Page 61 of Always: A Legacy Novel

“And wears it sometimes,” Natalie put in.

“She goes to the football games.”

“Means nothing,” Kasey dismissed. “She’s a cheerleader, anyway.”

Even the crunch of the apple in Catherine’s mouth couldn’t drown out the gossiping. Normally she would be the first to join in because what the hell else did their rich, spoiled asses have to do during lunch hour except talk about what was happening or going on in their school. It wasn’t like they were allowed to leave the property.

“Oh, and he rides home with her sometimes,” Trisha added.

“They’re a cute couple,” Natalie said, “if that’s what they are.”

“Definitely are,” Kasey replied as she applied a layer of pink gloss to her lips. “And yeah, he’s certainly cute.”

“Hella cute.”

“Would you all shut up?” Catherine barked.

All three of the girls’ heads snapped to the side, and they stared at Catherine at the very end of their line where they sat on the picnic table.

“Jesus, what crawled up your ass?” Trisha asked.

Catherine looked away to hide her frown. “Nothing, sorry. I’m just not in the mood to gossip today.”

“Well, I’m not in the mood to be around a bitch today,” Kasey said with a huff.

Unsurprisingly, Natalie agreed.

The two girls pushed off the table and headed back toward the school. The only one that stayed behind with Catherine was Trisha.

“Seriously, what’s up?” Trisha demanded.

Catherine’s gaze traveled to the item in question without her permission that the girls had been talking about.

Cross and Dina.

A few other students milled around the two.

“I don’t remember him caring so much about friends before,” Catherine said before she could think better of it. “He didn’t give a shit. If you know what I mean.”

Now, it seemed Cross had a whole flock of friends. So did she, of course, but he couldn’t be bothered with kids his own age before. Or, that’s what she thought.

“Oh,” Trisha said, “I get it now.”

“Get what?”

The girl nodded in Cross and Dina’s direction. “Him.”

“What about him?”

“Cross was like your first boyfriend, wasn’t he?”

Catherine took another bite of her apple.

She didn’t want to talk anymore.

Trisha didn’t care. “That kind of blows if you’re still into him, or whatever.”

“Not into him, Trisha,” Catherine mumbled around her bite.