The Original Crowd (30 page)

“Guys, this is Taryn,” Molly continued, shuffling her feet awkwardly. She was glancing between me and them.

I stuck my hand out. “Hi.”

Finally, both of them looked at me. I think they were a bit shocked that I actually wanted to meet them. And, to tell the truth, I could see why they were known as Invisibles. They made themselves invisible. I never would’ve noticed ‘em if Molly hadn’t been talking to me
and
to them.

Angela grinned, one quick grin, and then she was chatting with the floor again. Not really chatting, chatting, but it looked like she was trying to stare it down.

Kayden murmured a soft, “Hi.” Then she went back to looking everywhere else again.

Molly gave me another awkward grin, lifting one shoulder helplessly.

“You guys want to go and get something to eat?” I asked, being extremely nice—which was so not me, but I was trying here.

“Hey, bitch!” I turned around and saw Amber walking my way.

Wow. When I turned back around, I was amazed. The Invisibles had scrambled—literally. Even Molly seemed to vanish.

Well, shit, how many arguments was I going to get into today? Did Tray count as one?

“What?” I asked simply. I was getting tired of this.

“What the hell did you say to Mandy?” she demanded, literally seething.

“A whole lot of the same,” I murmured, looking for the Invisibles. They were really good at their name. I frowned, checking the other way.

“She’s crying hysterically in the girls’ locker room. Erin said it’s because of you.”

“Amber,” I started warily, “back off.”

“Or what?”

“Oh my God, how many times do we have to go over this? I don’t like you. I’m not ever going to like you, but I’m not scared of you either. Whatever you got, try it. Trust me…you’ll be fun to take on…and a piece of cake. Until you’ve got something new to say, just shut up. Please.”

“I cannot believe—”

“Mandy’s my sister. I love her. But when she asks for my opinion, I’m going to give it to her. And I’m not going to let her pull me into your twisted games. I have enough stuff of my own to worry about.”

Amber fell silent. Thank God. I really
was
thanking Him—because she turned and left. Finally.

I looked for the Invisibles again, and after checking out the parking lot I saw them. I couldn’t believe it. They were standing underneath a tree in the farthest corner where a picnic table was. Wow. Talk about—a hiding place if you ever wanted to hide from a mass murderer.

As I started over to them, I was also shocked to see Tray’s SUV still in the lot, but no Tray. Huh.

“Hey,” I called out and saw Molly turn around to me.

“Hi.” Her smile looked forced. Guess the whole two groups of friends meeting each other was stressful.

“You okay? You guys want to grab a bite to eat?” I asked, making sure my voice was casual. I had a feeling that if I used anything else, they’d scatter—again—like frightened deer.

“Uh—” Molly murmured, glancing between Angela and Kayden.

“I’ll go and grab my car and pull around. How about that?” I suggested, and then I took off before they could say no. To my surprise, they were still there when I drove around. Molly took the front seat, and Angela and Kayden sat stiffly in the back. Kayden looked a little more relaxed though, but not much. Molly was easily the most extroverted of them, and that was saying
a
lot
.

“We’re going to the diner?” Molly squeaked, flushing when I pulled into the parking lot. It was packed, but it
was
the hang out.

“Yep,” I said, a bit more firmly. They couldn’t leave without me. I had the keys to the car.

A full minute later, they all climbed out, not a word spoke between the three of them. I led the way, figuring they’d have to stand in the doorway for a good five minutes. But I was surprised. The second we were led to a booth in the back, all three of them hurried around me and squished into it.

Sitting beside Molly—big surprise that Kayden and Angela sat together—I ordered a Diet Coke when the server came over. She gave us a startled look. Don’t ask me why—I had no idea.

“So,” I commented, staring at Angela and Kayden.

Silence.

Like I’d expected anything else. Ha.

“Um—” Even Molly was coming up with nothing.

