CHAPTER FOURTEEN

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As I turned towards lunch, I found out that it was in the gymnasium and the normal free period actually consisted of a pep rally where people were preppy. One specific person, Mandy, was certainly peppy. She gushed, jumped, and nearly bounced around in her cheerleading uniform.

She even bounced her way to me, but only for a quick warning of, “Please be nice to Carter—and you’re coming to the party tonight.”

“Really? You want me there with your friends?”

Mandy glared briefly before she blinded everyone else and growled underneath her breath, “Party. Tonight. Friendly. Or I will tell mom and dad how you helped Tray and the guys do their little illegal thing.”

Well—she had me there. Plus, I was caught by something—she’d known and yet she’d bounced up to me that morning and acted as if she hadn’t…what was up with that?

I didn’t have time to think of a response, not that I’m usually in short supply—before Mandy had skipped her way elsewhere.

Okay, if I’m honest with myself (I was starting a new trend with myself), I’ll acknowledge—on this very unique day—that cheerleaders aren’t actually that bad. It’s just…I don’t get them. I really don’t. It’s like they’re an alien race to me because being a cheerleader is like saying, “Hello. Pay attention to me.” And I’m more like, “Get away from me.” And I’d be snarling when I said that and not waving my hands in the air with a smile plastered on my face. Or glitter on my cheeks. Or glitter on my legs—that was glitter on Mandy’s thigh, wasn’t it?

Okay.

Moving on.

When they brought the football players out dressed in cheerleader uniforms, I decided my exit was duly needed.

The hallways were empty. Thank goodness.

That lasted until I got to my locker. I heard voices down the hallway and I glanced over to note that Tray was a part of the group. They were headed towards the gymnasium and they had to go past me to get there so I tensed as they passed behind. I didn’t tense because of the group—it was because I felt him.

Faint-worthy Tray.

I was still a little ticked at him for the extent of his pranks even though I now knew my reaction had more to do with Jace’s dismissal than what Tray had done, but…still…I’d been panicked for a reason.

I didn’t like my feathers getting ruffled and they’d definitely been ruffled for a moment.

I felt him—he stood behind me. My feathers were getting ruffled again…

I absent-mindedly opened my locker and as I reached inside, my hand paused on top of a textbook, but I didn’t feel the book.

He stood behind me, right behind me. He was close—I could feel his heat. Literally. His after-shave smelled so good—too good.

“What?” I sighed, my back still turned.

“What are you going to do?” He questioned intent.

I shrugged him off.

“Taryn.” He insisted and grabbed my arm to whirl me around. He was so close, I could see the perfect oval shape of his eyes…and I saw the slight specks of amber that spread throughout the hazel.

It was mesmerizing.

Oh god.

He wasn’t touching me…well, except my arm. And now his thumb lightly rubbed on my arm, in a soft erotic caress.

“What’s this about?” I asked and grimaced inside when I heard how husky my voice was. Really—talk about broadcasting his effect.

“What do you mean?” He sounded casual, but I knew it wasn’t casual. This entire thing was anything, but casual.

“This. You. Me. The touching.” I glared at his hand.

Tray chuckled smoothly and stepped closer.

That was it—I didn’t think when I pressed against him. I just closed that small breath of air between us. And I grinned when I heard his sharp intake of breath.

No one was in the hallway. Everyone was at the prep rally…and us…I closed my eyes, feeling Tray lean downwards…and his mouth was on mine. It was a soft sensual kiss. It wasn’t what I was expecting. It wasn’t what we’d had before, but it was…I kissed him back.

It felt so good—we hadn’t kissed since that night…

I surged closer.

Tray wrapped his arms around me and pressed me against the locker.

I couldn’t help it. I tipped my head back and groaned. As I did, Tray dipped inside. I met him and brushed my tongue against his—I shuddered from the sensations. And then I reached around to grasp his neck. One of his hands slid around my waist. The other slid to cradle my hipbone and slowly moved downwards.

And then Tray ripped away from me. It took a moment. My breath was erratic—both of us were panting—, but I heard the shouts.

The others streamed out of the gymnasium now.

Needless to say, the rally was done. As they passed by, I was grateful to see that not all of them turned to stare.

Tray had braced himself with both arms on either side of me. And me—I still breathed with a little difficulty, but I ducked my head and avoided all eye contact. I was a grateful as Tray shielded me from our audience.

“Oh…wow,” I murmured as I ran a faulty hand through my hair.

Tray grunted and then moved off down the hallway.

Well—I understood the abrupt departure, but still—it was abrupt.

I took a deep breath and turned once more to my locker.

