A Whole New Crowd (18 page)

I started back up when Mandy’s friend came over. “You’re going again?”

“Yeah. You could too, you know.”

Regret flashed over her face and she shook her head. “I can’t. I can’t pull myself up at the top.” She lifted her arms. “These aren’t strong enough.”

I shook my head. “Start up after me. I’ll haul you up the rest of the way if I have to. They do it for the guys. They can do it for us too.” Fierce determination came over me, then I heard a mocking tone.

“When did you become all about women’s lib?” Amber folded her arms again over her chest. Mandy’s friend melted away, so did a lot of the girls, and Jennica took their place, coming to stand beside her friend.

Mandy frowned. She started forward, but stopped. Fear flashed in her eyes. Jennica and Amber saw her too. We all waited to see if she would speak up. She didn’t. Her head went down and she sat back with her group.

That pissed me off. When I saw the smug looks in Amber and Jennica double, I gave them a polite ‘fuck off’ smile and asked, “Care to give it a try? Women’s lib or not, it’s a rush to jump from the top.”

The smug smirks disappeared. They shared another look, but this was one of matching hesitation. Then I smirked this time. “Yeah. That’s what I thought.” With that last parting shot, I started to climb again. When I got to the top, Tray was there. He reached down from the rope, but I shook my head. I had a point to prove. “No, I have to do this alone again.”

He saw Jennica and Amber and nodded. “Okay.”

He was there when I finished and drew me against his chest. Hugging me to him, he dropped a kiss to my lips. We were in plain view of everyone, on top and down below. I didn’t want to think about who would be pissed or who would be surprised. I answered his kiss, deepening it, and knew in some way this was giving Jennica and Amber the middle finger. When I pulled back from him, Tray caught me. His hand cupped the back of my neck and his forehead rested on mine.

The climb and diving back down had my blood pumping. The adrenalin was addicting, but it didn’t compare to this. His thumb rubbed back and forth over my neck in a soothing motion, giving me goose bumps. Whatever unspoken agreement we had before, the joking banter we shared earlier in the afternoon, was done.

Tray was claiming me in front of everyone.

It was later, when it was growing dark and everyone was packing, that one of Mandy’s friends came over and stood next to me. She didn’t say anything, just gave me a smile and ducked her head down. I wasn’t used to shy girls, and she hadn’t been shy earlier so I asked, “What’s up?”

“Um…” She paused and flashed me another grin. “Everyone’s going to Rickets’ House. I mean, we’re going to Tray Evan’s house first, and I’m sure you’re riding with him since you know, the kissing.” She gestured to the top of the cliff. A look of awe appeared in her eyes. “But...um…I was wondering if you’re going tonight to Rickets’ House? You do your own thing, but some of the girls are going to your house to get ready with Mandy…”

I made sure no reaction appeared on my face, but my insides were going, ‘what the fuck?’ “What are you asking me?”

“Um...” She gulped. “Are you going out with the group tonight?”

“Oh.” I shrugged. “I don’t know. I guess.”

“Good.”

“HALEY!”

She looked around and then motioned to her group of friends waiting at the front of the cave. “I guess I’ll see you at Rickets’ House. I’d say Tray Evan’s house, but people probably won’t get out of their cars. If you don’t have a ride, you can ride with my friends and me. We’ll make room, but I’m sure you’re probably going with…” She trailed off as her eyes widened, looking past my shoulder. When I felt an arm come around my waist, I realized why she was so nervous. Tray pulled me snug against his side, and she lowered her head. “I’ll see you later, Taryn.”

She darted off and I glanced to him. “What was that?”

He grinned. “You changed the status.”

“What?”

“You changed the status.” He gestured around. There were more groups lingering behind. Most of them were watching us. I expected jealousy or condescension, but there was none. There was a different look in their eyes, guys and girls. They weren’t in awe; they were something else. I couldn’t put my finger on it.

“I don’t get this. What’s going on?”

“I know it’s dumb, but no girl’s climbed up there. You did it more than once and you got other girls to do it.” He shrugged, a look of pride in his eyes. “They’re surprised, Taryn.” Then he laughed softly. “And they’re wondering why the hell they hadn’t done it themselves.”

“Oh.” They were surprised. As I looked over, a few of the girls gave me smiles before they followed everyone else. A couple of the guys gave me quick nods. I’d seen that look before. It happened when guys learned that I knew Jace or I was able to steal something no one thought could be taken. It was respect, but seeing it from the girls now made me pause. Girls hated me. That had been the rule, but it was changing now. A lump formed in my throat and I swallowed around it. Jeezus, where did that come from?