I don’t know why I was doing this. I don’t know why I was sitting—at the diner—with these three in an uncomfortable silence. I was trying to be more than just table-mate and science lab friends with Molly. I actually liked her. And I guess I was willing to do just about anything to keep myself distracted from the things I was so uncertain about in my life: Brian, Jace, Galverson, Tray.

But it wasn’t working.

“Do you guys like anyone?” I asked, a bit desperate for conversation.

Angela and Kayden both looked horrified, their eyes wide in alarm, but at least they were looking at me—finally.

“So,” I threw a thumb in Molly’s direction, “this one’s boy crazy. How about you two?”

Still nothing.

“But, I have to tell you, I will only be Molly’s pimp. The two of you…good luck, but no pimping. Sorry,” I said cheerfully.

I saw a brief smile on Kayden’s face, but…in the blink of an eye—it was gone. But hey, at least it was something.

“Hey. You.”

Oh please, please, please don’t be for me, I prayed. How many verbal lashings does a girl have to go through in a day?

“Scoot in, Taryn.”

It was Carter.

I grinned back at him. “Hey.” I pushed Molly against the wall as Carter sat on my other side.

He looked around the table, but was quiet.

“So…um,” he began, “how’s it going?”

Alright, I knew he could be here for one of two things—one, he was send by Tray to make sure I wasn’t doing anything stupid, or two, he was here to grill me about Mandy and Devon. Just wanting to beat him to the punch, I said flatly, “I already told Mandy she’s an idiot. I had no bearing on her moronic decision to go back to Devon.”

“Oh.” It wasn’t what he was going to say; I saw a flicker of some emotion in his eyes that I couldn’t decipher. “Uh…well, yeah. I mean, come on, we all knew it was only a matter of time. It’s Mandy and Devon, you know?” I’m sure he meant for it to come out as if he didn’t care, be he didn’t quite pull it off.

I said lightly, “It used to be you, you know, but I was told on good authority that Amber told you to date Sabrina Lyles because Mandy had a thing for you.”

He laughed nervously. “Come on. Mandy’s always had a thing for me—me and Tray—if Devon wants her, it’s who she’s gonna be with. He’s like her…”

“Comfortable blanket?” I finished for him dryly.

“Yeah.” He chuckled, relaxing. “I like you, Taryn. I really do. We need more of you in our circle.”

“I’m not in the circle.”

“Oh, yes you most certainly are, he proclaimed heartily. “One, you’re with Tray. Two, Mandy’s your sister. And three, Amber and Jasmine are terrified of you—and I’m talking ‘shit in your pants’ terrified of you. I love it. Trust me, that puts you in the circle. Right smack-fucking-dab in the middle. Plus, the guys like you. You don’t play those stupid games the rest of the girls do.”

“Bryce and Devon like me?” I asked incredulously. I’d torn into both of ‘em.

“Well, yeah. They respect you.”

I chose to stay silent.

“Anyway, I was wondering what’s up with Tray? You two have a fight?” He grinned, flashing one of those godlike charming smiles, at the server who nearly dropped our order. I watched and realized he’d done it without thinking. It had become an automatic instinct—he was a natural born womanizer.

Seriously.

“Why do you ask?” I asked curiously.

“Because he’s pissed. I know it’s Tray and he’s pretty—well—pretty tight-assed about stuff, you know. But something’s off with him. The guys want to go to the casino tonight and Tray said he didn’t give a shit where we go. That’s not Tray. Tray’s either up for the casino or he’s not. When he says he doesn’t give a shit—it means something’s off.” He drank some of my Diet Coke and continued, “So, what’s up with you two?”

“I don’t know how it’s any of your business,” I remarked, grabbing my glass away from him.

“Oh!” His eyes lit up. “So you two did have a fight? Wow. This is…this is a mile-marker—Tray’s upset because of a girl.”

“You make him sound like he’s made of stone or something.”

“Last time Tray was upset about a girl was in the seventh grade when Kimberly Farnum moved away…before she gave him a blow job. He was really pissed.”

