The Original Crowd (A Whole New Crowd 0.50)

I knew she was still watching me. She’d been watching me the entire class. Why the hell was she watching me?

“What?” I exclaimed, whirling around to face her.

“You don’t want to take me, do you? I mean, you’ve been avoiding me all day and you’ve hardly said one word to me in class. So if this is you, telling me that you regret your decision—break my heart now. Just get the misery over with, alright?!” she cried out.

Holy hell—I could see myself in her microscope glasses. She needed to get a new pair of glasses, or contacts at least. It’d help with her social skills and I wouldn’t be needed in the first place.

Fuck.

“Sorry. Me, not talking, has nothing to do with you. Really,” I managed to get out.

“Oh?”

“Yeah.” I turned away.

“So we’re still going, right?”

Great. Fucking great.

I turned back to her, frowning and broke the news, “Actually, Tray Evans is going to take you.”

And that’s when I learned that you don’t deliver news like that to someone as socially challenged as Molly. At least not how I did it anyway.

Molly fainted. In science class. And I just stood there, more annoyed than worried about her as the teacher rushed over.

Tray Evans was not faint-worthy.

*

Lunch consisted of a pep rally and Mandy was certainly peppy. She’d gushed throughout our entire third period. And she was still gushing, jumping up and down in her cheerleader uniform.

When they brought the football players out wearing cheerleader uniforms, I decided my exit was duly needed.

The hallways were empty. Thank goodness.

At my locker, I looked inside, fully meaning to grab my book, but I found myself just standing there. Lost in thought, I stared down the inside of my locker. Oh yeah—I was winning. That metal in the back was going down.

I’d been there myself on a few occasions, but I never paid attention. I never thought I’d have to break in there and not out.

Yeah—I knew the exits. I didn’t know the entries.

Although, exits could be entries…I cannot believe how stupid I am right now.

Hearing people shouting in the background, I turned without thinking and found myself staring into Tray’s hazel eyes.

He was walking inside from the parking lot with Mitch, Helms, and Hooters girl—Sasha Klinnleys.

Mandy would be so proud. I remembered two extra people today. Of those people, her people.

As they drew closer, Sasha was chattering with Mitch and Helms both grinning at her. Tray was watching me.

I busied myself inside my locker, grabbing for anything. As they passed by, I could feel him behind me. He was standing close enough that I could feel his heat. Literally. His after-shave smelled so damn good—that wasn’t helping me either.

“What?” I sighed, my back still turned.

“What are you going to do?” he questioned intently.

I shrugged him off, not saying anything.