Fallen Crest High (21 page)

"Sam, honey?"
My mom's voice came up from the stairway.

Everyone reacted.

Mason shoved me away. When I caught my balance and looked up both of their doors had been shut. I hurried into mine and locked it when my mother turned the knob. "Sam, can you please talk to me? I'd really like to talk to you about David. And James told me he had a word with you. I'd like to talk to you about him as well." She waited a moment. "Please, honey?"

I stood on the other side and held my breath. My heart was pounding, but it wasn't from my mother, for once. And then when I heard her walk away, I let out that deep breath and sagged against the door. My hands and legs shook when I made my way to the shower so I slid down the wall and let the water slam over me.

It was an hour later before I went downstairs in sweats and a tank. My hair was pulled back by a headband and my body felt strong from the latest run. When I went into the kitchen, I expected everyone else to be gone, but drew up short. Logan sat at the table in the dark. A glass was in front of him and a bottle of Brandy beside that.

He looked up at me and his lip curved upwards in a snarl. "Hey, thanks."

"For what?"
I eyed him, but relaxed when he didn't stand up.

"Tate."

"
Where's
Mason and Nate?"

"Where do you think?" he bit out and raised his glass for a drink. He set it down hard.

"What?" I couldn't believe this. "Are you being punished? Did they go out without you?"

He sighed and looked away.

"Are you twelve now?" Where had the cocky smooth-talker gone? Or the vindictive guy who had humiliated Jessica for me?

His voice came out low. "There's a lot of history that you don't know about."

"Why are you telling me that?"

His eyes found me and the seriousness in them held my breath.
"So that you can tread carefully from now on."
He pushed up from the table now. "My advice: shut up about what you don't know." He brushed past me as I stood still and finished the rest of his Brandy before he put the empty glass away. The bottle was left on the counter.

He left a second later and his yellow
Escalade
tore from the driveway.

It took me a moment to realize that my heart wasn't pounding. My legs were strong. And a sense of calm settled over me. What that meant, I had no idea.

CHAPTER NINETEEN

My phone woke me the next morning and I groaned when I saw that it was past eleven. "Hello?"

"Hi!" Becky chirped at me.

I swore under my breath and buried my head under my pillow.
"
Whatdoyouwand
?"

"What?"

"Hold on."I sat up and wiped at my face. I needed to wake up. I couldn't handle how alert she sounded at that moment. "Hi…"

"Did you just wake up?"

When I tried to straighten my legs, they cramped up and I bit back more curses. Pain throbbed in them and I knew it was from the running. How long had I gone last night?

"Sam!"

"What?" I readjusted the phone when I felt myself waken more. "Tell me you're not going to bed now."

"I'm not." She giggled. "But my folks are going to the Fallen Crest Country Club with Adam's family. My mom wanted me to invite you. We'd pay for your entry and everything else is on Adam's dad. He has some account with the club, I think."

"Since when do you guys go to the Country Club?"

"My parents aren't members, but we go with Adam's parents sometimes. They're members."

That sounded right.

And then a different thought formed. "Is my mom a member there?"

She giggled again.
"Do you mean is James
Kade
a member?"

I groaned. I'd forgotten she knew, hell—everyone knew.
Maybe.
I could spread a rumor that I paid the
Kade
brothers to act like they knew me. People would eat that up in an instant. Things would all go back to how they should've been, with me being alone.

"I have lots of gossip to tell you about last night too." She sounded breathless in her excitement and I perked up. Whatever it was would be good, or I hoped. I could use some gossip that had nothing to do with me.

"Okay. What time do you want me over there?" I swung my legs over and stood. They were a bit wobbly, but I pushed past it and hurried into my bathroom. "Should I meet you at the club?"

"We could pick you up?"

"Becky."

"Okay, okay. Yeah, meet us at the club. We're going to leave soon so call me when you get to the parking lot."

"Sounds good."

"Oh and I think Adam's bringing Tanya."

"Who's Tanya?" Then I remembered. "Is her cousin going to be there too?"

"I hope not." Becky kept giggling. "See you there!"

"See
ya
," I mumbled into the phone before I ended the call and set it down. I frowned at it for a moment. She sounded very perky and very excited. Becky like that, with Adam bringing a girl, couldn't mean anything good…could it? Was I being paranoid?

I rolled my eyes at my reflection and went to work. My hair was a ratted mess, but by the time I had dressed in black skinny pants and a loose white long-sleeve shirt, my hair was back to its normal self. Straight and a little dull. It was how I liked it. I tucked it behind my ears when I slipped on some heeled sandals and grabbed my purse. This was the country
club,
I'd need to dress a little bit of the rich part.

No one was in the house when I breezed out except
Mousteff
. He poked his head out, saw my appearance and wolf whistled. I flicked him the middle finger, but he laughed as he went back to the kitchen.

When I pulled into the parking lot, it was full of brand new BMWs, Rolls
Royces
, and whatever other rich cars there were. I thought I spied a Lamborghini too. And then I straightened out my top as I started towards the door. With a text sent to Becky, I figured she'd meet me in the front foyer, but when I got there I drew up short.

Two guys in black suits stared at me with no welcoming smile.

Uh…

A different guy emerged from behind them with a headset attached to his ear. He was dressed in a white suit and he gave me a fake smile.
"Your name, miss?"

