Mandy and I had come to a stand-still. An impasse. That night, Mandy stuck around with the rest of the group. Devon had stayed away. Sasha had been called over. And I heard Tray and Carter’s voice downstairs at one point.

I stayed upstairs the entire time.

Shelley had knocked on my door, asking if I wanted any supper, but I declined.

Instead, I’d finished my homework for Monday, Tuesday, and started a paper that was due at the end of the term.

See. Avoiding people does have some benefits.

I’d heard Shelley and Kevin say their goodnights and a moment later, Shelley poked her head back through. “Hey, wanted to say goodnight. And don’t forget to just ask the coach tomorrow. It doesn’t hurt. If anything you might make some friends you can train with.”

I nodded and said goodnight back. Kevin waved over Shelley’s shoulder before they both moved on.

About an hour later, I heard another knock before the door swung open and Tray slipped through.

I didn’t say anything. Neither did he. But I did move over as he crawled onto the bed, lying beside me.

We stared at each other for a moment. Tray lifted a hand and tucked a strand of hair behind my ear, his fingers smoothed out the rest of my hair before sliding down to my arm, then down to my waist.

I closed my eyes and leaned forward, finding his lips with mine. I felt myself melting into him. He traced my lips with his, then swept inside. I moved my arm around him, and twisted one of my legs around his, pulling him tighter against me. He caressed my leg, keeping it locked around him.

I sighed, moving back as Tray rose above me.

Hearing my phone ring, I groaned, my mouth still fused with his.

“Leave it,” he murmured, trailing kisses down the side of my face to my neck. Then farther down, bringing a grin to my face.

Dazed, I numbly grabbed for my phone and raised it to my eyes. I saw a number I didn’t recognize. “What the…” I mumbled.

Tray reached for my phone and stuck it inside a drawer in my nightstand as his lips met mine again, more insistent this time.

I complied and wrapped my arms around his neck as he pressed me back into the pillows.

Breathing hard, awhile later, Tray called a halt to our make-out session, sitting up in bed. Staring at me, he said hoarsely, “If we don’t stop now, we won’t be stopping for the rest of the night.”

“I know.” I sighed. Everyone was still downstairs, not that that would’ve put a damper on us, but…the parents, not to mention Austin. He was a smart eighth grader, but he was still an eighth grader. He might think he knows shit, but I’d rather him not learn it from me.

Tray ran a hand through his hair, regarding me wryly.

I chuckled and gasped, feeling him suddenly lift me in the air and settle me against his chest, with him resting against my headboard. He placed me before him, one hand against my stomach.

“This is new,” I murmured.

I felt Tray grin into my hair, his face resting against mine. “Yeah. I’m not after sex all the time. Just most the time.”

I grinned. “I am.”

He chuckled softly. “You also like to hide in my bed.”

“The activities make it tempting. It’s Pavlonian.”

“You’re telling me.”

Hearing a beeping sound, I remembered my phone and pulled it out. Checking my missed calls, I saw Kerri’s name flash across the screen. She hadn’t left a message though, so I put it back.

“Not someone you want to talk to,” Tray noted.

“More like…just confused as to why she’s calling. We’re not really close.”

“She’s one of your friends from Pedlam.”

“Yeah. Somewhat.”

“You and Mandy are fighting.”

I grinned. “And see I was thinking you were coming up to get some quick and easy action. But now…now I know the real reason you came up here. Mandy sent you, didn’t she?”

“Guilty. Except she didn’t. Believe it or not, I came up for some quick and easy action.”

“Mmmm. I always fall for the romantic guys,” I mocked with a dreamy look. “They just get me right here.” I patted my chest.

“Your breasts.”

“My heart, you ass.”

Tray chuckled, tightening his arms around me. “Actually, I came up because it was either this or listening to Amber, Jasmine, and Mandy rehash the latest SNL skit that made fun of Paris Hilton.”

“I’m touched. You chose me.”

“Well, I’d like to think we’ve started a tradition over the past few nights. It’d be heartless of me not to keep that tradition going.”

“And what is that?”

“Me and you. In bed.”

I laughed at that one.

“Except tonight,” I pointed out. “We will not be progressing as we have in the past.”

“Such fond memories.” He sighed, resting his cheek against my head.

“I feel like it happened just yesterday. Imagine that,” I scoffed, laughing.

Suddenly we heard a knock at my door, followed by Carter’s voice, “Dude. You dressed?”

