Page 70 of Vexatious Queen

“Give it to Nash.”

I did what he asked and then grabbed Ren’s hand. We sat down on the couch and let Blake have the floor for his story.

“When I got to my tutoring class on Thursday, there was a fight between one of my students, Camden, and this other kid. He’s a freshman, but he isn’t in tutoring. His name is Trent. I broke the fight up and sent everyone out, other than Camden.”

“I remember him, he was the one who spoke to us and had the right answer to my question,” Ren said, and I nodded.

“Yes, him. Camden told me that one of the girls in my class had issues with substance abuse before she came to Wayward. It’s probably the reason her parents sent her. Anyway, she has been clean since she arrived and doesn’t want to relapse. This Trent guy has somehow found out who the susceptible marks are and is pushing product to them. Really selling it up. She caved and bought some, but then went to Camden. She was upset and gave him the drugs. She didn’t want to use but didn’t trust herself near it.”

Blake stopped and slowly shook his head, his eyes haunted.

“I know that feeling. I’ve resisted that feeling. Some days are easy and other days are a bitch, and I wish that I could just hide out in my room and lock the door so I can’t leave.”

Nash glanced up from his inspection of the drugs.

“These are the drugs she bought from that Trent guy? Camden gave them to you?”

“Yes. Trent followed her into class, and Camden lost it. He’s really protective of his friends and threatened to kill Trent. I told him that I’d take care of it. We should talk to Trent, but I wanted you to see what was brought into the school, sold under our noses, and rivaling our sales.” Blake shrugged. “That’s the truth. Believe what you want, but I’m not the same person I was a year ago, and I’m trying really hard to prove that to all of you. It would be nice for you not to assume the worst of me.”

Nash slowly stood and walked over to Blake. He shocked me further when he pulled him into a hug.

“I believe you, and I’m really fucking proud of you.”

Stepping back, Nash looked at Liam and tossed the baggie over.

“What do you want to do,” Liam asked.

Nash smirked.

“Assemble the team. I want to know whether Trent is the only dealer or if there are more, and who is running them. Most importantly, I want to know why we haven’t heard about it. And then…we’re going to remind these fuckers who the kings of the school are and what happens when you break our rules,” Nash said, and a shiver of excitement raced down my spine. “No one sells drugs on Wayward property, not ever.”

Nash clapped Blake on the shoulder.

“Good work.”

“I’m really feckin’ sorry that I jumped ta conclusions, it won’t happen again,” I said, and Blake nodded.

Theo stood and stepped up to Blake.

“I’m sorry, too. You’re right, I still treat you like you’re going to break, and I need to stop. Can you forgive me and be patient with me as I work through my own issues?”

Blake smirked and pulled Theo into a hug.

“Always. You’re my brother.”

Ren held out her hand as they stepped apart, and with a smile, Blake dropped down beside her again.

“Alright, let’s pick a movie already,” Nash said, turning the television back on.

If I hadn’t seen it with my eyes, I never would’ve believed that it was possible for Nash to be so…mature.

He glanced at me.

“Why the hell are you staring at me?”

“Cause yer so feckin’ sexy,” I teased, making everyone laugh as Nash rolled his eyes.

And just like that, we were back to normal.