Fallen Crest High

chapter SIXTEEN





When we got inside, everyone knew Mason was there. Guys appeared from nowhere for a hand slap, a nod, or any greeting from him. Girls tried to curl on his arm, but he shook them off with an ease that was impressive. He left each behind and they all seemed not to realize what had happened before he was already gone. Then he stepped into the kitchen and a herald of cheers sounded out.

Logan was in the middle of the kitchen with his hand around the keg's nozzle. When he saw his brother, he lifted it up and let it go. Beer soaked everyone in the room, but no one was upset. The girls shrieked in laughter and the guys raised their drinks in salute.

So this was their life.

They were celebrities in Fallen Crest and I was starting to realize the magnitude of it all.

Then Logan was in front of me and bent forward. I was picked up in the air in the next moment and flung over his shoulder. He smacked my butt and turned me around. Then he lifted a cup in the air. The room quieted.

"This is my new stepsister. Help me and Mase welcome her to the family." He gave me a smirk when I twisted around. "By getting her drunk!"

Another round of cheers went through the room and I heard an echoing chorus throughout the house, though I doubt they knew what they had cheered for.

I hit him in the head. "Put me down."

When I was on my feet, I saw that Mason was in the far corner of the kitchen. He had a drink in hand and as I watched a blonde wrapped herself around his arm. He didn't shake her off.

A glass was being nudged into my hand and I saw that Logan was trying to give me a shot. "What?"

"Take it. I'll do a shot with you."

I pulled him close and yelled in his ear, "I don't really drink, Logan."

His hand curved around my back. "Just let loose, for tonight only." Then he pressed his mouth to my ear and I heard the seriousness in his voice. "I want you to have fun and I won't let anything happen to you. Promise. Everyone will look out for you since I told 'em your family."

He pulled away and clinked his glass with mine. "Drink up, sis."

"I'm not your sister."

"If you're mom has anything to say about it, you will be."

A flash of anger went through me, but not at him. I gripped the shot glass and drained it. Logan whistled his approval and filled it again. And the night went on like that.

Mason disappeared and Logan wouldn't let me out of his eyesight. An hour later, after he'd been pulled downstairs for a game of pool, I looked up and saw Jessica. She was in a corner by herself. I didn't know anyone else in the room, but it was full of people and they all knew Logan. Most of the guys were tall and muscular with athletic builds so I assumed they were on the football team with him.

I searched for Lydia or Jill, but it was Jessica seemed alone. Then I nudged someone beside me. When he turned with his poolstick in hand, I asked, "Anyone from Academy come tonight?"

He gestured outside. "They're all out by the lake. Why?" He narrowed his eyes. "You an Academy kid?"

"Ethan!" Logan barked from across the table. "Your shot."

Ethan gave me another suspicious scan and left. As he bent over and started to line up a shot, I felt someone beside me and looked up.

I sighed. Who else?

"Hi, Sam," Jessica spoke in a quiet voice. She inched closer when someone scooted past her.

I felt Logan's gaze, but he didn't join us. Thank goodness.

Her shoulders dropped an inch and I wondered if she had wanted the opposite, then I felt stupid. Of course, she did. Why else would my ex best friend talk to me?

"What do you want, Jess?"

"I need a reason to say hi to you? I thought we were friends."

Someone fell against the wall next to me and I didn't have to look. I held my breath for a moment and was thankful when Logan remained quiet.

"You screwed my boyfriend for two years. You haven't said a word to me since I found out."

Her smile seemed strained at the corners and she edged back a step. "What are you talking about? I talked to you at the game tonight."

I pushed off from the wall. "You said hi to me, after you had won a date with Logan."

"What?" Logan stood too.

"Yeah, Logan." She surged forward and gave him a sultry smile. "I won the date with you."

"What date?"

She faltered. "The one for charity. There was a raffle."

"You serious?"

Ethan leaned back from the table. "Dude, that pepgirl asked you last week if you'd do it."

"Oh—I thought she was asking me out. She was hot." Logan flashed a smirk and whistled under his breath.

Ethan clapped him on the shoulder. "What'd you think when you never went out?"

"Nah, we did. Last night."

Jessica's shoulders dropped as each statement was spoken between the two. Her head hung almost to the floor now.

I had no sympathy for her, none at all.

Logan must've noticed my gaze because he spoke up, "Did you pay a lot for that date?"

Her head bounced back up. "Some."

A hard look entered his eyes. "Are you going to screw me afterwards?"

She gulped, but responded in a timid voice, "Is that what you want?"

"You think I take girls out for nothing?"

Ethan watched the exchange and I felt his gaze rest on me for a moment. Wisely, he kept quiet.

"Maybe if you liked her?"

Logan barked out a laugh. It sounded harsh. "You paid for me. You think you're a girl that I like? There's very few who'd fall in that category."

Jessica glanced at me. "You seem to like Samantha."

His arm came around my shoulders and he pulled me close. "Well, if she wasn't spoken for…and if her mom wasn't doing my dad then maybe…"

"Her mom?"

My face got hot. "None of your business. Logan, shut up about that."

His smirk vanished. "Sorry." I shoved his arm off and started to brush past him, but he caught my arm. "I am sorry. I didn't think about your situation."

There was a scathing comment on the tip of my tongue, but I twisted my arm free and shoved through the crowd that had appeared. I gritted my teeth as I had to push through the hallways. The house was huge, but it seemed the entire two schools had shown up. It was standing room only and that was an exaggeration.

I headed for the lake and took a deep breath when I was able to break free from the house. The crowds outside were widely dispersed over the backyard and down the hill by the lake. Bonfire smell filled the air, mixed with a moist feel that was from the lake and slip-n-slide.