“You okay?”

I nodded. “Yeah. Just…surprised too.”

He grinned down at me, a fond look appearing in the depths of his eyes. “Something tells me you shouldn’t be. It’s you, Taryn. You’re badass.”

I snorted and elbowed him in the stomach. “Right. Is that you trying to get in my pants?”

He laughed softly as he caught my elbow and held it in his hand. He thumb started to rub over it in a soft caressing motion. “No, just me stating a fact. You’re not normal, Taryn Matthews. You’re different. You’re someone who sees the right path when no one else does and follows it.” The corner of his lip curved up in a slight smirk. “You show them the way. You’re not normal. Thank god.” He let the last sentence out in an exhaled breath.

I had no idea what to say. The shock at seeing their reactions doubled after hearing his words. Tray meant it. If I’d been in Pedlam and the school’s golden-prick said something like that, I would’ve laughed in his face, delivered a retort, and sauntered away without a backward glance. He wasn’t that guy. He was more.

Then he let go of my elbow. “I’ll wait for you at the car. I need to talk to the guys quick.”

I tried to say ‘okay’, but he was gone before I could get a word out. As he weaved through the crowd and left from the cave, I was left with a storm raging inside of me. I pressed a hand to my stomach, trying to calm myself. My god. It was him. He was wreaking havoc on me, filling me with emotions that were too scary for me to handle. Hope. Warmth. Other things, other emotions that I didn’t know how to process. He made me feel safe. That, right there, set me on edge. I couldn’t be safe. I couldn’t allow myself to pretend it was real. Every time, as soon as my guard dropped, something bad happened. Tray Evans was nothing special. The second I let myself feel more than I should, something bad would
happen. It always did. I couldn’t let that happen. Drawing in strength, determined not to let him get too close, I began to follow the line of people out of the cave.

I was standing behind a group of guys. They were tall with bags over their shoulder so I was hidden. As we kept going, a pair of voices trailed back to me.

“Can she be any worse?”

“I know. Honestly. I was trying not to gag.”

The first one muttered, “You know she didn’t sleep last night. She was at Devon’s all night.”

The second one groaned. “Trust me. I know more than the rest. He’s a sex addict. He’s got to be.”

“My god. And she was so fucking hyper today.”

“You know she was creaming her pants when Tray kissed Taryn up there.” Another groan. “I don’t know what she expects. She’s treated her sister like crap—”

“Please,” the first one interrupted. “She is not her sister. They adopted her and from what I heard, they were forced to adopt her.”

A sick laugh trailed back to me. “You’re right. I forgot that rumor. Whatever. That’s a ridiculous rumor, but god, I’d love for that to be true.”

“Yeah. I know. Did you see Mandy hanging all over Tristan’s group today? If she wants to pretend to be Queen Bee in that group, she can try. Tristan’s going to kiss her ass to try and get close to Matthews. You know she’s been wet for Tray since seventh grade.”

“I know. What was Mandy on today?”

A snort. “Must be nice to have a rich daddy with a prescription pad.”

“I know, right? I wish I could pop a pill every time I feel like taking a nap.”

“Ugh. You know that bitch hasn’t slept a full night in months. She takes those pills from her daddy, and she sleeps for maybe two hours. Must be nice.”

“I know, right.”

“I’m having a hard time trying to be nice to her. Please tell me I can’t sleep with Devon tonight. Please tell me that’s not the right thing and we need to be nice because of her and her wacko sister. Please tell me to do the nice thing. Amber, help me out, because I really want to cause havoc in their lives.”

Amber chuckled. “You do whatever you want. What kind of friend would I be if I held you back?”

“Oh god. This could get ugly tonight.”

The two laughed and moved further away. I wasn’t able to hear them anymore. I felt like someone had punched me in the face. They were forced to adopt me? Mandy was a pill popper? I frowned,
feeling the blood drain from my face. That couldn’t be… There was no way…. Then I closed my eyes. I couldn’t process this. Mandy. Tray. Even Austin. Those were all good things that had happened. An old ache took root in my stomach and I felt a hole open there. It was vortex, sucking all the good emotions into it, leaving me feeling hollow.

“You’re Matthews, right?”

“Huh?” I lifted my head and blinked. I realized that I had stopped and was now the last in the cave.

A guy from school was frowning at me. He was waiting at the mouth and he waved for me. “Come on. You’re the last. Most everyone’s taken off already.”