“Oh my—get in here,” I called out. “I don’t need my parents thinking we wouldn’t be dressed in here.”

“Sorry.” Carter grinned, shrugging as he closed the door behind him. “I figured I’d take my chances on you guys.”

“They’re still talking about Paris Hilton?” Tray asked, running a hand down my knee, which was resting over his.

“Nah, dude, now they’re talking about that witch show. Charmed or something.”

I grinned. “Carter, I bet you a mil that if I were to look in your computer, you’d have every episode on iTunes.”

“Would not,” he scoffed uncomfortably.

“Should we go?” Tray saved him, glancing at the clock on my nightstand. “It’s midnight.”

“Yeah, sure.” Carter stood up gratefully. Tray paused, once, to meet my eyes before he left, pulling the door shut behind him. A few minutes later I heard them leave through the front-door and climb into Tray’s SUV.

I recognized the sound of its engine.

*

Monday dawned bright and early. Mandy, as usual, had left for school long before I’d even stepped foot in the kitchen. She was an early bird, and me, I’d like to aspire to be one of them. Someday.

But today I got the joyous opportunity of dropping Austin off at his school. Mom and Dad didn’t approve of his little buddies, so I got stuck with a pissed off eighth grader. My ‘have a good day’ was met with a middle finger.

That made my day.

Parking in my usual spot, I realized school had a different light to it. For some reason, I felt more…comfortable. Don’t ask me why.

Larkins met me on the lawn, as usual.

“Hey, Ice Bitch.”

There was my God-given name.

“Hey, Larkins. You get some action Friday night?” I teased, but was met with a flush. I raised my eyebrows. “You did, didn’t you?”

He shrugged, shoving his hands in his front pockets. “Yeah, well, we had fun. It was a fun party.”

“You called her the next day, right?” I asked, watching him intently.

“Huh?” Larkins asked, confused.

“You got action, you should’ve called her.”

“I wouldn’t call you.”

“I’m not Molly Keeley,” I pointed out. “You have to treat her differently than you would me. Or girls like me.”

“I didn’t call her.” He paled.

Well. What’d I expect?

“I’ll take care of it,” I assured him. “You do want me to take care of it, right?”

“Yeah. Yeah. That would be awesome,” he insisted gratefully.

I saw his hackey-sack buddies waiting in the background. “Your buds look impatient.”

“Oh,” he murmured, nodding again. “Thanks, Ice Bitch. Thanks.”

“Larkins.”

“Yeah?” He turned back.

“The name’s Taryn. Anyone else call me what you do would be in the hospital by now,” I murmured, bypassing him into school.

When I entered the school, there were no homecoming signs to greet me. There was a God.

But—hell—I just saw a poster for state championships plastered on the wall. It was decorated with little footballs, pompoms, and each jersey number of the players.

That’s right. They won Friday night. That meant—off to play-offs we go.

Whatever. I weaved my way through a crowd of sophomore gawkers. They were, I hate to admit that I even noticed this, staring at Bryce and Grant. Who were in turn, staring at Jasmine and Mandy.

Remember the day when I broke into school and fucked with the alarm system? All to distract my sister from school gossip?

I was a moron.

I opened my locker and reached for my first period textbook when I felt someone beside me.

It was Molly. With brand new microscope glasses.

“Hey. I like the pink,” I noted.

“Tray Evans had a party Saturday night and you Did. Not. Call. Me.”

Guess she didn’t like the pink frames.

“Sorry,” I said lamely.

“Or was Friday night you’re one charitable moment?” she continued sarcastically.

“Hey, sorry. I had things on my mind,” I said softly, moving towards my class.

Molly let out an exasperated breath as she turned the opposite way.

As I walked into first period, I saw Mandy and Amber. Of course. I loved having Mandy in most of my classes, especially when she chose loser traitorous friends over godly loyal ones.

“Morning, class,” Mrs. Tationa, our humanities teacher, spoke.

We were reading Of Mice and Men. Which I’d already read, and watched the movie.

I couldn’t help but glare at Mandy as we pulled our books out.

Talk about friendship and sacrifice.

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—” the teacher was about to say, but I interjected, “Are you kidding me?!”

“Taryn,” my teacher reprimanded, startled.

I ignored her and turned to Amber. “You’re not even on the pep rally committee—and 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!”

“Taryn!” Mandy screeched, pale. “Shut. Up.”

“No,” I cried out, pissed—beyond pissed. “I’m sick and tired 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?”

