Chapter Six

“Lana, why did you punch the boy at school today?” my grandmother asks.

“I didn’t,” I answer honestly.

“Who did?”

I scrape my foot on the floor, not looking up at her. “My friend.”

“Why?”

“Because he was trying to lift up my skirt.” My words are quiet.

“Why didn’t you say anything when your teacher asked what happened?”

“Because I didn’t want her to get in trouble.”

“But you told me.”

I look up, suddenly afraid. “Is she in trouble?”

My grandmother sighs. “No. I would have punched him too.”

After driving maybe five minutes, two cop cars fly by with their lights flashing. I twist around to follow them, my heart racing. When I turn back, Vic is glaring at me.

“Fuck off,” I tell him.

Tori and Lincoln look between us and then at each other. Joey’s arm circles me protectively.

“Vic, did something happen at the store?” Lincoln asks cautiously.

I’m not sure how well the two of them know each other. But since Joey’s not saying anything, Lincoln must feel the need to step up.

“No,” Vic grunts.

“Then let me have a cigarette,” Gary demands. “You guys are driving me crazy.”

Vic remains silent.

“Where are the cigarettes you bought, Vic?” Tori demands, tossing a suspicious look my way before sharing a silent exchange with Lincoln.

“They didn’t have my brand,” Vic grumbles, his attention directed out the window.

I clench my fists, fighting the urge to scream. This asshat is about to ruin my life, and I need him gone. Now.

“We need to ditch him at the party,” I tell Joey, only because his ear is right next to my mouth and Tori’s too far away.

“Why?” Joey asks.

I can only shake my head, afraid to say too much and have Vic overhear. As much as I’m not afraid of the douche, he does have a gun. And he’s obviously stupid enough to hold up a convenience store with it. He’s probably dumb enough to use it too. As much as my life blows, I’m not looking to die tonight.

Everyone knows something’s up. The tension in the car is as thick as Gary’s neck … which is a tree trunk. Tori keeps staring at the back of Vic’s head like she’s waiting for him to make a move. Nina starts messing with the music. She may act unfazed, but she’d willingly push him out of the moving car if it came to it.

Lincoln’s fighting to remain calm with his hands pressed against his thighs. But the tendons straining in his neck give away just how close he is to losing it.

The only one who seems oddly relaxed is Joey, whose hand has found the skin along my waistband again. Obviously something very wrong is going on, and he hasn’t reacted even a little. He’s either oblivious or he’s brilliant at the whole calm-under-pressure thing.

I’m stiff against him, his touch unable to soothe the tension.

“Can I have the bottle?” I ask Nina.

She slides around and hands me a different bottle of something darker, passing it off with a wink. She’s trying to keep me relaxed too. Except I’m not. When I reach for the bottle, my hand is shaking. I resist the urge to crash it over Vic’s asinine head.

I swallow down the cinnamon-flavored whiskey until it sends me into a coughing fit. Then I pass the bottle back.

“Someone needs to tell me what the fuck is going on right now, or I’m pulling over and dumping your asses on the side of the road!” Gary bellows over the music, making me flinch.

Joey’s grip tightens on my waist.

“No you’re not.” Vic’s voice is low and threatening, like an approaching storm. “Keep driving.”

“What did you just say, you little fuck?” Gary’s face is redder than raw hamburger, and his skin doesn’t look much better.

“Easy, baby,” Nina murmurs seductively in his ear.

I shudder when she soothingly runs her hand along the stubble coating the folds of his triple chin.

Joey pulls me back against him. “Don’t worry about them.” His voice melts me against his hard chest.

I nuzzle into his neck so it looks like I’m kissing him. “How well do you know Vic?”

Joey turns toward me, brushing his fingers along my cheek, our mouths almost touching. His breath tickles as he says, “We’re not exactly friends. I told my dad I’d take him out, as a favor.”

He pauses and smooths a thumb over my lower lip. Despite this crazy-ass situation, I’m actually getting turned on right now. What is wrong with me?!

“It’s … complicated. Why? Did he do something?”

I breathe out slowly, unable to respond.

“Forget about him.” He leans in until our lips brush, and I quiver.

“You’re fogging up the car,” Tori stretches over and says so close, she could join us.