"I'm here with friends." My hands itched to spread out my top again or readjust my pants. It was as if slugs had appeared over my body from how they were staring at me.

"Their names?"
The guy was cold.

"Uh…" My mind blanked.
"The
Quinns
.
I'm friends with Adam Quinn."

"He already arrived with a guest." He gave me that same cold smile. "You'll have to leave."

"No, no, no." Becky rushed around them and linked elbows with mine. She was breathless when she hurried out, "My mom paid for her."

He didn't blink.
"Her name, ma'am?"

Becky couldn't stop a giggle behind her hand. "Samantha
Strattan
."

"David
Strattan
?"

My head snapped up. "What?"

"Your name is listed underneath a member's name. He listed you as a guest." The polite chill from him emanated everywhere. His lips moved to form a smile, but it didn't fit with his features. "Your mother will be refunded her money."

He extended his hand for us to enter the club, but both of us were still surprised.

"You may go inside? Please."

We jumped forward at his slight bark. Then Becky bent over laughing when we rounded the corner.
"Holy Hannah!
I can't believe that happened. What is with that guy? I bet he'd never had an erection in his life."

I glanced over my shoulder and knew he could hear every word we said.
"Nah.
He bats for the other team."

Her laughter raised a notch and I pulled her away before he kicked us both out. I patted her on the arm. "I had no idea my dad was a member here."

Becky wiped at her mouth and I knew she was trying to stop laughing. "I know. Me neither."

When she seemed to have accepted my statement, I relaxed again. She might've known about the divorce, but she didn't know the other stuff. I hoped no one knew. Then we weaved our way through a fancy looking dining room with chandeliers and glass tables. I made sure not to bump into anything. If I broke even a fork, I was sure I couldn't afford to replace it. And Becky pulled me the last bit before I blinked back the sudden brightness. The sun was blinding when we went outside and I heard splashing, glasses clanking, and children's laughter. Conversation buzzed around us and when my vision grew clear again I saw the back patio was enormous. It was gorgeous with three waterfalls and two fountains.

She led me to a back patio where I recognized Laura and Becky's little brothers. Adam sat at a back table with the
pepgirl
from last weekend's party. His smile slipped a little when he saw me, but by the time we got to the table it looked natural.

"Hey, Sam."
He sounded normal when he welcomed me.

"Hi, Sam!"
His friend beamed at me.

"Tanya." He nodded at her.

"I remembered.
Hi, Tanya.
Your cousin's not coming, is she?" I sat across from them in a similar wicker chair when Becky sat beside me and gestured for a waiter.

She laughed and pulled up her skinny legs in the chair. As she hugged them to her chest, she rested her head on them and smiled at Adam.

He shared the intimate look before he replied for her. "No, she's not."

Then Tanya lifted her head and looked over her knees. "Tate went home this morning after last night."

"Last night?" I stiffened and glanced sideways.

Becky gave me an excited look. "I have to tell you all about that."

Oh no.

A waiter appeared and placed a champagne flute of orange juice in front of me. A plate full of breakfast food was next with bacon, waffles, French toast, and sausage. A bowl of fruit was put to the side.

I caught the waiter's sleeve before he left. "Can I have coffee?"

"Of course, ma'am."

Ma'am.
What's with the ma'am stuff?

"Sam!" Becky snapped her fingers in front of my face.

"What?" I jerked around.

Adam laughed and the sound of it calmed me a little. Somehow, somewhere I had started to care for him as a friend. Who would've thought? The idea of it made me grin, but I tuned into my other friend. She wanted center stage.

"…and then her cousin showed up last night."

"Wait. What are you talking about?" I glanced at Adam.

Becky rushed out, breathless, "Why aren't you listening to me? I just told you that Adam was with the Academy Elite last night."

"
What's
the Academy Elite?" I looked around. Was I the only one clueless?

Adam reached for his water. "It's her term for the top circle. Miranda Stewart had some people over last night."

Becky sneered at him. "It's not just my term. Everyone uses it." She turned to me and her eyes were beaming. "Anyway, so Miranda had the Academy Elite over. You know, her, Emily, Amelia, and Cassandra. They're the top four girls in school, right?"

"Sure."

"Then Adam was invited—"

"I brought Tanya last night." He lifted their entwined hands.

They were an item now?

Becky poked me in the arm. "And Peter was there, so was Mark
Decraw
."

I nodded. They were the other two captains of the football team. This was the Academy Elite?

"And then—"

I interrupted her. "Were you there?"

She closed her mouth and flashed me a look. "No, but I heard all this from Adam."

He wiggled his eyebrows and kissed Tanya's hand.

I frowned at the display of affection.

Becky clapped her hands in front of me again.
"Seriously, Sam!
Pay attention."

"Okay, okay."

"So Jeff and Jill showed up.
Miranda let them stay for an hour, since Jill's on the cheerleading squad and Jeff's third string. But then they kicked them out after an hour, only an hour. Can you believe that? And then Jessica and Lydia tried to get in too, but I guess they were turned away at the door. Peter
Glasburg
wouldn't even let them inside Miranda's house. Did you know those two were dating? I had no idea."

She didn't stop for a breath.

"And then, you won't believe it, but Logan
Kade
showed up!" She sat back in a dramatic break. Her chest heaved up and down and she held onto the table. "I couldn't believe it either, but he was drunk."