I turned around and saw some guy in a polo shirt glaring at me. “What?”

“You’re one of them,” he pointed out. “Have you ever been in trouble for anything?”

“I got sent to the principal’s office for ‘assaulting’ Sasha Klinnleys and Justin Travers.”

“And from what I heard, the teacher got in trouble. Not you,” he muttered, disgusted. “Aren’t you dating Tray Evans?”

“No,” I remarked.

Amber scoffed, “Then whose bed were you in this weekend?”

“We’re not dating,” I said firmly. We weren’t. Hello. Screwing around and dating are totally different.

“Whatever,” Amber shot out. “You get on your high horse about us—we don’t do half the shit that you do.”

I went livid at that one.

“Excuse me?” I asked softly, my eyes narrowed.

“Like it was just ‘by chance’,” air quotes, “that the Monday after Mandy and Devon break up, our school gets canceled. Just a pure coincidence, I’m sure!” she cried out sarcastically. “And I wonder how Pedlam got broken into. Seriously. Doesn’t Pedlam have some tight security? And someone just happened to break in and mess up their stuff.”

“Amber,” Mandy hissed.

But Amber was pissed. “And Friday night. Where were you? Not at the game. Not with your ‘boyfriend’ who you asked to take two of your ‘charitable’ cases to Carter’s party.”

“You got something to say?” I asked, through gritted teeth. I was so holding back. My nails were cutting into my arms, there’d be blood pretty soon.

“We heard some evidence got destroyed. My cousin’s a cop in Pedlam,” she exclaimed.

I laughed. And I knew it sounded awful, but I was beyond caring. I had started this, yes, but the girl had to go down.

I stood and said tightly, “You’ve got some fucking nerve.”

“Whatever.” Amber rolled her eyes, but she’d said her piece. She had nothing else, and we both knew it. Unless she pulled in Brian, which she knew next to nothing. But, then again, I hadn’t realized how public the other stuff had become. Tray knew. He was the only one, and if he sang—he’d be singing himself. Not just me.

“Let’s talk about you, Amber, and how you parade yourself around this school, like it’s for you to pick and choose who to be nice to and who to torture. You sway down these hallways, acting like you’re the shit and everyone had better be nice or you’ll make their lives hell. Trust me, it’s not gonna work on me,” I promised, the teacher had lost control a long time ago. “You’re a piece of shit just for how you act in this school, but what really gets me—is how two-faced you’ve been with Mandy. Jasmine screwed Devon—for a fucking year—and you knew, the whole time.”

It was a hunch, but I saw it was true.

Mandy gasped. She saw it too, just as everyone else did.

I added, seething, “And where the fuck were you when my sister needed her supposed ‘best friend’? Not being her best friend, I can assure you. No, instead you were with Jasmine, supporting her skanky-ass ways. Until Saturday, when you suddenly decided to be Mandy’s friend again. After she’d been comforted for hours by some really great people—people who, you decide to just walk all over and use then throw away and treat them like they’re garbage the next day.”

“What Bryce did—” Amber began.

I cut in harshly, “What Bryce did is what each and every one of you do…every goddamn day at this school!” I glanced at the class and noted a lot of affirming nods. “I bet if I asked this class how many of them had been screwed by you guys, I bet half of them would raise their hands. At least. I bet they’re all pissed as hell…and hurt. If not more.”

Amber glanced around, fearful, seeing similar stares from others.

“You hurt people,” I bit out. “You hurt people and you don’t care. And it’s wrong.”

Mandy and Amber were both white, eyes fearful.

“I hurt people,” I announced. “But I hurt people like you.”

Amber fled the room. Mandy paused, her hand on the doorknob when she turned and took one look at me.

I knew I’d crossed the line, but—fuck—I’d had it with people like them. Even if Mandy wasn’t going to stand up for herself, and even if I had to paint her with the same color, this school needed to change.

One way or another.

When they left, I stood uncertainly for a moment, before slumping back into my chair. It was at that time that I realized there were smiles on the other students. Okay, —a few of the ‘popular’ students—none of the elite—didn’t look happy, but I still saw some grudging respect and gratefulness.

And then I remembered—Tray ran this school.

Oh hell.

*

I didn’t have long before I started feeling some of the repercussions. Jasmine glared at me when I left first period. Guess Amber and Mandy had found her. Grant and Bryce were also glaring at me, but not as much as the girls. And Sasha—don’t get me started.

When I walked up to my locker, I caught Sasha writing, ‘whore’ in permanent maker on it.