Joey pulls away.

“Tori!” I exclaim, glaring at her.

Tori smirks and sits back again.

I glance behind us, expecting lights to appear at any second. They don’t. Or not yet anyway.

“Vic, tell me what you did!” Lincoln suddenly yells, slamming his palm on Vic’s headrest.

I jump and Joey presses me against him. He opens his mouth to say something to Lincoln, but then closes it wordlessly.

“I’m sick of your shit. I’m not going down for whatever the fuck you just did! So talk. Now.”

I’ve never heard Lincoln raise his voice before. He’s always so calm and put together. But I guess everyone has their limit. And Lincoln’s sword is drawn. It’s pretty impressive. Tori must think so too because she gives him a once-over with a raised brow.

Vic turns abruptly, leaning over the seat. “Everyone needs to calm the fuck down! Okay? Nothing happened. When Lana walked in, I was yelling at the clerk. He was trying to sell me this shit brand of cigarettes because he didn’t have what I wanted. Wouldn’t shut up about how they’re all the same, and that they’ll kill me. I wasn’t up for the lecture, so I told him to go fuck himself. When Lana came in, I grabbed her and told her we were leaving. That’s why she’s acting like she has something stuck up her ass.” He directs his attention to me. “Sorry I touched you, okay? Will you just fucking relax?”

Oh, I want to kick him in the face. And I could too, easily, since my foot is dangling off Joey’s leg, right below Vic’s chin. But before I can, he twists back around and returns to his angry, pouting posture.

“Little boy, you dropped your toy,” Nina sings mockingly, displaying the gun on her flat palm.

Just as Vic grabs for it, she flips it in her hand and points it at his forehead.

“Nina!” Tori calls out.

But Nina doesn’t react. Her full attention is pinned on Vic.

“You don’t know what the fuck you’re doing,” Vic challenges her.

Nina cocks the hammer.

No one moves. I don’t even think we’re breathing. Gary may be screaming. But I can’t hear him. The entire world is on mute. I’m staring at the silver muzzle indenting the flesh on Vic’s skull.

“How do you know it’s loaded?” Vic questions, sounding way too cocky for a guy who might have his brains splattered against the window at any second.

“I don’t. But you do,” she says, her shiny red lips parting to reveal a big white smile.

“You know I could take that from you, right?”

Nina just smirks wickedly. I grimace with a silent groan. Vic better shut his mouth. He has no idea who he’s talking to.

Nina’s a fighter. I’m convinced she came into the world that way so she could survive the shit she’s been dealt her entire life. She may look super girlie and have a figure to die for, but she’s ferocious. Without hesitation, she’s had my back in a fight more times than I can count. Even when I’m the one who started it.

So I know, if Vic makes a move, I’m going to want to block my ears.

The car stops. At least it doesn’t feel like we’re moving anymore. I’m afraid to look away to find out.

“Nina, honey, would you please put down the gun?” Gary asks her so gently, it doesn’t even sound like him.

My eyes remain glued to the point where the gun is attached to Vic’s head. His jaw tenses. Nina smiles wider, a menacing glint in her dark eyes.

“What did you do in the store?” Nina asks calmly.

Vic swallows. “Nothing. Ask Lana.”

“I’m not asking her. I’m asking you. She’s a sweet girl, and she shouldn’t be involved in this. She might actually go to college. I’m not fucking with that. I’m not going to let you fuck with that either. So, one more time. What did you do in that convenience store?”

Vic sneers. “Nothing.”

“Okay, I’m going to shit myself if you don’t put down the gun, Nina! Please!” Gary whimpers.

I steal a glance his way. Beads of sweat are covering his forehead and streaking down the sides of his face. He may even be crying. My nose scrunches in disgust. I know this is intense, but … really?

“Fine,” Nina huffs and tips the gun back, easing the hammer in place.

The entire car exhales.

“Give me my gun,” Vic demands, holding out his hand.

Nina laughs. “Uh. No.”

“Get out!” Gary screams. “Get out of my car! Now!” He opens his door.

The next thing I know, my door is open and he’s yanking me out.

“Hey!” I holler, trying to pull my arm out of his clammy grip.

