The Original Crowd (3 page)

“You go see that guy?” he finally asked, the epitome of self-control.

“No, I went to see a friend, the guy who’s going to check out the device before I hand it to you.”

“You move fast.”

“Yeah, well…this job needs a lot of planning. I gotta start early.”

“So I was thinking, if you get the device, we’d need to have it by Thursday night.”

“I know. The last possible moment so they don’t change the codes. I’m on it.”

“You’re very…professional about this.”

“Yeah, well…I used to go to Pedlam. There’s a reason why their security is so tight. It’s going to be a challenge.”

“And that’s the only part of this that’s a challenge?” he drawled, pushing off from the car so he was right in front of me, almost touching, but not quite.

Tipping my head back, I held his eyes. “It’s the only part that gives me a rush.”

He grinned. “Somehow I don’t believe you.”

“You’re not the challenge if that’s what you’re thinking,” I said softly, grinning at him.

“But I give you a rush,” he murmured, bending so his mouth was against my neck. I closed my eyes, I couldn’t help it. I was slowly losing the capability of thinking when I felt his mouth kiss and linger on me, sliding around to the other side. My hand twisted itself in his hair, holding it like an anchor, as my other hand slid down his chest, finding its way underneath his shirt and sliding a finger on the inside of his jeans—just an inch inside. I grinned hearing his sudden intake of breath as I moved my finger slightly, rubbing it back and forth. Then his hand moved and slipped underneath my tank top, and slid upwards, inching up slowly resting just around the swell of my breast.

Remembering where we were, I ripped away from him breathing heavily.

“Shit…” he breathed, his eyes raking my face.

“Go to your party. There’s a girl there you can fuck,” I snapped, climbing inside and ripping out of the parking lot.

*

The next day passed uneventfully. Mandy came in my room Saturday evening feeling better after nursing her hangover away the entire day, and filled me in on everything that had happened at the party. Who hooked up with whom; who broke up; who fought; who barfed. It was an awesome party supposedly.

Watching me intently, she asked if I wanted to go out that night with the gang. I declined and continued folding my clothes, showing no reaction.

At her silence, I almost flinched. The rumors had already circulated—someone must’ve seen Tray and I outside the diner, because I knew he wouldn’t say anything and I sure as hell didn’t. Then again, maybe he would tell; I didn’t really know him that well.

She didn’t push it. Instead she launched into a rant about how she thinks Devon might be cheating on her.

Frowning, I turned back to her. “Are you serious? Devon? We’re talking about Devon?”

“Yeah.” She swung her legs around and sat up, still on my bed. “He was…weird last night. I don’t know. Maybe he really did hook up with Stephanie.”

“I lied about that.”

“I know you did, but…maybe she’s going after you through me and she’s trying to do it through Devon because she knows that would hurt me.

“Nah,” I dismissed easily,” Stephanie’s pretty direct. She’ll come straight after me, not you.”

Laughing, she murmured, softly, “You know, after that phone call the other night, you’re different. It’s like you’re a whole different person.”

“No. I just wasn’t me before. Now the old me is starting to come back out.”

“Why’d you hide?”

I wasn’t ready to unburden my soul. I didn’t care if she was my new sister.

I shrugged. “Getting to know people. Nothing dramatic.”

“Oh.” She sounded disappointed.

“So are you going to talk to Devon tonight? About your hunch?”

“About Stephanie? No, but I am going to ask him if he’s cheating on me.”

“Come on, Mandy. The sooner you talk to him, the sooner you’ll know what’s really going on and be back to being lovebirds again,” I murmured, folding my last shirt. Leaning against the wall, I took in her frown and said, “Whoa. You’re actually serious.”

“Yeah,” she said sarcastically, standing up she started to pace. “He’s really off and it’s getting to me, you know? He’s been like this for a while, but last night…it creeped me out.”

“Well…” I murmured softly, feeling sad for her. I know what it felt like, Brian had cheated on me a few times too. “Do you stay like this, not knowing, or do you push him and find out?”