If I had ever smoked—I’d be grateful right now for one. My hand even twitched a little bit.

“Taryn,” someone spoke behind me.

I caught sight of Grayley down the hallway. He made sure to study each person as he made his way towards me. He walked with purpose and, I couldn’t help it, but the way my day had gone—I knew it wasn’t good.

“What are you doing here?” Welcome to my stomach, knot of dread…

“I have to talk to you,” he muttered. He didn’t break his stride as he grasped my elbow and dragged me behind him. As we rounded a corner, he found an empty room and pushed me inside.

If everyone hadn’t already been watching because of Tray, I knew the rest looked now. It wasn’t every day when some random guy showed up, manhandled me, and I shut up and let him.

But…Grayley was Grayley. I’ll admit that I had a soft spot for the guy. Plus, I knew he wouldn’t have come unless it was important, like bad important.

I turned and just waited, chilled, as Grayley made sure to shut the door.

He looked—well, he looked preppy, but it wasn’t starting to faze me so I really only noticed the slight wrinkles in his perfectly pressed blue polo shirt when he ran a hand through his mop of gelled curls and the end of his shirt was lifted up.

There they were—wrinkles—and what was worse—there was even a dirt stain on them.

Grayley would’ve been horrified if I had pointed them out.

“What?” I asked instead. The boy was my friend, but I wasn’t the sort of friend to point out apparel mishaps. I sighed, “Look, if this is because I didn’t come to personally tell you what Jace had said, I swear—”

“It’s not about that,” he cut me off.

I took a closer look and realized he was slightly white around his lips. It gave him a strained look.

“What is it?” I asked. The knot of dread grew in size…

“You know what you said about Geezer’s dad.” He worked for someone besides Jace—not good either way.

“Yeah…”

“Geezer went to Brian. He wanted to know who Jace’s competition was…who his dad was working for…and…”

“Oh no.” I already knew where this was going.

“Yeah—Brian wanted to know why Geezer wanted to know. Geezer doesn’t care about a lot as long as his supply is stocked, you know.”

“Brian hurt him?” I felt a punch to my stomach when I asked that.

“Brian was pissed—Geezer’s in the hospital. He’s got three broken ribs, a punctured lung. And…”

Oh god. What else?

“…A broken right arm.”

“Oh my god,” I groaned and fell against the wall. I slowly slid until I hit the floor where I dazedly wrapped my arms around my knees.

Oh god.

Brian had hurt Geezer. He’d hurt a good friend—someone who I considered family.

Brian had hurt Geezer.

I was going to kill Brian.

I threw open the door and stalked from the room.

I hadn’t gone more than two steps before I heard, “Taryn.”

I didn’t falter. Nothing.

Tray was the one that called out, but I heard the quickening sound of his feet. He hurried to follow.

I still didn’t slow down as I literally flew around the corner and to my locker.

“Taryn.” Tray called out again.

“Taryn.” That was Grayley. He had darted out behind me and caught my elbow just as I reached my locker.

Tray stiffened beside him. I felt his scorching gaze land where Grayley held my arm.

“What are you doing?” Grayley ignored Tray’s perusal.

“It’s the last move. He’s going down. Someone has to take him down. I’m going to have to do it,” I choked out. Grayley knew—it was why he had come. He would’ve known how I’d react…

I felt Tray’s caution. I even felt the words on the tip of his tongue, but he’d grown silent—content to hear us out.

It unnerved me. I shouldn’t have felt so in tuned with Tray, but then again—everything unnerved me that day.

“I didn’t tell you so that you’d go all psycho on me,” Grayley reasoned. He moved forward and slammed my locker shut. As he backed away, I saw that he had my keys in his hands.

The…rat bastard—I’d taught him how to do that.

Grayley ignored my glare. He pressed, insistently, “I told you because you’re Geezer’s friend. He needs you.”

“What are you talking about? Geezer will heal. He always does.”

“He found out who his dad works for,” Grayley replied, gravely.

I froze—the gravity of his words hit me, full force… I came back sputtering curses.

Unlike what Jace insisted the night before, I knew that Geezer cared if his dad was working for some scumbag drugdealer. Jace hadn’t confirmed anything specific so I knew Geezer must’ve had some sort of hope that it wasn’t true, but now…he knew that it was true. Geezer just got confirmation that his father was still a scumbag who worked for another scumbag.

I included Jace in the stereotype.

And I lunged for my keys.

I’d had it with scumbags—and Brian was at the top of that list, but more because I had a legitimate reason to go after him.

Grayley neatly checked me in place. He held me against the lockers and dangled my keys away from me.

