not without revealing things about our father I’ve kept to myself since I was a kid. Things I confirmed hadn’t changed when I found that pic in the safe.
That I can’t control. But nothing goes down at Cypress Prep without me allowing it. To start, Southside needs to know a line’s been drawn in the sand. Added to that, my people can never become her people. She needs to know where their loyalty lies.
With me.
There’s a noticeable silence among my teammates as my declaration lingers in the locker room.
“So, does that mean the answer’s yes? You fucked her?” Austin presses.
I peer up to glare at him again and want to smack that smug grin right off his face.
“It means you need to mind your damn business,” is my only reply.
I’m sure he still doesn’t know what to make of the situation, but he retreats and I’m
good with that. The guys disperse and, unfazed, the topic of conversation changes quickly. Before I know it, they’ve moved on to discussing some kid on the basketball team who, allegedly, knocked up an underclassman’s mom over summer.
Twisted shit.
I stand to grab the small bottle of body wash from the top shelf of the locker, but my brothers block my path before I can take another step. Sterling grills me with a look but doesn’t say a word. It’s Dane, though, who steps up to speak his mind.
“There’s obviously a lot you aren’t saying,” he starts. “Don’t you think it’s time to tell us what’s up between you and this girl?” There’s a brief hesitation before he says more. “I hate to bring her up, but does this have something to do with the whole … Casey situation? Are they connected in some way?”
First, the question makes me wince, and then it turns into a scowl, adding to the tension already locked in my shoulders after a tougher-than-usual practice.
“No, it’s not about that,” I respond, vaguely addressing the latter part of his question. “But it sure as hell isn’t what everyone thinks it is, either. You know that,” I remind him. “My response to Austin wasn’t some weak-ass attempt at cock blocking. I just need the lines to not get blurred. Southside has to understand she’s alone here, as far from home as she can get. If the guys start moving in for the kill, the whole plan falls apart.”
They’re both quiet now, which I wasn’t expecting.
“And you’re … sure you want to keep this going?” Sterling asks gravely, keeping his voice low so the words don’t go beyond us three.
I’m tempted to tell them why this girl isn’t deserving of this sudden onset of pity but refrain. It’s bad enough I have to live knowing what I know. I can’t justify filling their heads with this shit, too.
Never could.
“I’m sure,” I answer through gritted teeth. It’s all I can do to keep my cool as I push between them, finally moving toward the showers. They don’t try to stop me, but it’s not lost on me that they want to.
This little conversation has made several things clear. If left to their own devices, my teammates will bone anything that moves, which means I have to be hyper-vigilant to keep them off Southside.
Literally.
But this convo also showed me something else. That my brothers aren’t all the way in. Generally speaking, they’re good guys, mostly because they haven’t seen the things I’ve seen. Haven’t become so jaded. Their good nature is causing this mission to take its toll on them already. I won’t force them into being a part of my plan if they want out, but there’s one thing I will not bend on.
Come hell or high water, I will see this thing through.
Even if I have to blow up Southside’s shit on my own.
@QweenPandora: Football practice was explosive! With this being the final season for many of our rising stars, you can bet they’re going to bring their A-game every time. Most believe nothing can stop them from making it to States this year, but I hear South Cypress has a secret weapon. Friday will be the first showdown and, trust me, you don’t want to miss it.
Later, Peeps.
—P
Chapter 11
BLUE
“Did you hear?”
I can barely make out Scarlett’s words as she inhales another handful of fries.
Jules peers up from her burger. “Hear what?”
“Blue’s NewGirl! The one Pandora thinks has a thing going with KingMidas!”
It stings particularly bad hearing the excitement in my sister’s voice. She lives for the idea of climbing the social ladder, and to her, being with West sounds like a dream come true.
Shane’s ears perk up, but he continues to hover over his spaghetti, actively pretending he’s uninterested.
“And to think, the only update I got this week is that you joined the Journalism Club,” Jules points out, turning to face me.
Taking a sip of my water gives me time to think of a suitable response. “I did join journalism club. And I’ll have you know it’s very fulfilling,” I lie.
Actually, Mr. Dansk kind of blows and it only makes my time there suck even harder that I’ve been tasked to handle the sports segments. Which means I’ll get to spend even more time with West and Co.
Fun times ahead, right?
“Cut the crap. Is this true?” Jules practically sings. “You been holding out on me?”
“It’s not like that,” is the best response I can come up with.
Her brows shoot up, which means she’s not buying it. “Clearly, we have one heck of a heart-to-heart in our future,” she decides.