I grabbed the pen from her hand and smirked. “Your locker’s a few down.”

“You don’t even know what you did. You have no idea,” she taunted smugly, grabbing her pen and leaving.

Well—yeah, I did. Because I’d done it at Pedlam too. Yeah. That was the kicker. I’d been the one to cause the two rifts in Pedlam, between Brian’s group and Crispin’s. Brian had never been the instigator. He’d been the muscle, but the brain—everything else—that was me. And most everyone knew it. Brian was just the mascot.

But I’d been happy letting him stay that way.

Which is probably the real reason why Crispin hates me so much. And why the ‘rift’ had coincidentally disappeared when I left for Rawley.

The thing was…I hadn’t been sleeping with Crispin.

Like I was sleeping with Tray.

This might mess things up—a bit.

“Way to go,” Larkins shouted, slapping me on the shoulder as he passed by.

Word did get around fast. I even saw Molly grinning, before ducking behind a locker. I caught a flush in her cheeks—which never happened.

And Honey and Bit. When I turned from my locker, there they were. Smiling. Preening.

“Hey,” I greeted half-heartedly.

“We heard,” Honey spoke up. “And I told her.” She nudged Bit a little. “She’s okay. Mad. But we’re good. Both of us. And it’s only fair if she sleeps with Bryce next time.”

I rolled my eyes. That wasn’t the point.

I tried to reiterate the point to them, but it was done half-ass. I had to worry about second period and who was in that class.

Wait. I normally went to study hall. Molly told me I actually had health.

“Where’s health class?” I asked them.

“Oh.” Honey brightened. “We’re in health too. Mr. Hauge always says your name in roll call. And of course, someone says you think you have study hall this period. It’s turned into this comedy bit actually.”

Not today. I followed behind them.

I paused in the doorway before forcing myself to move forward.

Tray was in this class.

And, judging by the look in his eyes, he was angry. Guess he heard about my blow up. And he wasn’t happy.

“Miss,” Mr. Hauge directed at me, “you are?”

“Taryn Matthews.”

“Oh. 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, if fact, supposed to be here.”

“Yeah.”

“Good. Good. Take a seat. I see an empty one by Mr. Helms.”

I glanced uncertainly at Helms and saw a look of disgust pass over his eyes. Abruptly he stood up and announced, “I’ll sit with Tray.”

So I got my own table. Yay!

Thank goodness it was behind Honey and Bit.

But before I could sit down, Tray spoke up, “She can sit with me.”

Helms froze, about to sit down beside him. He looked at Tray and read something on his face because he didn’t say anything when he stood back up and returned to his table.

I met Tray’s eyes, saw the fierceness, and figured…probably not a good idea. “I’m good up here.”

“Oh no, Taryn,” Tray said quickly, “sit with me. Really.”

The class was watching, every fricking word, and they loved it. Honey and Bit’s eyes were as wide as saucers. Molly squeaked from her seat, which was parallel to Tray’s table.

So I sat at Tray’s table—reluctantly. Tray flicked his gaze to Mr. Hauge, who must’ve taken it as a command to start, because he immediately started class then.

Tray sat rigidly next to me. I could feel the tension in his body.

I stole a few glances his way, but was met with a cold, even stare back. Tray was quite fine glaring at me during the entire class. I gave up trying to win the staring contest, mostly because I got weirded out.

I couldn’t help but remember Jace’s words about Tray.

“He’s not another Brian, Taryn. Remember that.”

“Meaning that my obsessive ex is the lesser of the two evils.” I had joked at the time.

I looked at Tray again. Nope. This was all on me. I didn’t have Brian or Jace to hide behind, to protect me. I had to fight this one all on my own.

Mr. Hauge asked the class, “Mrs. Grantlins has asked me to send two volunteers to the counselor’s office.”

Tray spoke up, “We’ll go.”

And, of course, that meant me too, because no one else was standing up.

Tray didn’t give me time to decide because he simply grabbed my arm and hauled me out of there. Once in the hallway, I wrenched my arm away and snapped, “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 Mrs. Grantlins’ office.”

“You don’t even know who Mrs. Grantlins’ is,” Tray snapped, hauling me into the equipment closet. The door was heavy as he slammed it shut. “What the fuck do you think you’re doing?!”

“Excuse me?” I asked stiffly. Yeah. The sex had been great, but if it was the price—I’d give it up gladly.