Sighing, she replied, “I can’t stay like this. No way. It’s been…God…like seven months of this already. I didn’t want to admit it, but this feeling has been there, you know?”

“Yeah…”

“Yeah…”

“So where are you guys going tonight? And who’s all going?”

“The gang and some others.” That meant the elite and the crowd that gathered around them, including Stephanie and her wannabes. “We’re going to a party at Rickets’ House.”

Great. I felt a knot in my stomach. Rickets’ House was a great big white mansion near Pedlam. It was where a lot of parties were thrown because it was situated deep in the woods. Kids could scatter easily if the cops showed up and it was notorious for being a mating ground for other schools. Brian wouldn’t be there, he hated that place, but there’d definitely be some others there from Pedlam.

On the other hand…

“I’m in.”

I didn’t care about Mandy’s abrupt startled gaze.

*

Devon and Jasmine were driving with us. They’d arrived a few minutes ago and it had been awkward…to say the least. Jasmine had obviously heard the rumors because she gave my outfit a second glance. But, I might run into other Pedlam students and they needed to see me. Not the new me—the quiet, boring, saintly me. They’d just laugh.

So I dressed how I used to. I wore a leather miniskirt and a lacey black tank top that hugged my curves with a diamond necklace that was looped twice around my neck, resting just above my belly-button. Even Mandy had been slightly taken aback and she’d seen the old me a few times.

I could tell that she was distracted by Devon’s behavior. He’d been standoffish the entire evening. He arrived and gave her a chaste kiss on the cheek and that had been it. After we traipsed into the car, he’d been silent, just focused on driving. Jasmine sat in the back with me, chatting to Mandy, who was glancing at Devon every few seconds, trying to appear nonchalant. I was staring out the window tuning the conversation out.

Until I heard Jasmine murmur, “…he was with Aidrian last night. God, Tray just pisses me off at times.”

I looked over and caught a furtive glance from Mandy under her eyelashes. “What?”

“Didn’t say anything.”

Jasmine turned to me. “I was just telling Mandy that sometimes I’m embarrassed by Tray. God, especially when he fucks girls like Aidrian Casners. She’s white trash. Seriously.”

“That’s probably why he fucked her,” I drawled, leaning back.

Jasmine and Mandy were both watching me intently. Even Devon had glanced in the rear-view mirror.

“What?”

“Nothing,” Mandy squeaked.

Jasmine turned to face me. “We heard an interesting tidbit last night…about you and Tray,” Jasmine said, trying to bait me. “Care to elaborate?”

“If it’s anything short than us screwing on the hood of my car, it’s not worth addressing.” I grinned, a dry chuckle in my voice. “How long till we get there?”

“We’re meeting up with Tray and the rest of the gang at his place first,” Devon said tightly, turning into a driveway.

I had to admit, the place was impressive. It was gorgeous. The mansion had two massive pillars right before the front door with a large patio extending off to the side. The living room could be seen through three large windows and inside there was a flat screen TV highlighting one entire wall. It looked like a movie theater with black leather couches gracing the sides of the room. Through the house you could see the pool shimmering through the glass patio doors on the other side of the mansion.

Yes. It was impressive.

Fuck that.

Walking inside we were met with a chandelier—an
actual
chandelier in the foyer with a spiral staircase leading off to the right. There was an open doorway just before the steps and it led to an expansive kitchen, complete with an island in the middle. Even the kitchen looked like a masterpiece.

Most of the ‘cool’ crowd were lounging around, all drinking, chatting, or in the process of making their drinks for the ride.

I saw Grant and Bryce right away. They were at the table talking with some girls I didn’t recognize. Amber was sitting on the island, dangling her feet, talking with a guy that I thought was Brent…Garrett? Basketball team…I think. I didn’t really care.

Tray was nowhere to be found.

I felt Mandy nudge me and whisper, “Tray just got here.”

I couldn’t see him.

