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“Fuck off,” I said easily, but laughed. “Bryce, you got an idea for the science contest?” We were supposed to do some invention. I had it made—Molly was my partner. It was an easy A for me. “You should hit up Molly for some ideas, she’s a science genius, and my partner, so don’t even think of stealing her.”
After looking at me like I’d lost my mind, he turned to Molly and asked, “So, what are you guys doing your project on?”
Molly gave him a tight smile, still blushing, but she managed to get out, “I’m thinking of using a statistical design to find the migrant rotation of Canadian geese in the next three months around level three wetlands.”
I was so not participating in that conversation.
The rest of the guys were tuned in—they hunted—they could actually understand what she was talking about. Imagine that, Molly had something in common with these guys.
I felt Tray brush my thigh underneath the table and looked over. He was staring intently at me. He reached for my chair and pulled it closer. Leaning down, he murmured, “Thought you’d be halfway to Pedlam by now.”
This is why I wanted to avoid him. I didn’t know what to say, because I didn’t know what I was even going to do anymore.
I shrugged and signaled for another Diet Coke.
“Taryn,” Tray spoke, “are you still—”
“I don’t know, okay? I mean, you kinda laid a lot on me, you know?”
“Yeah,” he bit out, leaning against the back of his chair, watching me closely.
“What am I supposed to say?”
He shrugged, looking colder than normal—if that was possible.
“I mean, it’s not the same situation.”
“You’re right. You have an easy out. I didn’t,” he clipped out, sounding and looking even more pissed off than a second ago.
“Oh come on. I have a right to know—”
He stood up abruptly and walked outside, leaving me sitting there, irritated beyond words. I stalked after him, finding him walking to my car.
“Come on, Tray!” I yelled after him and I got even more pissed off—he had my keys. My keys in his hands and he was getting behind my wheel. I stomped around the car and got into the passenger seat. “What are you doing? This is my car!”
“We’re leaving,” he replied, gunning my car in reverse.
“I don’t really feel like getting in a car accident today,” I said tightly. “What about my friends?”
“Those aren’t your friends,” he shot back. “Those are your charity cases and Carter will give ‘em a ride back.”
“They are not my charity cases,” I said hotly.
“Yes, they are. You feel sorry for them and you’re trying to find friends who would never even think of lying to you. Those are your charity cases, you’re using them to make yourself feel better.”
I slumped in my chair and let my temper simmer, knowing it was going to boil over pretty soon.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Tray drove us to school and got into his own vehicle. A second later, he peeled out of the parking lot and I stewed. I knew he wanted me to follow him, but Tray hadn’t made that demand.
So, I just sat there, in my car and thought of my options: follow Tray back to his house or go home.
I chose to go home. I needed another shower and a change of clothes. Plus, I could do with some peace and quiet. Tray couldn’t get mad at me for going home; he’d be irritated that I didn’t follow him, but would be livid if I went to Pedlam.
So I went home. Austin was downstairs and I assume he was hanging out with friends—I could hear other voices, including a few girls. Interesting. I made a mental note to go down and embarrass him later. I couldn’t do it now, not when my emotional wiring was so frayed.
“Hey, honey.” Shelley bustled around the kitchen.