We seriously don’t, though. Not unless I suddenly decide to share with her that, for my first full week at Cypress Prep, I’ve been bullied by their gang of elites. But that’ll never happen because I know Jules, just like I know Ricky. I purposely keep both in the dark about what really goes down at CPA. Protective as they are, they’d never stand for it. First chance either got, they’d call out West and the others, resulting in the world crumbling right on top of me. Not the ones who actually deserve it.
No thanks.
Putting up with their shit is not only embarrassing, but it isn’t like me. On my side of town, the last name Riley is synonymous with having a short fuse, taking on whoever stupidly gets in our way. I’m a fighter by nature. To the point that it nearly cost me admission to CPA. But the difference is, I know what’s at stake now. It’s the reason I keep my head down and try to mind my business.
Only, that doesn’t really fly with West.
This week alone—in addition to the poster thing—I’d been shoved in the halls by randos I’d never seen before, locked inside a bathroom stall, and I had my backpack disappear from my locker during gym, only to reappear on top of the basketball rim.
Mostly, it’s amateur shit, but still annoying as hell.
I peer up at Uncle Dusty when he hovers over our booth, whistling the tune to whatever oldie is playing through the sound system. He’s exhausted from being on his feet cooking all day, but still managed to prepare each of our favorite meals for dinner. Mine was in a bag beside Scar so I could enjoy it later. If I started in on it now, I’d have to finish my shift in a food coma. Nobody wants that.
“You guys have enough?” he asks.
Shane belches into his fist before answering, “I’m stuffed.” Afterward, he leans back and places a hand on his stomach, looking so much like Ricky it’s scary.
“That’s what I like to hear,” my uncle adds, checking his watch before his eyes lock with mine again. “I’m gonna need you back on your section, sweetheart. You know we get a little bit of a rush around this time. Plus, Becca and Joanne called in tonight.”
“I’m on it,” I answer, sliding out of the booth.
Scar, Jules, and Shane follow, collecting their phones from the table. When Scar scoops up the bag with my dinner inside, I nod toward it.
“Do not let Mike eat my sandwich,” I warn.
“And if he does, let me know,” Uncle Dusty chimes in. “It’d give me a good reason to kick his ass. Been almost a decade since I had the chance.”
He walks away after that, with the four of us laughing because he means every word. As my mother’s older brother, he’s never taken to my father, and for good reason.
“Homework and then clean your room,” I say to Scar as she moves toward the door.
“But I need to start baking tonight!” she snaps. ”Or did you forget about the block party tomorrow.”
Of course I forgot, but I’ll never tell her that. Not with how important this bake sale is to her.
“The party is all the more reason for you to get your work done tonight. If I let you put it off, you’ll start on it at 11:59 Sunday night. So, homework first, then baking. Deal?”
This time I get an eye roll as I tug the end of her pink ponytail, but she doesn’t object.
“If it’s the math assignment, I can help you,” Shane offers. “I got mine done in clas
s.”
The very thought of these two being left alone makes my heart race a mile a minute, wondering how I can cock block from here at the diner.
I mean actually cock block.
Jules sees me scrambling and intervenes. “Tell you what, I’ll hang out at the house until you get off. That way Scar can get help … and you don’t have a heart attack,” she adds only loud enough for me to hear.
I discreetly mouth a heartfelt “Thank you” in return.
“Hold up a sec.”
We all turn when Uncle Dusty rushes out of the kitchen again.
“Almost forgot to have you take these for Ricky and your aunt Carla,” he says with a warm smile as he hands two bagged carryout containers to Shane. “If you have other plans, make sure you stop home to drop those off first. Made ‘em fresh.”
“I’ll get it there,” Jules promises.
“Thanks, Dusty.” Shane offers a polite nod as my uncle makes his way back to the kitchen.
“See you guys when I get off. Shouldn’t be too late,” I add.
They wave and I watch until they leave the lot, then slip behind the counter. Uncle Dusty is putting the finishing touches on a phone-in order when I lean on the ledge cutout between the kitchen and dining room.
He catches me and flashes a smile from behind his gold-toned beard—one so big I often tease that it’s been fertilized with the tears of lesser men. Tall, broad, and looking like he’ll put a guy through a wall if he needs to, you’d never guess that when it comes to me, Scarlett, and even Hunter, our uncle is a big softy. One who’s actually given a stranger the shirt off his back once.
“Something I can do for you, Blue-Jay?” he asks, flipping the spatula just because he’s a show-off.
Shrugging, I smile back. “If you’re taking requests, I’ll take a yacht with a million bucks stashed inside.”
His smile turns into a quiet laugh. “Well, make that a double. When you find this mythical genie granting wishes, point him in my direction.”