A Whole New Crowd

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

It was in our first class when I saw the reunion of Mandy with Amber. Since the Jennica debacle, Amber had sided with her, but my sister was whispering with Amber in the back of the classroom. My eyebrow went up and I grunted, then sat and turned my back to them. I had tried to help my sister out enough.
“Morning, class.” The teacher shut the door and put her bag on the desk. She lifted up a novel, Of Mice and Men. “Who read the chapters? I want to know your thoughts.”
I snuck a peek at Mandy and Amber. Talk about friendship and sacrifice. Then I smirked when Amber raised her hand. “Mrs. Tationa, Mandy and I were wondering if we could be excused. We’d like to finish up some posters before the pep rally this week.”
“Oh, Amber, of course—”
I burst out, “Are you kidding me?!”
“Taryn,” Mandy hissed.
The teacher looked startled. “You don’t agree with my decisions in this classroom, Miss Matthews?”
I shot my sister a glare, but turned to Amber. “You’re not even on the pep rally committee. Trust me, I know. I live with the president of the pep rally committee. Two, you’re not a cheerleader, and three, if anyone should benefit from this discussion—it’s you!”
A strangled gasp ripped from Mandy. “Shut. Up.” She gritted her teeth.
“No,” I ignored her. “I’m sick of you guys running around this school like it’s your personal playground. All the teachers just let you guys get away with whatever you want. I’m so tired of it.”
Someone snorted behind me. “Aren’t you being hypocritical?”
A guy wearing a polo was glaring at me. I snapped, “What?”
“You’re one of them.” He leaned forward. “Have you ever been in trouble for anything?” I laughed at that and then heard him say, “Aren’t you dating Tray Evans?”
My grin fell flat. “No.”
Amber scoffed. “Then what were you doing Friday night in your bed?”
“We’re not dating.” We weren’t, but I held tight to my desk so I wouldn’t squirm all over.
“Whatever,” Amber shot back. “You get on your high horse about us, but we haven't done half the shit that you have.”
I went livid. My eyes narrowed. “Excuse me?”
“Like it was just ‘by chance’,” air quotes, “that the Monday after Mandy and Devon break up, our school gets canceled. That stuff’s never happened here before, and I’m sure you had nothing to do with it.” She rolled her eyes. “And we all know how Pedlam got broken into.”
Mandy paled. “Amber, stop it.”
My eyes narrowed to slits. “You’ve got balls, Amber.”
She frowned, and I saw the confusion on her face.
I spelled it out. “If you spill one word, who do you think you’ll be pissing off?”
It wouldn't be me. When she realized her mistake, her eyes got big. I grinned, but then she rolled her eyes. Her snootiness came back and her lip lifted in a half snarl/half pout. “Whatever.” She looked around the room. “No one will tattle. I’ll say it was you. You all hear that, everyone? It was Taryn Matthews who brought up the break-in.”
“Girls.” The teacher stepped between us and held her hands up. “Stop this or you’ll be sent to the principal’s office.”
I ignored her. “Let’s talk about you, Amber.”
She stiffened, but leaned back in her chair. “Fine. Bring it. I doubt you can say anything that’ll upset me.”
“Did you apologize to Mandy?”
She frowned.
I smiled and looked at Mandy. “Mandy, did she apologize to you?”
My sister’s face was as white as a ghost. “For what?”
“Since your good friend here brought it up, everyone will now be talking about your break-up with Devon, if they weren’t already.” I smiled at Amber, who flinched from what I said. “Let’s go with that. Mandy, you were the one that was hurt by it, but Amber remained by Jennica’s side during the whole thing. This is the first time I’ve seen you guys talk to each other since that night even. So,” I drew out, “did you apologize to my sister for abandoning her?”
The anger flared bright in the depths of Amber’s eyes. She pressed her lips together in a flat line and swallowed a knot, before throwing a sideways look at Mandy.
I shook my head. “That had been a hunch, but damn. It’s nice to know that I was right.”
Mandy’s head went down, and her hands folded in her lap. She didn’t fight for herself. Amber was never a blip on my radar, but I knew if she was friends with Jennica and supported Jennica, she wasn’t a good person. Seeing my sister take this from her made my stomach roll over on itself.
An ugly laugh ripped from me. Mandy looked up. Amber seemed to hold still. All eyes were on me again. “This is a joke. You’re a joke.”
“Taryn.”
