The Original Crowd (19 page)

“No. I’m pissed because you didn’t think about what you were doing. You’re not the one who’s going to pay. We are. We always are. The fight’s got nothing to do with you, you need to stay out of it. The fight’s between us and Brian. We have to deal with it.”

“Is that why Trent was there today? You and he are going to take Brian down?”

“Somewhat. Trent’s there because he wants to be there. He likes Geezer. Look,” I could hear how tired he was, “just stay away from Brian from now on, okay? Let us handle him.”

“Fine,” I muttered, glowering to an empty room.

“Taryn.”

“I said fine.”

“Yeah and you said that before, but look what you just did.”

“I was pissed and he was there. I couldn’t pass it up.”

“You tasered him, in an elevator,” Grayley pointed out wryly.

I grinned, a chuckle escaping my lips. “Oh. You should’ve seen him.”

“I did,” he remarked. “He was taken to the E.R.”

“Oh.” I blinked, I didn’t think I’d done
that
much damage. “Why?”

“Because you beat the shit out of him,” Grayley said, exasperated.

“Oh. Uh—”

“He wouldn’t file charges so the cops aren’t coming after you. But still…you’re fucking lucky, Taryn. Brian said it was in self-defense. He said that he grabbed you first and he wouldn’t tell them your name.”

Fuck that. I was not going to be grateful to Brian. Not for anything.

“I’ll stay out of it,” I said through gritted teeth. Grayley had gotten what he wanted. That annoying little shit.

“Good. Get rid of that taser.”

“Jace gave it to me.”

“Exactly,” he pointed out, hanging up on me.

I rolled my eyes and put my phone in my pocket.

Mandy spoke up, from behind me, “What did you do this time?!”

Again—fuck.

“I don’t—” I began, but stopped short. I didn’t know what to say to her. I’m pretty sure Hallmark doesn’t make a card for bonding over illegal activities.

“What?” she asked again.

I changed tactics and shifted my hip against the counter. “What are you doing up here?”

“I came to find you.”

“Hmm mmm. Why?”

“I…,” Mandy wavered, rolling her eyes, “because I can’t handle all of them downstairs.”

“Oh. You mean the little trio of Pop-Tarts downstairs?” I mocked, sweetly. “How can you not? They’re so…sugarlicious”

Mandy chuckled, and then groaned. “Ugh. You’d think I could handle this. This was me, four years ago before Dev and I got together. But now, Jasmine’s scared to be in the same room as me, Devon looks like he’s going to bolt any second, and Amber, I’ve realized, has no spine. Plus,” she sighed, “I think they’ve replaced me with Sasha Klinnleys.”

“I call her Hooters Bitch.”

“I just…I feel like I’ve lost my place. You know?”

“You’re asking me?” I asked skeptically. “Mandy, welcome to my life the past six months.”

“What are you doing here, by the way?”

“Hiding,” I said without hesitation. I could at least tell her part of the truth.

“From?”

“From my life,” I said dryly. “My friends in Pedlam. Shelley and Kevin.”

“You mean, Mom and Dad.”

“Yeah.I guess.”

“Taryn…they’re your mom and dad too. You just gotta…let them.”

“Not really used to having parents around.”

“Well, I was grateful, but now…I’m thinking I should have had a nice dinner at home with Mom and Dad, instead of coming here.” Mandy cringed.

Just then Amber walked into the room, a large smile plastered on her face. She halted and placed her hands on her skinny hips. “We’re going to get in the pool. You guys want to come?”

“Um,” Mandy said uncertainly.

“No swimsuits,” I remarked.

“That’s okay. Tray’s family has a bunch in the changing rooms. Just go and pick one,” she said cheerfully, before bouncing back out.

This was not my scene—hanging out with the social elite—but it was Mandy’s and she needed my support so I pushed her forward. “Let’s go. Pick out a bikini to show off that hot bod. You’ll have both Devon and Carter drooling before the night’s over.”

Mandy didn’t look convinced, but she went anyway.

I knew my body and I knew what guys liked. I figured I might as well have some fun. So I picked a black bikini that tied at the sides. The folds accentuated the sweep at my breasts and I knew all the guys would take notice.

Which they did.

Amber, Sasha, and Jasmine were lounging at one end. Mandy was paddling with Carter in the shallow end of the pool. Tray was behind the bar. Bryce, Grant, and Devon were watching me.