“You know what!” he cut out tensely. “The entire fucking school is going off about you and Amber. You said that we hurt people, that we don’t give a shit about them.”

“You don’t!” I cried out.

Tray shot back, “Neither do you. You are the coldest bitch in this school and now you’ve decided to be their personal savior?!”

“I care,” I yelled back.

“No, you don’t. You started caring the second you saw Mandy bending under Amber’s influence.”

Well…yeah.

“No, I didn’t. I’m sick and tired of how—” I started to say.

“Save it for someone who doesn’t know you,” Tray interrupted rudely, uncaring. “You’re pissed because your sister is letting Amber and Jasmine 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 this by going after all of us.”

“Not all of you.”

“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 and I remember him saying the exact same thing to Gentley. I remembered feeling the warmth that washed over me at those words. I was his. That’s what he implied.

“Look,” I spoke a little calmer, “I’m just tired of how Amber seems to get away with everything at this school.”

“So do 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.”

So he liked the sex too.

Good…I think. I refused to admit that I felt relieved.

“Look, I was just pissed. Amber and Mandy wanted to get out of class for some fucking 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, and she heard that some evidence got destroyed.” I bit my lip. “How’d she know all that?”

“Not from me.” Tray sighed, raking a hand through his hair. I hated how, even now, I was feeling the warmth, remembering what it felt like—what he felt like. God, he was freaking gorgeous. And those lips…his shoulders…

“She aired my shit so…I went after her,” I finished.

“But—hell!—Taryn. You went after me in the same second.”

“I went after Amber, Jasmine, Devon and Bryce. Well…more Amber, Jasmine, and Bryce—because of how they’ve treated Mandy and how Bryce played with Honey and Bit.”

“Who the fuck are Honey and Bit?” he asked wearily.

“I don’t know their real names. That’s what I call ‘em.”

“You mean the chick that Bryce screwed at my party?”

“Well…yeah, but how can you condone how they just use people?”

“Are you kidding me?” Tray gave me an exasperated look. “You want me to start making my friends saints?”

“No, I just…”

“What? Only be saintly to Mandy and the people you’ve befriended?” he asked shrewdly. “Holy hell, do you realize how hypocritical you are? You’ve got serious history with the biggest drug-runner in Pedlam. You used to date a guy that roughed up a girl.”

“I was pissed. I spoke up. What do you want from me?”

“I don’t know. A clarification. Who you’re condemning? Who you’re not,” he said sarcastically. “You’re sleeping with me and I run steroids, not to mention—the town doesn’t let the Lansers do business here.”

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 even 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’d cared. So I’d opened my mouth.

“How do you do that?” I asked, quietly. “Jace told me…he told me to watch out for you.”

“Great. That coming from a drug lord.” Tray snorted, rolling his eyes.

“He’s not a drug lord.”

“No, he’s a drug dealer. A lot more prestigious,” he said sarcastically.

“Jace is—”

“Jace is someone you should stay away from. He might care about you, but he’s not going to change. And one day he’s going to end up in prison or dead.”

That was enough. “And how do you know so goddamn much?” I cried out, frustrated. The guy was insufferable.

“I know. Trust me.”

“But how? I don’t understand—it’s like you’re—one of them.”

“I am,” he remarked.

“You run steroids, but you won’t let the drug-runners in town. I don’t get it—how can you keep drugs out of Rawley?”

“It’s not that.” He sighed, raking a hand through his hair. “I just don’t let Jace Lanser come in here.”

“But how?” I asked dumbly.

“My dad used to be the chief of police here and my older brother’s with the DEA. I know both sides, trust me. I know where to step and where not to step.” Tray relented, sitting on a roll of wrestling mats against the wall. Bracing his elbows on his knees, he said further, “That’s why I won’t let Jace Lanser come into Rawley and it’s why he stays away.”

“Jace said something…that you run the interstate intersection?”

He grinned, resting against the wall behind him. “Yeah, more like I just know which cops to call and which not to. Plus, I’ve got some buddies that like to rough people up. They’re always good for sending after someone.”

“I don’t know…,” I shifted on my feet, confused, “if I understand.”

“Do you have to?” he asked me, his eyes piercing mine.

“Why steroids?”

“Because,” he sighed, “in the beginning, they pissed my dad off.”

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.

“So…what now?” I asked, both of us knowing what I referred to.

“I don’t know,” he murmured.

“I’m not going to be good with Amber and Bryce. Or Jasmine and Devon. Hell no.”

“Is it Mandy? Or do you just have to piss off all my friends?”