“All of you, out! I’m not putting up with this shit!”

I yank free, but the force of the motion sends me tripping over my four-inch wedges, and I topple onto my ass. Joey is out a second later, followed by Tori, both of them in Gary’s face. The finger is out, and Spanish flies from Tori’s mouth.

“Keep your hands off her!” Joey yells, practically bumping against Gary’s gut. He’s taller than Gary by a few inches, but Gary wins with three times the girth.

A large black hand is in my face. I look up. It takes me a couple seconds to realize that Lincoln is offering to help me up.

“Thanks.”

His hand completely swallows mine as he lifts me off the ground. I swipe at the dirt on my butt, still watching the three go at it. It’s all words. Nothing about their posture has me concerned that someone’s about to swing.

We’re in the middle of nowhere. There’s maybe a streetlight every quarter mile on this forgotten road, lighting it just enough to make it creepy. Gary pulled off into one of those gravel turnouts on the side of the road—the ideal location when you’re desperate to relieve your bladder or throw your door open just in time to vomit. So not the ideal location to be dumped with a psycho and his gun.

“Where’s Nina and Vic?” I ask in a rush, frantically searching the darkness.

“I don’t know,” Lincoln answers, his voice as concerned as mine.

We creep toward the front of the car. Nina’s back is to us. She’s leaning against the fender on the other side of the car. Vic is in his signature angry stance, scowling at her.

Nina has the barrel of the gun open and is throwing bullets at Vic.

“Tell me what you did, Vic,” she says in a taunting tone. “C’mon. You want your toy back, don’t you?”

Vic grunts something.

“Then tell me. Quit being a bitch.” There’s a sadistic lilt in Nina’s voice, like she’s enjoying this.

She’s starting to scare me a little. I put a big star on that mental note I already had, reminding me to never piss her off.

Vic bares his teeth. “Give me my gun, or I’m going to—”

“To what?” Lincoln challenges, straightening a few inches taller, like he might jump over the car.

Vic looks up and spots us across the hood. Nina snaps the barrel shut with a flick of her wrist and stuffs the gun into her purse.

Vic breathes out audibly, like he can’t believe he has to repeat himself. “This is a fucking joke. I don’t know why you won’t drop it. Nothing happened.”

At least he’s persistent with the nothing-happened story. I have to give him that. And I’m not going to contradict it. If I do, everyone in the car could be considered accomplices after the fact. And I won’t let that happen. Right now, only Vic and I know what went down in that store. And we’re the only ones who will ever know. Unless he does something else stupid.

Nina approaches us with a hip-swaying saunter. The dark purple dress hugs her curves perfectly as she balances on heels that bring her to supermodel height. She looks completely unfazed by everything that just transpired. A lethal goddess.

If only I were that composed … and tall.

“Screw this,” Gary declares loudly. “Nina, let’s go.”

Nina shakes her head with an insincere apology. “Sorry, baby. I’m staying.”

“But you said—”

“I lied,” she interrupts.

Gary growls, furious. “Don’t bother showing up tomorrow.”

Nina doesn’t flinch.

Before any of us can react, Gary is in the car, reversing with the gas pedal pressed to the floor. Joey jumps out of the way to avoid getting clipped. Shifting to drive, Gary tears off down the street, covering us in a spray of gravel.

Waving my hand to clear the dust storm, I watch the taillights disappear in disbelief. “What the hell?! My bag’s in his car.”

Which means my house keys are too. I reach into my open jacket pocket, relieved to find I still have my phone and switchblade.

“I can’t believe he just left us here.” Tori has her hands on her hips. Looking around the dark, deserted road, she asks, “Where are we?”

“I think we’re still a few miles away.” Lincoln lifts his hand as if to touch her back, then stops himself and lowers it.

“There’s no way I’m walking in these,” she says, gesturing to her knee-high boots. She whips around and points a bladed nail at Vic. “Why do you have to be such an asshole? I swear—”

“What? She’s the one who held the gun to my head.” Vic jerks his chin aggressively toward Nina. “I didn’t do anything wrong.”

“Except have a gun to begin with!” Tori screams, her curls flailing.

“I brought it for protection,” Vic argues.

“From us? You’re fucking unbelievable.”