Not one to not make a scene, I walked over to Mandy and jumped, completing a clean backflip in the air, over her and Carter. I managed to sweep my arms out in front me just as I hit the water, sending a small splash over my sister.

I kicked my way to Mandy’s side before I broke the surface, grinning at her shocked face.

“When did you learn to do that?” Mandy asked.

“I took swimming in the seventh grade at Earlington.”

“They’re the state champs,” Carter remarked.

“If you weren’t a swimmer, you were a loser there. I learned to swim.” I hauled myself out of the water and then jumped back in, laughing as Mandy scowled, knowing the splash would hit her full-force this time.

“Looks like you kept it up,” Carter noted when I swam back over to them.

One hand holding the side, I slicked my hair back and commented, “It was the only place I could get away from my boyfriend. I swam a lot to keep in shape.”

“He must’ve hated that.”

“Nah. He never knew.” It was true. Brian never knew I could swim. I’d always thought about joining the Pedlam swim team, but it didn’t seem the same. Earlington ate, breathed, and slept swimming. Pedlam, they didn’t really care. If you swam, you swam. If you didn’t, you were just like everyone else. But breaking against the water helped with arm strength. Which helped me when I had to climb—sometimes against the side of a building.

Brian knew I didn’t spend that much time lifting his weights. But he’d never ask how I could climb as quickly as I did.

He’d never cared to ask. That had been the bottom line.

“Rawley has a swim team. You should try out,” Mandy suggested.

“Maybe,” I offered. Climbing out, I crossed to the bar where Tray was talking with Grant and Bryce.

“Drink?” Tray asked, watching me intently, almost like he was trying to read me or something. What the hell?

“Beer.”

He grabbed a bottle of Michelob Golden Light and uncapped it.

The beer tasted good. I’ve never been a fruity drink girl and I’m certainly not a whiskey drinker, but beer made me think of the sun, water and friends. Which either ended with making love, some rough and passionate sex, or a fight.

An unusual calm had been called over the group and I didn’t know handle myself. Normally, I was either having sex or fighting with these people. Okay, there was only one person here that I was doing the first with, but the second, is why I’m so uncomfortable. I wasn’t under attack and I didn’t know how to deal with these people under any other circumstance. Jasmine had retracted her claws long ago and Sasha had either given up or she was just waiting for a better place for another go.

Normally—I was either having sex or fighting with these people. Okay, there was only one person here that I was doing the first. But the second…this is why I am uncomfortable.

I wasn’t under attack. And I didn’t know how to handle it.

Jasmine had retracted her claws long ago. And Sasha…either she’d given up or she was just waiting for a better place for another go.

Remember when Stephanie was my biggest headache in this town? Jeez. And her, I’d handled by making up a lie that she hooked up with Devon. Funny how my lie turned to be half-truth. He had hooked up, just not with her.

And Stephanie had fallen, fallen, to the point where she wasn’t even a blip on the social radar anymore.

And Mandy? Mandy had zeroed in on her, knowing full well that I’d lied to her. But she’d done it nonetheless.

Wow. It just hit me how much Mandy had changed with this whole Jasmine/Devon thing. She didn’t have the old spark in her anymore. But then again, seeing her grinning at whatever Carter had just whispered in her ear, I saw her glance a moment later to Devon. And I saw the hurt that flashed in her depths.

Yeah. My sister was hurting.

And for once, there was nothing I could do. I couldn’t go on the attack. I couldn’t blackmail anyone. I couldn’t break in somewhere and steal all their files, full of little ugly secrets. This—this I needed to sit back. And just let Mandy figure it out for herself.

Not my ammo in life.

“Taryn.” I came back to reality, realizing Bryce had spoken my name—and it looked like he’d done it a few times.

“Sorry.” I grinned ruefully. “What were you saying?”

“I was asking if you wanted to take a shot with us.” He flashed a cocky grin my way.

What the fuck?

“Sure.” I shrugged, turning in my place with Grant and Bryce, one on each side of me.

Tray set out the four glasses and filled each one. One by one, we tipped our heads back and slammed the shots.

Tray filled ‘em again.

This night might get interesting.

After the third—whoa—Jasmine, Amber, and Sasha had wandered over.

Tray set out some shots for them.

Devon was standing behind Jasmine uncertainly.

Seeing his jaw tighten, I realized he’d been watching Mandy and Carter in the pool. When Mandy let out a shriek of laughter, Devon grabbed Jasmine by the back of her arm.