Two girls dashed past me giggling and two more boys followed in pursuit. All of them were soaked head to toe. One almost bowled me over, but he caught me and rushed out, "Sorry, little Kade."

My blood boiled and I snapped, "I'm not a Kade!"

But he was gone.

'Dammit, Logan."

As I made my way further down the hill, I spotted Mason and Nate. They were beside a bonfire in a far corner and each nodded in greeting, but they didn't come over and neither gestured for me to go to them.

Fine by me.

I relaxed a little and kept on. Finally I heard a voice I recognized.

Jeff.

"So you know the Kades?"

I turned around and braced myself, but there was no anger in his voice. After I searched his face, I didn't see any in his eyes either and relaxed again. "I guess."

He grinned. "You guess? You either know them or you don't. Man, Jessica crapped her pants tonight."

"Really?"

He nodded and twisted his fingers in his hair to pull it up. It was full of gel and stood straight up. It gave him a Mohawk look. Then he messed it up and flattened it again. "Jill's going crazy too. She doesn't know if she should kiss your rear or be a bigger bitch to you."

I glanced around. No one cared about our conversation. It was refreshing. "What do you think?"

He shrugged. "Whatever. Good for you."

I sighed. "Jeff, what are you doing?"

"What do you mean?" He stood straighter.

"Why are you talking to me now?"

He shrugged again and slid his hands into his back pockets. "I don't know. Guess it feels okay now, you know? I mean, I felt bad about what happened with us and then I was with Jill so quick. I didn't feel like I could apologize to you and then the other day…in the hallway…" He took a deep breath. "I know it's over."

I remembered and nodded. For some reason my throat felt closed off.

He gave me a bright smile. "And if you're going to be with Quinn, he's a nice guy usually, but you should know that he's not always."

I frowned. "What do you mean?"

He jerked an arm towards the docks and boats. "He's down there being an ass. I guess he's pissed about you and the Kades knowing each other."

Great. If Jeff was the one who warned me then it was bad, really bad. And as I got closer to a pontoon attached to the dock, I heard Adam's voice. He was drunk and when I stepped onto it and peered under the canopy I saw a girl in his lap and one of his hands between her legs. The other was stroking her knee.

I took a breath. Something told me to be prepared.

He murmured something in the girl's ear and she let out a throaty giggle. It grated against my ears, but when I heard another squeal, I looked closer. Becky was huddled in the seat behind them. Her knees were drawn against her chest and she was hugging them to her. When her eyes met mine for a second, she squealed again and ducked her head down.

"Well hey there, Sam!" Adam heralded. He threw an arm out. "Welcome to our lowly depths."

I rolled my eyes and sat stiff in a chair towards the front. I turned towards them. "I see you've been enjoying the party."

"Why shouldn't I?"

The girl in his lap squeaked and shifted under his hold.

He grinned and nipped at her shoulder.

I eyed the happy couple before I met Becky's gaze. The sadness in her was evident and when she wiped a tear away, I stood. "Can I talk to you, Becky?"

"Why talk to only her?" Adam stopped us. "You've been lying to me too. Or were you laughing at us behind our backs?"

"I wasn't laughing at anyone."

Becky stood, but hesitated behind him.

"Becky, please. I'd like to explain."

Her hands were clasped together and she looked down at them.

Adam deposited the girl to another chair and stood between us. He stepped closer to me and asked in a harsh tone, "You want to lie to her again? Hurt her some more?"

I frowned and looked up at him. "Are you trying to intimidate me? Are you really this hurt because I didn't tell you I knew the Kades?"

He bit out, "You played me for a fool."

Becky stepped around him and laid a hand on his arm. "He's just protecting me."

"From who?" I looked around. "Me? Because I didn't want people to know my parents are getting a divorce?"

Adam laughed and shook his head. "Yeah, right."

"You knew it was happening. You were there when I was in my dad's office. You helped tape my hands."

Becky looked at him. "Is that true?"

"Yeah, but I didn't know about the Kades."

My jaw hardened. "I know them, I'm not screwing them."

He didn't say anything.

And Becky looked at me. "You're not with Mason Kade? Lydia said you got in his car and…"

I rolled my eyes. "Oh, for god's sake. If Lydia said it, it must be true, right? I can't believe this. You're listening to my old best friend who knew my other best friend and boyfriend were sleeping together behind my back for two years. I'm sure she's the best source in the world to listen to."

She hesitated. "She said you seemed close."

"I saw you get in his car," Adam said in an accusing manner.

"I did, you're right. So, of course, that means I'm having sex with him. I've gotten in your car twice. Have I spread 'em for you too?"

He looked away. "It's not the same thing."

"Yes, it is. And, by the way, why do I have to explain anything to you? You've been my friend for what? Two weeks? You asked me out a couple times and I'm supposed to open my closet for you? How many dirty skeletons do you have that I don't know about?"

His mouth shut.

"Exactly." I swung towards Becky. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you I knew the Kades, but it's not something I want to talk about. It has to do with my parent's divorce, another thing I don't want spread around the school."

Both of them looked away.

I sighed. "Can I ask you both to keep this quiet?"

The girl who'd been on Adam's lap lifted her hand. "I won't say anything."

I snorted. "Thanks for that. Who are you?"

She gave me a bright smile and flicked her bleach blonde hair over her shoulder. "I'm Tanya. I know Logan so I definitely won't say anything."

I couldn't believe this girl. "You know Logan?"

"We went out last night."

Of all ironies. I glanced at Adam. "You got a keeper there."

He sighed and rolled his eyes. "I was pissed."

Then Becky reached out and squeezed my hand. "You know the Kades?" The excitement in her eyes made me pause. Then I grinned and shook my head. Becky never stayed down for long.