The Original Crowd (32 page)

“And your dad?”

“He’s an asshole,” Austin mumbled, looking out his window.

I dropped him off outside the middle school and was surprised when he said, “See you later.” No middle finger goodbye this time. We were making progress.

When I got to the high school, I parked in my normal spot. The hallways were crowded, like always, but there was excitement in the air: the football team was leaving for the play-offs that afternoon.

Which meant no Devon for two days.

Which meant Mandy would be annoying as hell for two days.

Which meant…fuck.

First period was exhausting. All the cheerleaders were out—they’d gotten permission to finish their decorations for the pep-rally. The football players were leaving immediately after the pep-rally, which meant we got out of sixth period twenty minutes early. I’d yet to decide if was going to attend or skip. Who wouldn’t skip? Seriously.

I actually attended health for second period. No Tray. Molly informed me that he had skipped, along with all the football players.

So needless to say, school passed without event. Every class was full of just normal average students and some of the discussions were actually fun. Interesting to listen to, at least. I got into a debate in history. I knew way more about the Roman Empire than whatever her name was.

Molly told me later that she was our soon-to-be valedictorian.

Imagine that. But I did know more than she did. And the teacher agreed with me.

And…surprise, surprise: sixth period was magically full. It was like everyone that was skipping decided to attend sixth period. And I have no idea why.

Hearing the last bell, everyone filed out and chaos ensued. I swear, half the students took off for the parking lot and the other half went to the auditorium. I was still torn: to skip or not to skip?

“Hey,” Molly piped up from behind me.

“Hi.” I gave her a lazy grin.

“You going out?” She gestured to the parking lot.

“Uh…I haven’t decided if I’m skipping or not.”

She looked confused. “Um…the pep rally’s in the parking lot.”

I shut my locker and replied, “Yeah. I knew that.” I’m such a moron.

“Ookay—”

As we both walked down the hallway, I was a bit surprised. The pep rally committee and cheerleaders had outdone themselves. In the middle of the parking lot stood a huge corral and to the side was a livestock trailer filled hay and miniature donkeys.

In the middle of the corral was a stage, with the cheerleaders all standing up and waiting.

“Hey, Rawley!” one of the cheerleaders called out.

The crowd went wild.

As the cheerleaders proceeded to perform their cheer, I saw Tray in the back of the parking lot. He was sitting on the top of his SUV, with a few other guys. I also saw Aidrian Casners standing right below him, smiling up at him. When he looked down, her chest was perfectly displayed for his eyes.

Okay. I guess I never really decided he
wasn’t
a bastard so he
really
wasn’t letting me down right now.

The cheerleaders finished their cheer and the coach came onto the stage. Speech one was given, speech two (by the football captain, which was the guy that was sitting by Tray) was done, and then the trailer opened and the donkeys were led out.

Even I cracked a smile at that.

The rest of the pep rally consisted of twelve football players riding the donkeys as they attempted to play a game that resembled ultimate frisbee, but with hands. And donkeys.

It was a sight I’d never experienced before and I was suddenly glad that I hadn’t skipped.

Molly was giggling the entire time.

I nudged her, pointing to the corner by the picnic tables. “Aren’t those your friends over there?”

“Yeah, but they won’t come watch this. They’ll just stay over there.”

“How come?” I asked curiously.

Molly didn’t answer, not right away. I asked again, and she said, faltering, “Because Kayden and Angela were made fun of one time during a pep rally.”

“What?”

She shrugged, looking uncomfortable. “They got picked by the crowd for a relay and Kayden tripped and broke her nose. Then one of the football players called her Rudolph in the microphone for everyone to hear. You know, because of the blood.”

“Oh—” I didn’t know what else to say.

“Yeah, then Angela tried to help, but Kayden tripped again and fell on her. Angie Hodgkins called Angela a handicapped elf, said she couldn’t walk and hold Rudolph at the same time.”

I couldn’t believe it. I mean, I knew kids could be assholes, but where were all the teachers?

“The teachers thought it was all a show.” Molly explained, no longer giggling.

“I’m sorry,” I said sincerely. Molly wasn’t saying anything, but she must’ve had her own share of humiliation. There was a reason the three of them had banded together. Why they were called the Invisibles.

For the first time since I’d been here, I was glad I had come to Rawley. I was happy I met Molly. She wasn’t an Invisible anymore and I’d take anyone on that tried to humiliate her again.

“It’s in the past,” she murmured, her voice cracking. It wasn’t in the past. It was one of how many incidents that have happened in the past.

“Why are you friends with me?” I asked honestly, dumbfounded as to why she’d want to be my friend. I was a bitch. It’s what I was known for and yet this Invisible had singled me out. She’d talked to me, and she continues to talk to me.

“Because you’re not one of them,” Molly answered matter-of-factly.

“But—”

She turned and met my gaze, seeing the torment in mine—it must’ve been there—I was feeling it. Molly spoke truthfully, “You’re different. You’re…you’re one of us but…you’re one of them.”

Molly continued, “I don’t know. I just…knew you wouldn’t turn on me like them. You’re not like that.”

“I’m a bitch.”

“Yeah. You’re a bitch to
them
. You’re a bitch to who deserves it. Not me. Not Angela or Kayden. You’re anything
but
a bitch to us.” Molly wiped away a tear at the corner of her eye.

I was at a loss for words. My throat suddenly tightened.

Drawing in a shuddering breath, I muttered, “I…I gotta go. See you tomorrow.”

When I got to my locker, the hallways were completely empty, which was a good thing. I heaved a sigh of relief. I didn’t need to get into anything with anyone.

“Hey.” I was tapped from behind.

Turning, I saw Props standing, looking aggrieved. It was the only word I could think of to describe him.

“Hi.”

