The Original Crowd (A Whole New Crowd 0.50)

“I’m trying to apologize here. You can cut me some slack.”

“Why the fuck would I want to do that?” I asked, more curious than anything else. “You haven’t exactly been gracious to me at all.”

“I have done nothing but be nice to you,” Tristan cried out. “But you’ve judged me based on one time when I was messing with Mandy. You’re constantly going after me. If you’re not siccing Casners on me, then it’s Amber. I can’t get a break!”

“And you deserve a break?” I asked in disbelief.

“Yeah. I think I do. I’ve tried.”

“What have you done? If anything, I just don’t put up with your passive aggressive shit.”

“Look, I’m on the swim team, so I’m just saying we should try to get along.”

I didn’t even ask how she knew I was joining. The school had a better P.A. system than our actual P.A.

“What do you want from me, Tristan?” I finally asked, resignation settling in my bones.

“I don’t know. You’re Mandy’s sister. I thought it’d be nice if we could be friends, but apparently that’s not possible.”

“Look.” I was really trying here, like—patience of a god trying here, “Maybe…we got off on a wrong foot. And Amber didn’t exactly sell you either.”

“I can imagine.” Tristan rolled her eyes, shifting on her feet. “Look…truce? Start over?’

“Whatever,” I mumbled, but it was enough for Tristan.

The rest of the day passed like the morning. People steered clear of me, for the most part.

In seventh period, Molly was almost sullen in psych.

“You can say something. I’m not going to break,” I finally said, exasperated.

She blushed. “I’m just…I’m so sorry, Taryn.”

“So, who’d you hear it from?”

“Kayden overheard some sophomore talking about it. At first everyone was really mad at you because they all blamed you for not letting Tray go to the play-offs, but then someone said you went to a funeral. And then a freshman heard you and Tray talking in the gymnasium.”

I just groaned. The freshman had had front row seats to some inappropriate boundaries. Thank God the teacher had interrupted us. I never thought I’d think that.

Fuck.

I glanced over to Tray and saw him grinning at Carter—he was like a puppy at Petco. Carter was his best friend and I hadn’t realized how much till recently. Tray was ecstatic that Carter was at our school again.

No one could tell, but I saw it. There was a little look, a note of excitement on his poker face. His hazel eyes, those…seriously hot hazel-eyes that turned amber when he was…probably shouldn’t go there.

“So—” Molly was chewing her lip, looking terrified.

“What? Spit it out.”

“Okay? I mean…are you like…I don’t know, depressed?”

I rolled my eyes, but answered truthfully, “I handle shit like this by getting angry and getting even.”

“Huh??

?? She was confused. “I thought it was a…it was a car accident, right?”

“Doesn’t mean I can’t get revenge,” I said sweetly, leaning back in my chair.