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"Uh…" She shifted and said shortly, "This is Braven and Carlos."
"Hi!" I stuck a hand out.
Even though I didn't pay attention to most gossip, I knew my social hierarchy. At first, I thought Carlos was in Leisha's group, but when I saw him next to Braven—that changed things. That put him in a much higher position. Braven was a Bryce or Corrigan for his grade. That meant that Carlos would be there too and it wasn't a shock to see some of the more-popular senior girls flirting with them.
Braven looked to be the leader because he spoke up, "Hi."
Carlos nodded and watched.
"I know your friend Leisha." I ignored Braven and remarked to Carlos.
"Oh yeah?" Interest sparked in him and he murmured, "She's great, isn't she?"
"I like her," I said meaningfully to Mandy, who moved her hand from Carlos' arm. "She's funny. She's a little nerdy, but it works for her."
"I had hoped she'd come tonight." Carlos leaned closer. "But I don't see her anywhere."
"Maybe you should call her. She might come then."
"I don't know."
"I do. Call her."
Braven spoke up, "I thought you were hoping that Cassie chick was here?"
Carlos ducked his head. "So?"
"Cassandra Bens is good for one thing. If you're looking for a girl with class, I'd lay odds on Leisha any day," I spoke up.
Braven snorted in disbelief just as he was pushed out of the way.
I found myself staring into Chad Yerling's malicious eyes. There was nothing innocent in that gaze as he skimmed me up and down.
"What are you doing, Yerling?" I asked, stiffly.
He stepped closer to me and whispered, "I came to collect."
"Collect what? Another beating?"
"Your boys can come after me all they want, but they won't be able to beat it out of me what I'm going to do to you."
Carlos muttered, "Uh, dude…I don't think…"
"Back off, loser," Chad snarled.
Braven suddenly pushed in between us. With his back to me, he growled in Chad's face, "You might want to get out of here before you're sent to the hospital."
Chad smiled and it sent shivers down my back.
"Look at you." He looked Braven up and down. "You think you can hurt me, little boy?"
Carlos stood beside him.
Chad rolled his eyes.
"You two are pathetic." He sneered and met my gaze. "You and me, Jeneve. That's what it's going to be one of these nights. Scout can't always be there and even if he is, it'll be one to all my buddies. You do the math."
His eyes caught something over my shoulder and he froze.
Bryce stepped around me, grabbed Yerling by the throat, and dragged him out the door.
Corrigan stood at the door and closed it behind them as Bryce passed through. Neither of them looked at me, but Yerling did.
I felt that shiver again.
Braven and Carlos watched me, guardedly.
My little finger trembled so I stuffed my hands into my front pockets.
I gritted my teeth and pushed through the crowd to follow. Chet was at the door and he caught me around the waist as I reached for the door handle.
"No, Sheldon."
"Get off," I snapped and reached again.
"It's not just you," Chet reasoned in my ear as he held me back. "We can't have him here. He'll hurt someone again."
"God forbid that you guys say something to the cops about it," I cried out. "God forbid that he's not just locked up. That means that you guys would have to narc on him."
It was a stupid code. The guys ruled and governed each other, but a nark was the lowest of the low.
"Corrigan said something and they didn't do anything," Chet sighed. "This is what we can do. Corrigan already put him in the hospital for a few days. We don't know what else to do, short of killing him. We're open to suggestions."
I had none. My only solution was to hide a Colt.45 by my bed.
I turned away and grabbed another drink from the keg. I wasn't up for conversation and high school drama, so I found an empty room upstairs.
It was gorgeous outside. The sky was cloudless so the stars sparkled bright. With the soft breeze, some leaves were carried over the yard and a few hit the window glass where I stood. I sipped on my plastic cup.
I listened to the party, alone, but it didn't seem long before I heard Bryce's voice down the hallway. A second later, he kicked the door open and he walked inside, carrying cups while balancing three pitchers of beer. Corrigan followed behind with another three pitchers of beer and he kicked the door shut with his foot.
Bryce placed the pitchers on the nightstand before he turned and took the rest from Corrigan. As Corrigan bounced on the bed, Bryce poured the beer.
"So is he in the hospital?" I asked, guardedly. I wasn't sure how I felt about it all.
Corrigan ignored me and continued to bounce on the bed.
"This is a good bed." Corrigan looked at Bryce. "We should steal this bed."
"And you can be the one to tell Harris who stole it when he's going to ask around." Bryce sat against the wall, beside my feet.
"You think he'd even care?"
"His dad would care."
"Isn't his dad some general in the army or something?" I asked.
"Never mind," Corrigan said quickly. "Your friend Mena took off. She said something about running the warpath? Just as friendly as I remembered."
"You're not going to answer me, are you?" I drank my beer.
Corrigan glanced at me. I knew then that he wouldn't. "Hey, uh…if Bryce isn't over at your place, you call me."
"And the douche will wake up this time," Bryce pointed out.
Corrigan glared. "I already said I was sorry. It was four in the morning."
"I answered," Bryce remarked. "I was there."
"Shut up. Both of you. We're not going round three." I needed them. I needed them to not fight.
Both shut up and nodded.
I chuckled and moved to sit on Bryce's lap and stayed there the rest of the night as the guys drank and chatted. They talked sports, hunting, how fake Chantal's boobs were, and anything else.
I sipped my beer and stayed in Bryce's shelter, content.