He handed me a flash drive. Gesturing to it, he said, “That’s for you. Everything. All trails, all traces, everything. Where each and every account wound up at.”

I was surprised. It had been a day. Within twenty-four hours, he had everything I asked for.

“Thanks.”

“Yeah, well,” he shuffled slightly, stuffing his hands in his pockets, “you get what I wanted?”

“Yeah.”

His eyes lit up. “Really?”

“Yeah. You’re taking her to a concert at the Seven8 on Friday.”

“Oh yeah. Third Wave. They’re Aidrian’s favorite.”

This guy was a littler stalkerish.

“Um…yeah. I told her you’d show up with the tickets on Friday.”

“How’d you get her to agree to it, man? I mean, I never thought…you know.” He was excited and riding a wave of insomnia no doubt.

“I have to get the tickets first, but be ready Friday. I’ll get directions and her phone number—”

“Already have it. I know where she lives too.”

“Oh…um…okay.”

“The concert starts at eight, so I can pick her up at six-thirty.” The dude was all business now. He was gleaming.

“Alright, I’ll pass the message.” Then off he went, bouncing in the hallway giddily.

Just then a wave of students came back in from outside. The pep rally must’ve finished because lockers were quickly thrown open and bags were all grabbed. Every football player looked on a mission as they grabbed their stuff and darted back out to the parking lot. Their Greyhound must’ve been waiting.

I caught a glimpse of Mandy through the crowd. She was bouncing up and down, probably on a high from the pep rally. She threw her arms around Devon and gave him a long kiss.

Then my eyes trailed over their shoulders and met Tray’s. He’d been watching me and was walking towards me.

I grabbed my purse and nudged my locker door shut, slipping the flash drive into my front-pocket.

“Hey,” Tray greeted, standing a few feet away.

“Hey,” I said softly in return. I still didn’t know what I was going to say and I was
very
aware of the flash drive in my purse.

“Some of us are going to Rickets’ House tonight—early play-offs celebration, but we’re all heading out to Crystal Bay right now.” Crystal Bay was a local lake that had a small cave which dipped into the cliff overhanging it. On the bottom of the cave was a green-blue pool of water, which literally sparkled when the sun slanted onto it. It was gorgeous and one of my favorite places to swim. I’d gone there once and I was itching to take a dive off the cliff, but when Mandy had taken me, it was too early. That was when I was nice and quiet—before the real Taryn came out.

“Are you asking me if I want to come?”

Tray rolled his eyes. “What the fuck do you think?”

“I don’t…I can’t. I have to go to Pedlam to get those tickets I promised Casners.”

I saw the tension enter his body just at the mere name.

“It’s not like that,” I reassured him, not really knowing
why
I was reassuring him. “I’m not going for you know. I haven’t decided—”

“I don’t get why it’s such a fucking hard decision! It’s a no-brainer Taryn!” Tray stood there, his jaw clenching.

I didn’t like him yelling at me and I couldn’t stand that he was so angry with me. And I hated to admit that it bothered me so much.

I reached out and slid a finger into the front of his pants and pulled him close. Against his chest, I whispered, “I’m sorry, okay?”

Reluctantly Tray slid his arms around me, one of his palms resting underneath my shirt, just inside the back of my pants. He bent his head next to mine and I felt his breath on my neck.

“Before,” I started, “before I would’ve already been over there, demanding answers, but now…you got in my head, alright? I just have to be the one to make the decision. Me. Not you.”

“And I don’t understand why it’s taking so long,” he said roughly, but he pulled me tighter against him, dropping his forehead to my shoulder.

“I don’t know why either.” I bit my lip, raising my arms around his neck. “But I promised your playmate tickets and those are in Pedlam, so that’s where I have to go to get them.”

He went rigid again.

I said quickly, “I won’t come across Jace or anyone. Promise. I can slip in and out and no one will ever know I was there.”

“How long?” he asked harshly. God—he really hated that I was going to Pedlam. Remember the days when he didn’t give one shit? Fond memories.

I grinned at my thoughts, but I answered, “Not long. Get in, get out. It shouldn’t take long at all.”

“I could come with?” he offered.

His offer earned him a deep long kiss. Of which both of us were breathing hard when I whispered against his lips, “Trust me. This is a one-woman job. They won’t have any idea I was been there.” I took a deep breath. “I could come to Crystal Bay when I’m done.”

“You’ll have time?”

“When are you going to Rickets’ House?”

“Like, ten tonight.”

“I’ll call when I get back. If you guys are still at Crystal Bay, I’ll show up. If not, I’ll just come to your place. Shelley and Kevin are heading out for a month-long conference today anyway, so no parents to check in with.”

“Fine.” He gave me another hard kiss before he left for his locker.

After that, I headed to my car. I made sure I had everything I needed in my trunk and then I was on the road, heading for Pedlam. In the back of my mind, I kept thinking back to when Tray and I were just fuck buddies.

I turned the radio on and let myself get lost in the music. When I got to Pedlam, I circled the block, one down, from the Seven8. There was an apartment ramp, which came up right against where the Seven8’s basement ended. I parked in the ramp, and found a small, hidden door that connected the two complexes. I don’t even know if Jace knew about it. I found it, accidentally, one time when I was upset with Brian. I’d needed time alone so I went looking for a hiding spot.

I quickly checked to make sure there weren’t any added security alarms.

There weren’t, so I picked the lock and headed inside. The basement was pitch black—like always.

The nice thing about me—I didn’t need light. I’ve always had excellent night-vision. So I just moved to where the maintenance elevators were and pushed ‘em open. Clipping my karabiner to the elevator cable, along with a glick’s lock, I hooked my ropes from the karabiner to my waist, and I started climbing up. Sliding the karabiner right along as I inched upwards.