I was so enraged. I didn’t care that a few moments ago, Tray had been holding me in the same place. I’d been melting then, now I was pure fury.

“Taryn. You need to stay out. You need to let Jace handle Brian. And he will. We both know it.”

“He crossed the boundary,” I seethed.

“You need to be Geezer’s friend. You’re his family. You and me. That’s all he’s got, okay. You can’t go all vengeance on Brian right now, not when Geezer needs you.”

“I need to castrate him is what I need to do,” I cried out.

“Maybe,” Grayley bit out. He let me go, but he kept a firm hold on my keys.

“So what do you want?” I asked suddenly, rolling my eyes.

He watched me wearily, “I came over here to make sure you stay out of it. I know you, Taryn. The second you’d checked any of your voicemessages, you would’ve torn after Brian. You can’t do that.”

“What’s it to you? You’re with Gentley now.”

“No. I’m with you and Geezer. But neither of you go to my school anymore, so yeah…if I have to, I’ll side with Gentley to survive. But it’s you and Geezer, you know that, Tar,” he said quietly, seemingly wounded.

“Ah! I know. Alright. I know, I already got guilt-trip 2000. I’ve been so busy running away from—everything—that I walked out on you and Geezer.”

“We’re not Jace and Brian.”

“I know.”

“We’re your best friends.”

Exactly! That was my point. It was my obligation and right to tear into Brian. I owed it to Geezer.

“Who else—” I began to argue.

Grayley interrupted, rudely, “It’ll be dealt with. But. Not. By. You.”

“I’m the one who should do it—I’m the reason—” I argued, heatedly.

“Just shut up! Okay.” Grayley really knew how to talk my language.

I growled. I couldn’t do anything else—it was the only thing I could do and I didn’t care if it was very unfeminine. I needed an outlet.

Tray chose that moment to chuckle.

Grayley slid a wary look towards him and shifted away, “You’re Evans.” It wasn’t a question.

Tray leaned against my locker, his hands in his pockets, and gave one of those too-cool half-grins. “Yeah.”

They studied each other for a good minute—or that’s what it seemed like.

“Okay!” I exclaimed, “Stop it.”

Tray chuckled again.

Grayley grinned, slightly relaxing.

“I’ll…I have something to take care of and then I’ll go to the hospital. Promise.” I said and held my hands up in mock surrender. “Promise.”

I said this to Grayley, but I was more aware of Tray’s perusal. I didn’t know what he was thinking, if it was about me or about Grayley, but…it had me on edge.

Everything about him had me on edge.

Grayley studied me, a good minute, before he gave me back my keys. As I swept them from him, he said lightly, “Cops are watching Brian 24/7. So stay away. You’ll just get in trouble.”

It was a final warning and a last ditch effort to steer me clear.

It wasn’t needed. I’d already made my promise and I didn’t falter—ever.

“Fine,” I said tightly. It still killed me to say it, but I had to. And I had to tell the truth. I didn’t lie—well, I did—but I tried not to lie to Grayley. And he knew that. It was just one of those odd things that you pick up over years of friendship. And that was one of our rules.

It was enough because Grayley visibly relaxed, “Okay.” He sighed. He glanced at Tray and stuck out his hand, “I’m Grayley. Idiot, here, doesn’t have the skills to do introductions.”

“Shut up.” I flipped him off.

“Tray.” Tray shook his hand, hip-checking me at the same time, which earned him a grin from Grayley.

Well…I just loved that the two got along. I wanted to growl again, but I refrained. I had some feminine qualities after all.

Grayley searched my face one last time and questioned, “Cool?”

“Yeah.” I sighed, resigned.

“Good.” And he turned and walked out with a determined clip.

I was getting used to the abrupt departures, but I was left with an odd feeling. It was just—an old best friend in the new school. Plus, the topic of conversation—an ex love interest in front of the new…I didn’t know what Tray was. And I certainly didn’t want to classify him, not yet.

He wasn’t all faint-worthy to me…maybe hand trembling and erratic breathing, but not fainting—not yet.

Hell, this was me. He wouldn’t ever be faint worthy—or swooning.

There would be no swooning involved.

“I like him.” Tray announced as he jerked me out of my troubling daydream—no—not daydream. He wasn’t that either.

What could I say? I liked Grayley too so I turned and opened my locker. As I did, Tray reached around me and grabbed my textbook out of my hand.

“Hey—”

“I got it. Let’s go.” He sent me a blinding smile. And there was that instant warmth—. I swore, instantly, but then we were at my fifth period classroom and Tray had smoothly slid my book into my hands before he sauntered away.

Definitely not swoon-worthy.

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