“What are you talking about?” I asked in a seemingly bored, low tone.

“I just talked to Erin and she said Tray just ran in. He’s getting dressed and then we’re all heading out.”

“I don’t get why we’re all meeting here? Why don’t we just go to the party?”

“Because Tray and Grant are the only ones who know where Rickets’ House is…and…there’s probably Pedlam students there. It’s not like we all want to show up alone.”

I grinned. “What? Strength in numbers? Can’t handle a few Pedlamites?”

“You probably could, but I’m secure enough to admit that I wouldn’t want to do it. Trust me, we want Tray there with us when we show. He can handle Crispin Gentley.”

I scoffed, “Gentley’s a baby.”

Jasmine had been listening and asked, “You know Crispin Gentley?”

“Yeah and he’s nothing to be scared of.”

Bryce had crossed the room without me noticing. He asked, “How do you know Gentley?”

“I went to Pedlam a few times.”

“A few times?” I didn’t recognize this girl, but she was already annoying me. She had platinum blond hair and boobs that shouted ‘screw me’ every time your eyes skimmed across them. She could’ve been the poster-girl for Hooters.

I clamped down on my instant irritation. “Yeah. What about it?”

“She didn’t mean anything, Matthews,” Tray soothed, walking up behind me and wrapping an arm around my waist, pulling me into his side. To everyone else, he said, “Let’s head out.” He pulled me with him and said, “You can ride with me.”

I glared at him, but noticed that Mandy was looking cautiously at Devon. I saw Jasmine pair off with Grant, so I said lightly, “Fine.” It would be the perfect time for Mandy to talk to Devon anyway.

Two other guys were walking behind us as we walked to Tray’s SUV. I ignored the heat from Tray’s hand as it spread, open palm, on my stomach. Brushing him off, I rounded the SUV and climbed into the passenger seat. The other two got in the back.

As Tray started it up, he introduced us, “Helms, Mitch, this is Matthews. Matthews—the guys.”

“My name’s Taryn, not Matthews,” I informed them dryly, seeing each nod in an easygoing way. I recalled that they were both on the basketball team. They fit the description—tall and lanky. They were both wearing Abercrombie & Fitch. Preppy boys.

If I had been worried about having to converse with Tray the entire time, I would’ve been relieved. For the most part, he ignored me and seemed content making small talk with Helms and Michael.

I tuned them out as I speculated on the night ahead.

Crispin Gently would probably be there. He seemed to always be at Rickets’ House. I had only heard stories about the parties there. They were notorious just because kids from other towns showed up. Rickets’ House wasn’t Pedlam Territory. It was in the middle of four towns. Four territories. I’d been there a few times, enough to know how to get there myself if I was asked, but Brian wanted me to stay away from it when we were together. Cops seemed to always show up and, of course, they always went after Brian first.

Crispin knew my rep though. He’d hit on me enough in the past. Something about the fact that I could steal anything seemed to fascinate him. He and Brian were constantly getting in shoving fights—usually over me. I think I was just an excuse, though. Gentley hit on me because I was Brian’s girl. Everyone knew it, so he used me to get a rise out of Brian—and it worked.

Of course, I think Gentley was just entertained by me. I had noticed, on a few occasions, there had been amusement in his eyes when he had hit on me, even when Brian wasn’t anywhere around. He enjoyed baiting me and seeing how I handled it. Normally I handled it with grace, but one time, he’d gone too far. That night, Gentley received thirteen stiches and spent the night in the hospital.

Without realizing it, we were already there. I blinked. That hadn’t taken as much time as I thought. As Tray drove through the back winding roads, I glanced uneasily at the forest on both sides. The woods always unnerved me. I don’t know why but they just…freaked me out. It was something I’d never told anyone; not even Brian. Snapping back to the present, Tray was already pulling into the long driveway around the hill that led its way to Rickets’ House, its lights already blinding from the party going on inside. There was a good amount of cars loitering the driveway as we passed them by.