I literally watched the Invisibles shrink further into the booth. I wonder if they knew what a blow job was.

I sighed annoyed. “Thanks, but I can assure you this has nothing to do with blow-jobs. Is he here?”

“Yeah,” Carter grabbed my pop again, “we’re around the corner. He called and wanted to grab a burger. I just happened to see you ‘cause I was heading to the bathroom.”

I drank the rest of my Diet Coke.

Carter was watching me, waiting for a response. “So?” he asked expectantly.

I shrugged. “Look…yeah…something went down, but I’m not telling you about it.”

“Well, can you go over and get it on with him? I mean, Tray’s not any fun when he’s like this. You can use my car.”

Okay. Seriously? I smacked him in the head.

“Ouch,” he murmured, rubbing his head. “What the hell?”

“Want me to smack you again,” I dared him.

“Fine.” He shrugged, standing up. “But man, Taryn, go and talk to him at least.”

“I can’t,” I said stiffly.

“Why not?”

“Because, I don’t know what I’ll say, okay? Now leave. It’s none of your business.” I pointed in the direction of the bathroom.

He rolled his eyes, but he got up and went to the bathroom. I knew he’d probably have something more to say when he came back.

Molly, Angela, and Kayden were watching me—all three of them had their eyes glued to me. Progress!

“What?” I asked.

Of course, Angela and Kayden looked away.

Molly was in awe. “We just sat at the same table as Carter Sethlers. Oh. My. Goodness. Holy. Light. Sockets.”

I loved this girl.

“Molly,” I murmured, “you could’ve said hi.”

“Right.” She was still reveling. “Carter Sethlers sat here. Here. With us. Can you believe it?”

She blinked, realizing it
did
just happen. “I mean—” She flushed, grabbing her drink.

“Trust me, he’ll be back. Say hi next time,” I said wryly.

Angela squeaked at that, but cowered even farther in her corner.

“Do you guys seriously not talk? Ever?”

“We don’t really have anything to say,” Kayden spoke up, and I fell back in amazement. She had a thick, almost silky voice; one of those sexy voices that guys go crazy for.

“What do you mean?” I asked, dumbfounded. How can you not have anything to say?

“We’re not like you. We’re…nobodies,” she explained, like it made perfect sense.

Oh no. No fucking way.

“You’re not nobody,” I said fiercely. “Someone told you that you were a nobody, but you’re not. You choose to let them be right or wrong. You’re the only one that can decide if you’re a nobody or not.”

Someone had told me I was a nobody once, and there was no fucking way they were right.

“Taryn,” Molly said quietly, from her far corner of the booth. It was only then that I realized how upset I’d gotten.

“I’ll be right back,” I said, hurriedly, as I slipped out the booth and headed to the bathroom. That word just brought so many memories back to me. I needed to force down all these feelings so I didn’t have a break down, at the diner of all places. Breathing heavily, I got a few paper towels and wet my face.

When I got back to the table, feeling like an idiot, I was surprised that Carter was sitting in my place. With Molly, Angela, and Kayden all grinning—blushing—but grinning back at him.

Carter’s stock just sky-rocketed with me.

I moved to stand by the table and Carter looked up with a grin. “Hey. Where’d you go?”

“Bathroom.” I fixed him with a stare, but we both knew it lacked any heat. He was in good with me now.

He stood and moved to the side. “Why don’t you guys come sit with us? We got room. Mitch and the guys just took off.”

“Oh, um—” I wanted to say no. I really wanted to say no, but I saw the look in Molly’s eyes and I knew she may never have this chance again. It was sad to say, but this might make their entire year. “Sure,” I said reluctantly.

Carter grinned, his eyes all-knowing, as he took in my torment. The shithead.

When we walked around the corner, they were in the back corner. Bryce, Grant, and three other guys sat on one side. Tray and two others were on the other side, with three empty chairs at their table. As we neared, the guys looked up and saw us coming. I saw a flash of surprise in Tray’s eyes when he saw me.