I ignored the teacher again. I said, “People like you will hurt people. You’ll go through life with this entitled attitude. You’ll walk over people, step on them, do whatever it is that will hurt others, and you won’t care. You might say you’re sorry if you’re called on it, but you won’t be sorry. You’ll keep going and keep hurting people. I’ve seen people like you all my life.” I felt sick. “It’s people like you who get to the top and you don’t look down. You don’t look at the trail of bodies left behind you.” I turned to Mandy now. Her eyes enlarged and she bit her lip, but she didn’t turn away. A small modicum of respect came back for her with that. She was going to face whatever I had to say. I frowned. I wasn’t going to mince my words because of it. “You’re one of those people who take it. You let people like her win because you don’t say a word. She should’ve been your friend during that time. She wasn’t. She chose the girl who hurt you, who,” I snorted, “I’m sure will be your friend by the end of the week. What you accept is what you’ll always be given. Stop accepting their crumbs.”
Amber glanced around. She’d been smirking, but it faded when she saw others had the same anger as me.
“I hurt people.” She looked back at me so I finished, “But I hurt people like you and your friends.”
The room was silent and the air was heavy. One second.
Two.
Three.
No one had her back. She fled the room.
This would be a problem. I just called out one of the top people. Mandy started to get up. My mouth fell open. She was going to the door. No, no, no. She couldn’t…
She reached for the handle, but paused and looked back. She didn’t say a word and then left.
No one talked in the room after they left. Even the teacher was silent. Amber was at the top, and I called her out, disgracing my own sister in the moment. F*ck me. Great job, Taryn. Sighing, I frowned. I couldn’t take it back, and it was how I felt. I slid down in my chair, knowing there would be repercussions. There were always consequences when people like Amber were humiliated. They didn’t change. They just fought back.
Then I remembered—Tray ran this school. He was one of those at the top too. Oh hell.
*

I didn’t have long before I started feeling some of the repercussions. Jennica glared at me when I left first period. Grant and Samuel glared too. They cast a glance at the girls to make sure they had noticed. When they were positive they’d been noticed, they dropped the glares and went back to their conversation.
When I walked up to my locker before my last class, a girl was writing ‘whore’ in permanent maker.
I grabbed the pen from her hand and threw it. “Fetch.”
She started to retort, but I opened my locker, grabbed my book, and left before she got one word out.
I felt attention everywhere I went. People were watching me. I wasn’t dumb. I knew they were going to wait and see what happened, but when I got to my last class, I stopped in the doorway and wanted to groan. I always thought I had study hall during this period, so I decided to go to health instead. I was surprised when I saw who else was in this class. Tray.
He was at a table by himself, lounging back in his chair. As I stared at him, unsure what to do, conversations hushed around the room, and he looked up. His eyes were narrowed when they landed on me. I groaned on the inside. The anger was there, but it was banked.
The teacher saw me too. “Miss Matthews, you’ve finally decided to grace us with your presence. I see someone took it upon themselves to let you know that we are, in fact, not study hall and that you are, in fact, supposed to be here.”
“Yeah.”
“Good. Good. Take a seat. I see an empty one by Mr. Helms.”
I glanced at Helms and saw a look of disgust pass over him. He stood. “I’ll sit with Tray.”
He was gathering his books when Tray stopped him. “She can sit with me.”
Oh joy.
Helms froze. He looked at Tray, read something on his face, and sat back down.
I met Tray’s eyes again. Yeah…no. “I can sit on the floor.”
“Oh no.” Tray kicked out the empty chair beside him. “Sit with me. Really.”
As soon as I sat down, the class started, but I couldn’t pay attention to the teacher. I doubted anyone was. His entire body was rigid. I stole a few glances his way, but was met with a cold, even stare back. I could feel the tension in his body. Jace’s warning to stay away from Tray came to me again. Shit. I should always listen to Jace. He never lied to me.
I heard the teacher ask for two volunteers to go to the counselor’s office. I had barely registered his words when Tray spoke up, “We’ll go.”
I never got time to decide if I wanted to go. He grabbed my arm and hauled me out. We were in the hallway before the teacher could say thanks.
I wrenched my arm away. “Ouch.”
That’s when I was met with the full force of Tray’s fury because he grabbed my arm again and yanked me into the empty gymnasium.
“This isn’t the way to the counselor’s office.”
“Do you really want to go to the counselor’s office?” Tray snapped, hauling me into the equipment closet. The heavy door heavy slammed shut behind him.
He had a point there, but taking in his tight jaw and set shoulders, I said, “I would today.”
He ignored me and rolled his eyes. “What the f*ck do you think you’re doing?!”
“Excuse me?”
“You know what. The entire f*cking school is going off about you and Amber. You said that we hurt people, that we don’t give a shit about them.”
I crossed my arms over my chest. This could get technical. “She doesn’t.”