Bryce nudged me. “We’re waiting.”

A fourth shot sat before me. Full and waiting.

I tipped it back and watched as Jasmine was listening to whatever Devon was whispering in her ear. I saw the smug look that came on her face and I saw that her hand reached behind him and entwined with his.

Shit.

This night was already getting interesting.

I begged out of the next round of shots. Sasha and Amber were finishing off their—third?—I think.

“Taryn, you aren’t done, are you?” Bryce taunted, watching me coolly. He looked smug. Narrowing my eyes, I took another long look at him and saw him wink at Tray. What the fuck?

What the hell was going on in his head?

“Maybe,” I said stiffly and shoved away from the group. I plopped down next to Mandy and Carter, dipping my legs in the pool.

“Hey,” Mandy murmured, disentangling from Carter as she swam in front of me. “What’s going on up there?”

“I don’t know. Some confusing shit.”

“What do you mean?”

“Pretty sure Bryce is trying to get me drunk,” I hesitated and said lamely, “and that’s it.”

“Bryce probably wants to see if he can get a piece.”

“Huh?” I was dumbfounded. Yeah. It made sense. A guy trying to get a girl drunk sometimes would equal getting a piece. Guys always think it’s a sure thing. But me? And Bryce?

Carter laughed. “Bryce bet Tray he could get in your pants.”

“And Tray agreed?” Okay. Now, I was just pissed. And insulted.

“No. Tray just said good luck, but he didn’t take the bet. Bryce probably thinks if he can get you, Tray’ll cough up the money.”

“What do you think?”

Carter chuckled. “Tray bet me how long before you send Bryce whimpering like a puppy dog.”

That made me grin. I’d never admit it to myself, but I was relieved that Tray hadn’t played me.

Bryce could come after me all he wanted. Maybe now I’d just have some fun with him.

Suddenly the pool area was flooded with voices. Turning around, I saw a good thirteen people turn the corner. Some were already dressed in bathing suits and vaulted over us into the pool. Others took a seat at the many patio tables.

Mandy murmured, her eyes wide, “Looks like we’re having a party.”

I glanced over my shoulder and saw Tray was busy hooking up a keg that some guy had wheeled over to him. There were four other guys, all carrying two more kegs.

“Looks like it’s going to be a party to remember,” I murmured, more to myself.

Devon and Jasmine disappeared into the house, holding hands.

This night was going to be full of drama. I could feel it in my bones.

*

So far, I was actually having a good time.

This guy, I think his name was Rooters, slapped a two on the deck.

“Fuck.”

“You shit.”

“Asshole.”

Rooters just grinned and flipped his last card on the table, as he announced, “Pres-i-dente!”

We were playing Assholes and Presidents. I was neutral, which really pissed me off.

This other fucker, Aaron, slammed his last card on the deck and shouted, “Vice-President! Vice-President. Oh yeah! Oh Yeah!”

I spotted my turn and slipped in my last pair of sixes.

“Neutral!” I called out, laughing when Helms flicked me off, because I’d skipped him.

Honey and Bits glared at me, which made me laugh even harder. That wasn’t their real names, but it was how I kept them apart. They seemed to appreciate the nicknames, since they’d been calling each other those names since I accidentally blurted them out after the last round.

I had been recruited into the game when Bryce had grabbed me and pushed me into the empty chair beside him. It seemed that two others had recently left, after starting their make out session during the game.

Before that, I’d stayed by the water for a while, but moved when it started getting colder out. Mandy and Carter were in the media room, making out. Tray was outside, talking with a group of guys by the kegs. And I’d gone the complete opposite direction when I caught a glimpse of Sasha and Amber, still in their bikinis, sitting on the laps of some guys at a patio table.

“Take that, fuckers!” Bryce hollered, throwing his last card on the pile.

Rooters rolled his eyes and drawled, “You’re neutral, dumb-ass.”

The table immediately quieted, waiting to see what Bryce would do. Guess the elite didn’t get treated that way.

Bryce shrugged and retorted, “Just wait. I’ll be Prez pretty soon and then you’ll be my beer bitch.”

Honey hooted. “Beer bitch, Rooters. That’s you all the time, isn’t it?”

Bit giggled, her eyes wistful as she skimmed over Bryce. “Yeah, beer bitch.”

Bryce fully knew the effect he had on the girl because he winked, grinning smugly at her. Downing the rest of his drink, he turned to me. “How about it, Taryn? Another shot?”