“I go after those that hurt the ones I love. If Mandy’s going to lay down and let them roll over her—fine. But I won’t. And if she expects me to act nice, fuck no.”

“They’re expecting me to put you in your place,” he mentioned, one hand caressing my leg.

“So what do you want me to do? I’m not backing down. That’s not me.”

“I know, but it’s going to make things a lot tenser with the group.”

“Why? It’s not like I’m exactly friends with you guys.” I turned to face him, his hands moving to my waist.

“I know. But I like to be with you as much as possible.” He grinned.

I rolled my eyes, but I couldn’t contain the faint grin that tugged at my lips.

“I just don’t like how they treat people.”

“And we’ve covered this already,” he said wearily.

“We’re supposed to be volunteering at Mrs. Grantlins’,” I reminded him. Waiting.

“Mrs. Grantlins asked for volunteers from a bunch of other classes. She’s moving furniture in her office. I’m not volunteering for that,” he said disgustedly.

“And we’re doing exactly what I just lit into Amber about doing,” I commented, frustrated.

“No. We’re skipping. I’m not asking to get away with it. If I do—which usually happens—then fine. I’m not passing it up.” 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 melted. 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. Tray 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.”

Tray heard them first because he lifted his eyes and said simply, “Out.”

I hid my face in his neck. Glad Tray kept his arms around me, otherwise I might’ve fallen off. I didn’t trust my legs to work, not at that moment.

“Dude.” It was Bryce, and I could hear the grin in his voice.

A second later the door clicked shut and Tray nuzzled my neck again.

I moved to find his lips and we started kissing again as if nothing had happened.

When the bell rang, I pulled away and stood—unsteadily. Tray held onto my elbow for a little bit.

“I’m good.”

“This isn’t just for you,” he retorted, breathing heavily.

I chuckled, feeling some relief 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, we went our separate ways. Tray’s locker was near the quad in the senior hallway. It was the best place for a locker because there was a ton of benches over there, and it was the hub where students just hung out. My locker, on the other hand, faced the parking lot entrance. It was almost impossible to relax or talk with anyone because so many students were either walking into school or leaving.

I did notice Amber’s heated glare when Tray turned down his hallway. She was leaving the bathroom and saw his hand linger for a moment on my elbow.

At my locker, I found Sasha waiting for me.

“What?” I snapped, ready to go another round with her.

“You think you’re so damned better than us. You’re not. You’re a whore,” she delivered without preamble.

I sighed, and gave her a pointed glare. “I’m really good at finding out people’s secrets. Want me to find out yours?”

“Are you threatening me?”

“I’m warning you. If you want me to come after you, keep it up. It’ll work and when that happens, you’ll find out why guys like Crispin Gentley hate me so much.”

Sasha just perched her hands on her hips and looked at me with derision. But it worked. She shut up and, after a second huff, she turned and marched down the hallway.

“The only reason you’re still breathing.” Came from behind me. I turned and saw Amber glaring, she said hotly, “Is because Tray must really like being in your pants. The second he’s tired of you, you need to remember th`is time. Because this is me, promising that you’ll be begging to change schools when that time comes. Take that as a guarantee.”

“You heard me say my deal to Sasha,” I remarked, heatedly. “But that was a warning. You, I’m already coming after. So you better remember this day, because this is my promise to you—you’re going to learn what a bitch like me can do.”

We both knew students were stopping to watch us, but neither of us acknowledged them.

I’d had my say. Amber had her say.

Now neither of us were willing to be the first one to walk away.

Grant saved us because he walked up and merely dragged Amber behind him. But she wasn’t protesting at all, she just glared at me until he hauled her around the corner.

Now I realized why I felt comfortable here. It was just like back at Pedlam.

I grabbed my textbook and hurried into third period where I slipped into an empty seat in the back. I’d purposely sat amongst the potheads. They reminded me of Geezer and I drew some strength from that.

Walking through the hallways, so many people had sent greetings my way, I thought I had something plastered on my back, like a target or something. But no. They seemed relieved. Grateful. Fourth period was biology. And Molly was almost squealing from her excitement. Guess she’d always hated Amber. Which, I gotta tell you, was a surprise. I knew that I didn’t like Amber, but I never realized how much everyone else hated her, too.

Guess Amber was the reigning bitch in this school. I always thought it had been Jasmine, but I guess not.