“You lumped her in a group at the top. I’m the top. Anything you said about her, you said about me too.”
That was the problem. I sighed. “Okay, listen. I can see the confusion.”
“Stop messing around, Taryn. You called out my group of friends, and they’re pissed.”
I snorted. “Yeah, I’m sure. The guys didn’t look that pissed. I was calling out the girls, and you know it. Everyone knows it.”
He stepped close, curbed a hand around my neck and leaned close. He didn’t touch me otherwise, but I felt the heat from him. Even though I was in trouble, I wanted to touch him. I wanted to lift my hands and press them to his chest. I wanted to feel him tremble under their touch and then I wanted him to close the distance, put his mouth on mine, and press me against the wall.
“Taryn!”
I jerked back to the present. “What? Yes. I didn’t mean you. I’m sorry.”
He groaned, raking a hand through his hair. “What the hell am I supposed to do? Everyone’s looking at me to reprimand you.”
Not really. I gave him a tentative smile. “You know, you could just make it clear that this is a girl thing. Amber would have to fight her own battle and you’re in the clear.” I nodded. “That could happen. We’d be covered and I can handle her.”
He cursed and shot back, “When did you decide to be the school’s personal savior and call out everyone at the top? The girl thing won’t fly and you know it. You’re pissed because your sister is letting Amber and Jennica walk all over her. You’re trying to fix her problem, like you’ve always done. You set the alarms to save Mandy from gossip, and now you’re covering your own ass by going after all of us.”
“I didn’t mean you.”
“Tough shit. I’m at the top. You said ‘people like you.’ That means me, my crowd, my people.”
“I’m not going after you. This has nothing to do with you.”
“Yes, it does,” he retorted fiercely. “This is my school; you’re messing with my friends.”
“No—”
“Mine,” he bit out.
“Look,” I spoke a little calmer, “I’m tired of how Amber gets away with everything at this school.”
“So am I,” he stated.
“I know, but,” I faltered, “this isn’t about you. About you and me.”
“Oh no. You’re goddamn right about that one. This has no bearing on you and me.”
I stopped at his words. There was a possessive note in his voice and heat rushed through me. The ache to feel him against me started again, but I cleared my throat. My voice was hoarse when I spoke, “Look, I was just pissed. Amber and Mandy wanted to get out of class for some pep rally posters. I’m tired of how they can do whatever the hell they want. So I said something and then Amber brought my shit up. About the alarms last Monday, about how Pedlam got broken into.” My hands lifted to his shirt and I grasped onto his collar. He remained standing so close to me, his gaze bearing into me. Oh god. It was such an intimate look. My chest swelled and I ignored how my pulse picked up speed. I added, “She called you out too when she brought up the Pedlam thing.”
Tray sighed, raking a hand through his hair.
My lips were dry. God, he was freaking gorgeous. And those lips…his shoulders…
Tray gave me an exasperated look. “You got pissed and went after her. My friends aren’t saints. I’m not a saint.” His look switched to a pointed one. “Neither are you. You’ve got serious history with the biggest drug-runner in Pedlam. You used to date a guy that’s violent.” My eyes got big, but before I could argue, he said, “Maybe not towards you, but he’s known to be violent with others. Both Lansers aren’t good people.”
I sighed, turning away to rest my head against the wall. I didn’t know what to say. I’d opened a can of worms, but—hell—I wasn’t one to sit back and let stuff slide by. Not if I was pissed enough and could stop it. Or, to be more accurate, if I wanted to stop it. Tray was right, I let a lot of stuff by because I didn’t care about it, but this time, I cared. So I opened my mouth.
“How did you know about Jace?”
Tray snorted, rolling his eyes. “I know more than you think about that world.”
He knows people that I know. I remembered Jace’s warning. A shiver went through me, but I folded my arms across my chest and leaned back against the wall. Tray was becoming my only ally here. I didn’t want to lose him. “He’s not a drug lord.”
“No, he’s a drug dealer. That’s a lot more prestigious.”
I rolled my eyes, hearing his sarcasm. “Jace is—”
“Jace is someone you should stay away from. He might care about you, but he’s not going to change. One day he’s going to end up in prison or dead.”
That was enough. “And how do you know so much?” The guy was insufferable.
“I know. Trust me.”
“But how?”
“My dad,” he remarked. “He used to be the chief of police here, and my older brother’s with the DEA. I know both sides, trust me. My family is messed up, but I know where to step and where not to step.” Tray sat on a roll of wrestling mats against the wall. Bracing his elbows on his knees, he said further, “That’s how I know Lanser.”
