The Original Crowd (A Whole New Crowd 0.50)

Nothing was spoken about Jasmine and Mandy. That’s all I cared about.

Wednesday night I was packing my bag, double-checking everything for the heist tomorrow. I was planning on going after school and waiting it out until eight o’clock that evening. That was usually when the faculty and staff finally left. The students should be gone by six or so—at least. I just needed to make sure that Geezer was sober and at my side to work on the device before I handed it over to Tray.

Hearing the doorbell, I sighed and walked from my bedroom towards the stairs. Hearing it again, I yelled, “Coming. Hold on.”

Opening up, I saw Carter on the opposite side.

“Hi.” He gave me a wide smile, leaning one hand against the doorframe.

“Mandy’s not here and I don’t know where she’s at,” I clipped out, moving to shut the door.

“Whoa, whoa.” He stopped the door, putting his foot in the doorway. “I’m Carter. We haven’t actually met.”

“And I’m perfectly fine with that, I’m done with your crowd. I’ll stick to my sister.”

I kicked his foot out and shut the door.

*

The whole school was on edge the next day. Amidst the excitement from Monday, it seemed everyone had forgotten that this was homecoming week. The cheerleaders reminded everyone on Thursday and that meant tension. Tension, chaos, and everyone suddenly acting like they’re going to get laid. They were playing Pedlam the next night.

At my locker, I grabbed a book, my cellphone tucked between my neck and ear as I called Grayley. Hearing him answer, I said, “Make sure Geezer’s sober today. I’ll need him tonight.”

“Sure thing,” Grayley remarked, I could hear laughter in his voice.

“Things crazy over there?”

“Yep.”

What’s up with the non-answers?

“Brian’s standing right there, isn’t he?” I asked coolly.

“Sure is,” he said cheerfully.

“Okay.” I hung up. No point worrying, Grayley knew what to do; he’d helped me numerous times over the years.

“Hey.”

Turning around, I saw my sister.

“What’s up?”

“Huh,” she faltered, shuffling her feet.

“Mandy,” I said firmly.

“What?”

“What’s up?”

“It’s…,” she rolled her eyes, her hands resting on her hips, “Carter said you two met and that you were—”

“Less than friendly,” I supplied dryly, shutting my locker and moving down the hallway.

“It’s just, why? Why do you have to be like that?” she cried out.

“I’m not going to be nice to a guy that’s temporary.”