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“Absolutely,” I reply earnestly and turn to face him, standing up on my tiptoes and giving him a kiss.
“Let’s get the hell out of here,” he says, releasing me and linking his fingers with mine. I don’t need to be told twice as he leads me down the hall and into the courtyard.
As we walk down the steps to the parking lot, I notice that it’s still full, and a group of students are crowded around Mason’s truck.
“What’s going on?” I ask Mason, looking up at him.
“I don’t know.” His forehead creases as he surveys the crowd in confusion, then picks up the pace. Lyndsey and Cadence are standing on the outskirts, and as soon as they spot us, the look on both their faces instantly makes my stomach drop.
“Move out of the way,” Mason barks, and the crowd parts as he charges through, pulling me along with him until his truck comes into view.
His steps falter, and all the air escapes my lungs as I take in the sight before me. The hood of his pale-blue truck has black paint smeared all over it as if someone took a bucket of black paint and dumped it directly into the middle. Thick lines streak down the truck’s sides and create little black pools on the ground below. It must have been done several hours ago as the paint was nearly dry, and I place my hand on my chest, feeling my heart sink.
Silence moves through the stunned crowd as we all stand entirely speechless, and I spot Eric edging through the bodies toward me.
“Fuck… baby girl,” he murmurs painfully, looking from Mason to me with a sympathetic expression. I swallow hard as I look up at him. I have no words, and looking back at Mason, I watch as his back starts to rise up and down in quick succession with his heavy breathing.
A peal of laughter penetrates through the stillness of the air, and we all spin around, spotting Logan, Connor, and Hunter, sitting on the trunk of Logan’s car, roaring with laughter over the whole spectacle.
My eyes dart to Mason, whose face is turning a deep shade of red as he watches them revel in glory over the damage done to his prized possession. Balling his fists, he storms over, and when they see him approaching, they jump up off the trunk and stand up straight.
Logan folds his arms and flashes him a smirk. He obviously doesn’t see it coming. But I do. And before I can call out to him, Mason cocks his fist and lands a blow directly to the side of Logan’s head.
Gasps ring out throughout the crowd as Logan staggers back and hits the back of his car, holding on to his jaw.
“You fucking bastard!” Mason screams, then lunges for him again, but is pulled back by Connor and Hunter, who each grab one of his arms.
“It wasn’t me, asshole!” Logan yells back, and my stomach rolls as I watch him position himself, then gesture to Connor and Hunter. “Hold him still, boys.”
Mason struggles against their restraint, and I quickly search for Eric, only to find he is already sprinting over with Grayson right behind him.
“Logan, stop!” Eric shouts just as Logan pounds a fist into Mason’s stomach, causing a grunt to erupt from his throat.
“Mason!” I scream, instantly springing into action only to be stopped short by Lyndsey, who grabs my arm and pulls me beside her. I grimace as I watch Logan’s fist fly through the air again, but before he can land another blow, Eric barrels into him and pushes him back against the car.
Logan’s eyes go wide with disbelief as he stares at Eric. “What the fuck, man?”
“This shit stops now, Logan!” Eric roars. “Enough is enough. You’ve made your fucking point, and you’ve taken this shit way too far.”
“I didn’t fucking do it!” Logan spits.
“Bullshit!” Eric fires back. “I know this was your handiwork, and he didn’t deserve this, man.”
“So you’re on his side now? After all these years, you’re going to throw our friendship away for some fucking four-eyed freak?”
“I’m not throwing anything away. You are. I can’t stand by and continue to watch you do this shit to people anymore.” Eric shakes his head. “It’s fucked up, and I won’t be part of it.”
Logan’s jaw tics as he pins him with a glare. “Fine. Fuck you then, Eric!” He points at him. “You want out. You’re out. We are done!”
“Fine by me,” Eric counters, and I feel an ache in my chest. They have been best friends since grade school, and as much as Eric is right to walk away, it’s still sad watching their friendship come to an end.
Eric turns to face Connor and Hunter, with Grayson suddenly appearing by his side. Looks like Grayson is on board with Eric. “Let him go!” Eric growls, pinning them both with a warning look.
Connor and Hunter release Mason, who turns and heads back to his truck, raking his fingers through his hair.
Lyndsey’s eyes dart to the crowd still surrounding his truck, and anger flares in her deep, emerald orbs. “The show’s over, people!” She claps, and everyone looks in her direction. “Unless you’re here to actually help wash that shit off, then I suggest you mind your own goddamn business and fuck off back to where you came from.”
Following the queen’s order, the crowd immediately disperses and heads to their cars. Logan jumps into his with Connor and Hunter, then tears out of the parking lot while Mason stands in front of his truck holding the sides of his head, taking in the damage.