Nina wraps an arm around Tori’s shoulders, coaxing her away before it can escalate further. I turn my back to them, needing to escape the drama.

“You okay?” Joey asks, coming up beside me.

“Not even a little,” I reply, taking a few steps toward the edge of the road.

He slips his arm around my waist, easing my back against him to shield me from everyone behind us. Tucking his thumb into the top of my shorts, he rests his chin on the top of my head. “Let’s work on that. What do you think?”

I laugh lightly. “Go for it. Anything you can do to make this night better, I’m in.” But I already feel better leaning into him. I’m convinced I could block out bombs going off—all he has to do is touch me and whisper in my ear.

I’m suddenly spun around, Joey’s hands firmly gripping my hips. As aggressive as the move was, his lips don’t crash down on mine. Instead they tease, barely touch. I’m breathless. I grab him by the back of the neck to pull him into me.

“Joey, give your brother a call. Maybe he can send someone to pick us up.”

Yup. We’re still not alone.

I ease away, my breath caught in my chest. I look around to find everyone staring at us.

Tori tilts her head to the side, not amused. “Stop groping her and get us a ride.”

“There isn’t a signal at The Point,” Joey tells them.

Lincoln releases a heavy breath. “Shit, that’s right.”

“So what do we do?” I ask. I turn at the sound of a car approaching.

“Screw this,” Tori says, striding out past the white line and halfway into the lane with her hip thrust out.

The headlights illuminate her fitted black shorts and sheer top over a hot-pink bra. She waves her arms in the air. They’re either going to hit her or …

They swerve, missing her, and then slow to a stop along the side of the road.

“Nice,” Lincoln says, impressed.

Actually, so am I.

The red pickup truck backs up, braking a few feet away.

“How do we know they’re not psychos?” I ask.

“We don’t,” Tori says. “But we have our own psycho, so if anything, they should be worried.” She looks toward Vic. Except he’s not here. “Where’d our psycho go?”

“Vic!” Lincoln calls out.

But he doesn’t appear from within the shadows of the trees where he was sulking only a moment ago.

The driver’s window rolls down, and a guy with super gelled dark blond hair leans out. “Need a lift?”

Lincoln steps forward. “Yeah, man, that’d be great. Our ride ditched us. We’re trying to get to The Point.”

“Us too!” a voice squeals excitedly.

That’s when I notice the girl with a hot-pink bobbed wig sticking her head out the small window in the back of the cab. Her face is speckled with glitter, and she’s smiling so big, she’s making my cheeks hurt looking at her.

“You can jump in the back,” the guy tells us.

Lincoln looks around again as we near the truck. “Vic!”

“Leave him,” Nina says, pulling out a bottle from her satchel of a purse. She approaches the passenger side and waves the liquor at the girl. “Can I sit up here with you?”

“Sure!” the girl exclaims. “Wow. You’re so nice. Look, Seth, she’s sharing with us.” She scoots over to make room for Nina. “I’m Allie.”

“Great,” Nina replies. She tips the bottle back and chugs, preparing herself to sit next to the happiest girl on the planet.

Joey and Lincoln lower the tailgate and hop into the back before offering to help Tori and me up.

Just as Lincoln reaches to close it again, Vic’s fingers curl around the metal, forcing it back down. “Hey!”

“Where were you?” Lincoln asks him in alarm. “Didn’t you hear me calling you?”

“What the hell, man? Were you going to leave me?” Vic jumps up onto the truck and shoves Lincoln.

Joey leaps forward to get between them. “Don’t start.” His voice is low and authoritative.

No one moves. Joey looks between the two guys. Their eyes lock, silently challenging each other.

“Sit down.”

Lincoln backs away and sits, resting against the cab without taking his eyes off Vic. Joey lowers himself beside me, prepared to jump back up if necessary. Vic stands defiantly, glaring at Lincoln with his fists clenched.

“Vic, sit your ass down,” I tell him.

He directs his attention to me, trying to intimidate me with his scary stare. I roll my eyes. He grabs the edge of the tailgate to close it.

Tori knocks on the window. “We can go.”

Vic stumbles and falls on his ass when the truck takes off. I snicker. If only he’d fallen out.