“Oh. Okay.” I hurried forward, but I was too dazed to focus on walking over the rocks. I wasn’t paying attention and a moment later, I was out of the cave and on the road again.

“See you.” The guy gestured farther down the road before he hopped in a car that was waiting for him. The door was opened and as soon as he was inside, it took off. His friends yelled out, “Hell yeah! Party at Rickets’ tonight.” Their sounds faded and I turned to see Tray waiting for me.

He was standing by his car, his arms folded over his chest. His head was tucked down and he could’ve been asleep from how casual his posture was. He wasn’t watching me, but I knew he was alert and aware of my approach. When I stood in front of him, he lifted his head. His eyes were guarded.

For a moment, we stared at each other.

The air was thick. There were so many emotions inside me, all of them were swirling around to form a vacuum. He terrified me. He always would, but as I continued to hold his gaze and as his wall began to slide away, I saw the same fear in him. Then an emotion flickered in me, so deep that I was surprised to feel it at all. Hope. It swept through me, a small flicker that grew to a full flame and it mingled right alongside the empty void that had been placed there from overhearing Jennica and Amber’s conversation. Tray must’ve seen the pain in me. His wall fell away completely and he lifted an arm, beckoning to me.

I went to him.

He wrapped his arm around me, sheltering me, and even though he had no idea what was wrong, he pressed a kiss to my forehead. Brushing some of my hair aside in a loving gesture, he comforted me.

I didn’t like depending on people, but I would for a moment. I’d allow myself this pause in my normal living to be weak.

Tray held me for a while longer. He didn’t ask what was wrong. He knew me well enough to know I would tell him when I was ready. After standing there, hugging him back, allowing myself to be comforted, I swallowed and pushed the storm down inside me. He felt it and stiffened. His arm fell away the same time that I moved back from him.

We continued to look at each other, then he nodded. As he went to the driver’s door, I went to the passenger door and we both got in. He drove me home. We still didn’t talk. The farther we got from Crystal Bay and the closer we got to town, I slid down in my seat and watched the scenery go by. I had conversations ahead of me. I knew all of them were going to be painful, but I needed to find out the truth.

If my adopted family had been forced to adopt me, then why? By who? I needed to find that answer and I needed to find out about Mandy. I loved her already. It wasn’t until then, at hearing my relationship with her might be a farce, that I realized it.

When Tray pulled up to my house, I saw the other cars. The curtains were pulled back so I was able to see into the kitchen. It was full of Mandy’s friends. Assuming these were from ‘Tristan’s’ group, from what I overheard, I prepared myself for weirdness and ass-kissing.

“You okay?”

I glanced over. The concern in Tray’s eyes was evident. I nodded. “I just heard some things that I have to deal with.”

“You need help?”

I shook my head. “No. This is on me.” A shriek of laughter came from the house and I looked over again. They were all giggling, moving around the kitchen with drinks in hand. A girl was filling their glasses with more wine.

“Okay. Everyone’s heading to my house tonight to go to Rickets’. Are you coming?”

“Yeah.” Then a plan began to formulate. “Can you pick me up? Everyone’s meeting at your house, right?”

He frowned but nodded. “Sure. When everyone takes off, I’ll just let them know I’m going to swing by and pick you up first.”

“Okay.”

“You didn’t want to get a ride to my house with your sister?” He leaned down so he could get a better view of my house. “Although, they look too drunk to drive anyway.”

There was one girl who looked sober. She was thin with white-blonde hair, and she stood out among the group. She’d been the one pouring wine into the glasses. I was willing to bet she was Tristan. It was obvious she was the leader. She stood with confidence. Her shoulders were straight. Her chin was lifted, and it looked like she was watching over her minions. I hadn’t paid attention to Mandy’s friends earlier,
but despite the distance between the house and car, I could tell she was pretty. She had a heart-shaped face, small petite looks, and higher-set cheekbones. I was starting to suspect she was a rival to Jennica and Amber in the looks department. All three girls were beautiful.

As I continued to study Tristan, I said to Tray, “No, they have a sober driver.” I looked to him. “I need Mandy out of the house. I have to look for something when no one else is around. The timing is too good for me to pass up.”

He nodded. “Okay. I’ll send the group ahead without me and I’ll wait outside until you’re ready.”

“Okay. Thank you.”

“I hope everything’s okay?”

I gave him a fleeting smile. “So do I.” I got out of the car and headed in. I had been exposed to a hornet’s nest and I was going to step right on it.