“Jace said you knew people he knew.” This was important, whatever Tray was going to tell me might not be brought up again. I had this one shot. We were in a back room, tucked away from the world. Right now, it was only him and me. “What did he mean by that?”
Pain flashed in the depths of his eyes. The sight of it surprised me. There was more than pain, though. There was anger and grief too. He was haunted.
Then he said, “My dad was a dirty cop.”
“Oh.”
He laughed, and the sound sent chills down my spine. “Jace is a dealer for Sal Galverson, a drug lord from South America. They tried to recruit my dad to help with the distribution in Rawley.”
“Did he?”
He nodded. “Yeah, for the longest time. Bad stuff happened. My brother got involved. He came back home. We thought he was home to recuperate from an injury, but he was really undercover. My dad was so dumb. My brother told us he had been shot, and his leg was broken, so my dad didn’t think he could follow him.”
“What happened?”
“My brother was faking. He got a ton of evidence on my dad. Some of it was turned over, but Galverson’s lawyer found a loophole. My dad was the only one that would’ve gone to prison.”
“Would’ve gone? He’s not?”
“No, he’s in South America with Galverson. He still helps him because of his contacts with the cops here. My dad kept the other evidence. If anything happens to me, it goes to DEA. I guess it’s the stuff about their current suppliers. Galverson’s not scared about prison. He doesn’t want his distribution and suppliers messed with so everyone’s at a standstill.” He grimaced. “My dad is with him as an act of good faith; it’s not just to hide from the government.”
I blinked, not believing what I just heard. “Does anyone else know about this?”
He shook his head. “No. I never said a word to my friends and all the stuff that went down was swept under the rug. A lot of the Rawley cops are dirty. My brother went back to the DEA. I haven't talked to him since it all happened.”
“When?”
“Last year.”
I sighed and moved to sit in front of him. Tray pulled me back against his chest and wrapped his arms around me. I laid my head on his chest. “I’m so sorry, Tray. I had no idea.”
“It’s not a normal thing people go through or tell anyone about.” He tipped my head up and peered down at me. His eyes were fierce. “I’m only telling you because I know Jace Lanser. He showed up at our house when they thought my dad was going to flip on them. I know what he’s capable of.”
So did I. A wave of sadness crashed down on me. “Jace has never said he was a good guy. I know he’s dangerous.”
“You’ll stay away from him?”
I nodded. I felt that he was asking more with that question. It wasn’t only about Jace and me; it was about Tray and me. He was claiming me again with this request. Jace had been family, but I couldn’t go back to there. He didn’t even want me back there anyway. I whispered, “I’ll stay away from him.”
He chuckled. “They’re expecting me to put you in your place.” One of his hands began caressing my leg.
I was confused, then remembered Amber and Mandy. “I can’t back down to Amber. I won’t. I hate girls like her.”
“I know, but it’s going to make things a lot more tense with the group.”
“Why? It’s not like I’m exactly friends with you guys.” I turned to face him, and his hands moved to my waist. “I just don’t like how Amber and Jennica treat people.”
He nodded, his thumb coming to my bottom lip. He rested it there, then pulled it down. My eyes held his. I was melting, just looking at him, feeling him against me. Tray grinned, running his hands up my arms and back down to my waist. He pulled me closer to him and leaned forward, nuzzling my neck.
I wrapped my arms around his neck. The conversation was officially over.
Tray kissed his way up my neck, along my chin, and found my lips.
I lifted my legs and turned to straddle him. He slid a hand down my back, slipping it inside my jeans, then up my back, moving to softly caress my breast, underneath my bra.
“—this place is usually—whoa.”
The door opened. Tray clipped out, “Out.” The door slammed shut and then I started laughing, hiding my face in his neck. We were always getting interrupted.
“Sorry, guys,” Samuel said through the door.
“Get lost.” Tray nuzzled my neck again.
“Yep. On it.” His voice sounded farther away and another door shut a moment later.
I didn’t want it to end so I found his lips again, and we started kissing as if nothing had happened. When the bell rang, I pulled away and stood. My knees were unsteady. Tray held onto my elbow for a little bit.
“I’m good.”
“This isn’t just for you.” He flashed me a grin, breathing heavy.
I chuckled, feeling relieved that he was affected just as much as I was. A moment later we left the equipment closet, and once we were in the hallway, I started in the opposite direction. Tray’s locker was in the senior hallway. My locker was in a separate hallway, but he stopped me.
I glanced back. “What?”
He flashed me a grin, his eyes were still a darkened amber color. “Come on,” he said, pulling me behind him as he walked us back through the hallways. “We’re going to my house for the rest of the day.” He pulled out his keys when we approached his SUV.
Nothing else sounded better.