Molly filled me in, “No one’s wanted to say anything bad about Amber. When Jasmine and Tray broke up, Amber was vicious to Jasmine. Jasmine left school crying a few times and she even quit the cheerleading squad. But that was last year and Amber quit too. I heard that Amber even got Jasmine thrown into a psych ward. She called the police and said she was Jasmine and that she wanted to kill herself. Jasmine’s parents didn’t believe her, so she got put on a seventy-two hour observation.”

“You have to be making some of this up,” I murmured.

“And one time, in seventh grade, Amber made Carter Sethlers date Sabrina Lyles because she knew Mandy liked him. So that’s why Mandy and Devon started dating. Amber didn’t want Carter dating Mandy.”

“That doesn’t even make sense.”

“It doesn’t have to. Amber is crazy.”

“Yeah, but…that’s psychotic. She doesn’t strike me as a psycho.”

“But she is. Amber is capable of anything, that’s why everyone’s scared of her.”

Everyone except Tray apparently. Oh, and me.

“And one time,” Molly insisted, leaning closer, whispering, “Amber called the police on Mandy’s thirteenth birthday party because she didn’t invite Amber. They’d had a fight over Bryce. Amber caught her and Bryce kissing in a closet at her own birthday party.”

The girl had control issues.

This was how my entire fourth period went.

Normally I sat alone at lunch. So I was more than surprised when I entered the cafeteria and saw my usual table filled. Honey, Bit, Molly, Larkins, and a bunch of the potheads. I glanced at Mandy’s table and saw Grant, Bryce, and Devon. No Tray.

Suddenly, I felt his hand wrap around my own. “Come on,” he said, pulling me behind him as he walked us back through the hallways.

“Where are we going?” Notice I wasn’t protesting, I just wanted to know. It was quite alright with me not to be in that cafeteria. I did see a few disappointed looks when we left.

“We’re skipping the rest of the day,” he answered, pulling out his keys as we approached his SUV.

This is not the brightest idea in Plan: Stay Out of Trouble. Again, notice that I wasn’t protesting.

I climbed into the passenger seat and buckled up.

The drive was quiet when we pulled up to his house.

Instead of heading to his pool-house, Tray grabbed my hand and led me into the kitchen. He threw his keys on the marble counter and opened the fridge. From inside, he asked, “You want some pizza?”

“Not really hungry.”

He pulled out a pizza box and a Diet Coke. Placing the can in front of me, he warmed up two slices of pizza for himself.

I grabbed a glass and put some ice in it.

Tray hopped on a counter and ate his pizza.

I drank my pop. All was silent. Both of us just staring at each other.

When he finished, he put his dish away and asked, “Want to watch a movie?”

“Sure.” I followed him downstairs, remembering his suggestion Saturday morning. He’d offered to watch a movie that night, guess he hadn’t planned on throwing a party.

I was amazed again at the size of the media room. Curling up next to him, I felt his arm wrap around me while he turned the TV on and chose a movie. Tray must’ve figured I didn’t care, because he chose the latest action-filled suspense thriller on his TiVo.

After the second car chase, I yawned and nestled closer against him, feeling his hand slip around my waist.

“Tray,” I mumbled tiredly.

“Hmm?” He sounded distracted.

“What are we doing?”

I felt his body stiffen so I rephrased, “I mean, we’re skipping school. We’re watching a movie. We’re not messing around. We’re not talking. What are we doing?”

“We’re hiding. Thought that was your thing.”

“It is.” I sat up. “Sometimes.”

“Thought I’d hide with you today.” He grinned, tracing a finger down my cheek to my lips, where he traced their outline before leaning in for a lingering kiss.

I’m all about not protesting today.

Before the kiss could go further, I pulled away and asked, “Seriously, what’s going on?”

“I just don’t feel like dealing with Amber and those guys.”

“And if they pushed?”

I waited, fully noticing that he paused before answering.

“Then,” he shrugged, “I don’t know.”

“Do they know about your dad and your brother?” I asked suddenly, a thought forming in my head.

“They know about my dad—everyone knows about my dad—but not my brother.”

“Why not?”

“Because I don’t go around telling people my business. And because he was already in college when we moved here,” Tray replied, watching me intently, gauging me.

“So why’d you tell me?”

“Because you understand that stuff,” he said simply. “Why do we have to have a fucking conversation about it?”

“Because I want to,” I simply said right back. “And because you know a lot of my shit—I should know your shit.”

“And what happens when we’re done screwing? My stuff goes public?” he asked roughly.

