The Original Crowd (A Whole New Crowd 0.50)

After showering and a fourth round, we got dressed before we silently walked to his SUV and drove back to my house.

I breathed easier seeing only a handful of cars still in the driveway. Turning my phone on, I hadn’t realized I’d turn it off, but six messages were waiting for me.

I turned it back off.

I caught a flash of amusement in Tray’s eyes.

When he turned the engine off, both of us sat there for a moment.

I couldn’t help it, but my eyes trailed to where I had stood with Brian a few hours earlier.

“If he really loved you, selflessly, he’d have respected your wishes a long time ago.” It was the only thing Tray had said before we both unclasped our seat belts and walked up to the house. Inside we were met with hysterical shouting. Great…Mandy and Jasmine.

“You’re a fucking tramp, you bitch!” That was Mandy, I could recognize her screech if I were deaf; the vibrations in the floorboards were a dead giveaway.

“Oh please.” Jasmine huffed. “What do you expect from me? An apology? You’re never around and when you are it’s all cheerleading this, student council that, not to mention yearbook crap and your perfect little family with your perfect little GPA and your precious scholarship to Brown. No, you’re a great girlfriend. You’re a perfect girlfriend, except you don’t give a shit where your man is or how he feels.”

There was shocked silence when Tray and I made our appearance. Devon was anxiously watching Mandy, Jasmine was staring indignantly with Amber in the corner by her brother, her eyes skirting between the two girls. Bryce and Carter were lounging on the couches looking amused.

“I can’t believe you just said that!” Mandy yelled, leaping towards Jasmine.

Devon moved to intercept her, but Carter beat him to it, leaping from the couch. Grabbing her shoulders, he held her back as Mandy tried to get around him. “Get off me!”

“Mandy,” he urged soothingly.

Alarmed, Jasmine had taken a step back. Devon stood in the middle, arms half raised between them, uncertain of what he should do.

I saw Amber staring determinedly at us before she sneered, “Where have you two been?”

Tray shot her an amused look. “We had business.”

“What kind of business?”

“None of yours,” Tray said firmly, settling against the wall near the door.

“Mandy,” I spoke up, walking to her side, “go to your room.”

“Taryn—”

“Mandy,” I interrupted sharply, “go.”

“Fine,” she cried out, shoving Carter aside as she swept out of the room.

Turning on my heels, I faced Jasmine squarely. An icy calm had taken over me and all the rage I had from Brian, Jace, everything—all of it erupted inside of me as I saw a fitting target for my outlet.

“You’re a pathetic, little, insecure, selfish, bitch with narcissistic tendencies. You have no empathy and no compassion in your bones. If you did, you wouldn’t be screwing your best friend’s boyfriend.” I was seething. Stepping closer, I hissed, “And if you had done it to me—trust me, you’d find yourself in a psych ward by the end of the month and you’d have no idea how and where exactly you got fucked along the ride.”

“And who are—” she sputtered, taking another step back.

“I’m not done,” I cut in ruthlessly. “You will stay away from Mandy. You will not speak to her, you will not speak about her, and you better be clear across the room every time you’re in the same vicinity. Because if I get wind of any rumors, any nasty little things your pathetic mind could think up, you’ll deal with me. You won’t deal with Mandy, I’ll be coming straight for you. And trust me, you don’t want to be my enemy. There’s a few bitches in lock-up who can attest to that.”

Everyone was silent. Jasmine had grown pale, shrinking away.

“Now get out,” I finished.

Devon grabbed her arm and hauled her behind him, out the door.

Amber slipped away after them, dragging Grant with her.