Jaded (Jaded #1)

After the second bell rang, I heard the murmur of voices on the other side of the door.

I sighed, replaced the camera I’d been holding, and left. Students were lingering around the tables.

I plopped on the nearest empty one and remained there, content to be alone when I heard a soft voice beside me, “Hey.” She was teeny tiny with soft golden hair that surrounded a pointed nose. Her eyes consumed too much of her face. And she had the barest hint of lips I’d ever seen.

I studied her a moment, searched my database, and then said abruptly, “I have no idea who you are.”

She flushed and hugged her books tighter to her chest. “I’m Grace Barton.”

“You’re Mena’s new friend,” I announced as comprehension flooded me.

Caution flashed over her features again and I got the distinct impression that a burst of wind could’ve knocked her over. “Yeah,” She sighed and moved closer. “That’s why I came over here.”

“What do you want?” I asked flatly after she’d taken a few breaths for bravery.

She jumped slightly at my question, but rolled her eyes in self-condemnation.

“I’m here because Mena’s really hurt by what you did.”

“I didn’t do anything to her.”

“She said that you’re not friends with her because Bryce and Corrigan don’t like her.”

I laughed and remarked dryly, “She’s gotta be pretty stupid to screw that up.

Mena’s hot. Corrigan always likes hot girls, but if she did something to piss him off— then that’s on her, not me. I don’t tell them who to like and who not to like.”

Grace looked like she was about to fall over again.

“And you didn’t help the situation,” I said flatly.

Grace frowned and asked, timidly, “What do you mean?”

“You’re a social loser. If you want Mena to be liked by me, Corrigan, and Bryce—she shouldn’t be hanging out with people like you and your brother. Whoever invited her to your party saw that she’d already been outcasted. Mena could’ve fought it and been fine, but you guys sent her the invitation because you saw someone ‘cool’ who could be in your crowd.”

Grace gasped and swayed on her feet.

I stood up. “Look, I’m not saying this to be mean. I’m just saying it because it’s true. And I’m not going to be duped into feeling guilty that Mena has some hurt feelings.

She knows the deal. If she wants back in, she’s gotta earn that respect. The rules apply to everyone.”

“Sheldon,” Mr. Sayword spoke up, across the classroom.

I turned and saw Corrigan at the door, watching me.

“Yeah?” I asked. I saw a note in Mr. Sayword’s hand.

“You’re wanted in the counselor’s office.”

My eyes caught and held Corrigan’s. We both thought the same thing, group therapy time.

“Fine,” I muttered and left the room. Corrigan fell in step beside me when he asked, “What was that about in there?”

“Just telling a social loser that she’s a social loser.” I remarked.

Three other students were there and we saw Bryce lounging against the wall. His eyes sharpened when he saw us and he pushed off from the wall. Corrigan booted the students off the couch and we sat down instead. Bryce leaned on the armrest near me until Miss Connors stuck her head out and gestured for all three of us.

“Come on back, guys.” She said, friendly.

She’d set up three plush chairs around her office and I saw, surprised, that it was cleaner than my last visit. Miss Connors looked tired, but professional with her outfit spot-clean and pristine.

She looked like a therapist.

“So,” she breathed out and sent another warm smile at us. At me. “How are you guys doing?”

Corrigan leaned forward and rested his elbows on his knees as he remarked, “I’m having a hard time handling all the emotional distress that my two best friends have recently undertaken due to the traumatic loss that they witnessed.”

Bryce and I both laughed.

A grin slipped past Corrigan’s lips, but he added as he attempted to sound vulnerable, “I feel left out because I wasn’t there when they found her body, but I realized over the weekend that this was a pattern that’s been constructed since Bryce and Sheldon started sleeping together. Isn’t there a term for that? Peer isolation?”

I fought a grin, but Miss Connors rolled with it. She nodded and asked, “And when did that start?”

Bryce spoke this time, “First time we screwed was in freshman.”

“I remember.” Corrigan nodded. “It was that party when Trevor Bently thought he could score with Sheldon and you told him that she’d be busy with you instead.”

Bryce grinned. “And he punched me, hit like a girl.”