My eyebrows raised at that one. “You see that happening?”

“When we’re done with this? Or my life going public?”

“Both.”

And that was the crux of it. Tray didn’t want to answer that. I could see he didn’t want to answer that. So I did it for him.

“I’m not into talking about—what we have going on—that’s not me. But…your life won’t go public. I can guarantee that.”

“And I should just trust you?” he asked shrewdly.

I shrugged. “I think I’ve already proven you can trust me…with a lot of shit.” Which reminded me… “Do you still have the PRS-500?”

“Uh…yeah. Why? You want it back?”

“Yeah.” I wanted those codes. Just because I didn’t want him to have it, didn’t mean I didn’t want them. It’s why I had Geezer hide everything.

“It’s useless anyway. It only showed the building’s security codes—I’m sure those have been changed by now.”

“I still want it. Geezer wants to study it.” It was only a half-lie. Geezer might’ve wanted to study it, but he’d never asked. No chance in hell I was going to give him the opportunity.

Tray was studying me intently. When wasn’t he? But this time I knew he was checking to see if I was lying. So I held firm and was rewarded with a small sigh. “Fine. I’ll get it when we leave.”

“Thanks.”

“The deal was for you to get the PRS-500 for me. We never talked about me giving it back.”

“Well, we just did,” I stated.

Tray ran a hand down my back and pulled me closer. I knew where this was going, so I put a hand to his chest and pulled back. “Hold on.”

“What?”

“You know my shit,” I reminded him, not really knowing if it was needed, but… “So I’m just telling you—your stuff goes public, I know my stuff will go public.”

“Can we stop talking about the possible consequences if this,” pointing to me and him, “ends?”

“Sure.” I leaned forward and kissed him, feeling his hand run down my back, and then lifting me up and onto his lap. I complied and turned to straddle him, his hands falling to my thighs, where he caressed them, moving up and down. I melted, my bones turned to liquid as I leaned against him, one of my hands running through his hair. I tilted my head back and sighed, my eyes closed, as he kissed down to my neck and found a spot.

A second later I felt a draft and realized he’d pushed my shirt up and was working it over my arms. I lifted my arms and the shirt was thrown. So I turned to his and soon his landed beside mine.

Meeting his lips again, more urgently, Tray took over and laid me down, with him coming to rest above me.

I loved it.

I grinned, running a hand down his chest, slowly, until my fingers hitched on the inside of his pants, where it was buttoned. I was rewarded with his sharp intake of breath. My fingers flicked the button free and the zipper gave way.

Tray groaned as he swept his hands to my bra and pulled it off, flinging it to the side.

“Fuck,” he gasped, resting his forehead against mine.

“What?” I asked, my breathing coming in fast and hard.

“My condoms are in the nightstand.”

I swiftly cursed.

“Wait,” he said swiftly, standing then disappearing. A second later, grinning in triumph, he waved a condom at me. “Good thing I remembered Bryce left some here.”

“Fuck!” I cried out, shoving him away.

“What?”

“I don’t want to know where Bryce screwed whoever he screwed,” I said hotly, reaching for my bra and shirt.

“Come on, Taryn,” Tray reasoned, grabbing my hand and crawling to sit on top of me. “Stop. Come on. I’m sorry, I won’t ever utter his name again, not when we’re doing this.”

“One, that should be a given. And two, only when we’re doing this?”

“Oh come on!” Tray cried out, standing and shooting me a glare. “He’s my friend. You’re—”

“I know,” I finally said.

Tray sunk onto the couch beside me. “Taryn, I’m like Bryce. At least I was, before you and me. And I’ll probably be like him if you and I—,” end, but he didn’t want to say the word, “someday in the future.” He grinned and then climbed over me.

“You’re not like that with me because you wouldn’t get away with it,” I retorted, folding my arms across my chest. Fully knowing how ridiculous I looked, sulking like a child with Tray straddling me. I even had the pout on my face.

Tray chuckled, grinning down at me. “Yeah, you’re right about that. And if I ever did, you’d probably lock me out of my own house and get the cops to arrest me on burglary charges.”

He must’ve seen I was softening because he caught my hands and raised them above my head. Leaning down, his lips a mere centimeter away from mine, he whispered, “But you won’t ever do it, because while I’m with you, I won’t treat people like that. I fully know how you’d hand me my ass.”

I couldn’t stop the grin on my face. He swooped in for a kiss, deepening it instantly.

Before long, I was melting all over again, wrapped around him as he slid into me.