A Whole New Crowd (A Whole New Crowd 1)

My god. He sounded hard and unforgiving. He was like me, but no. He wasn’t like me. He had friends. He had a school that followed him. I met his friends. They would do anything for him.

“I’m sorry about your mom.”

He chuckled. “Don’t feel sorry for me. My mom’s in a better place and my dad is a piece of shit.”

“How can you afford that huge house?”

“My mom was rich.” Then he scowled. “My dad left me money, but I don’t touch it.”

“Oh.” I frowned.

“It’s not something I talk about.” He grimaced. “Sorry, I just...don’t like to think about it. I’d go crazy if I did.”

I nodded. I could relate. “At least you know who your parents were.”

“Yeah?”

He was watching me and the air switched again. Gone was the fear and a camaraderie took its place. I wasn’t sure how I felt about that, but I couldn’t fight it. “I never knew mine.”

“You grew up in the foster system?”

I nodded. Even Mandy hadn’t dared to ask me that question. My throat grew thick. “I never talk about it.”

“Not even to that ex-boyfriend?”

“Not even him.” Brian never wanted to talk about our parents or our families. He wanted to talk about sports, how he was going to be the toughest guy in school, or what Jace was doing. Realizing that I had confessed more to Tray in a few weeks than I had to Brian in a few years sent shock waves through me.

“It’s his loss.” Tray’s voice grew light. He pretended to punch me in the arm. “Come on, Matthews. Let’s go and reap the rewards from being awesome. That prank was one that will go down in history. Everyone knows I did it, but no one can prove it. That’s the best thing about this life.”

“What I would give to have your easy life.”

I had crawled out of the vehicle, but I paused when Tray stopped behind me. I turned back. His eyes were narrowed, but he wasn’t looking at me. I had a sense he wasn’t even present with me anymore. His mind had wandered off. After a few minutes, he muttered, “Things aren’t always what they seem, Taryn.” Then he brushed past me and headed inside.

I didn’t talk to Tray for the rest of the day. Well, he didn’t talk to me. I hated to admit it, but it bothered me. It bothered me a lot.

CHAPTER NINE

I would’ve known where the party was from a mile away if Mandy hadn’t left directions. Okay. Not really, but the music was blaring so freaking loud, I finally chose to turn my own radio off. I parked at the end of the lane and walked closer. When I got to the lawn, I recognized a group of Pedlam students. What the hell? They were supposed to wallow in their own parties. In Pedlam. Not here. I hadn’t gone to the game, but Mandy told me my old town lost. That couldn’t mean anything good was going to happen with them here.

I hugged myself, suddenly chilled, and wished I’d kept my sweatshirt on, but to no avail. I was dressed in a sheer sweater, a black tank top underneath, and a pair of jeans.

“Yo,” a guy hollered and followed that with a whistle. “Hey, it’s Lanser’s bitch.”

I gritted my teeth. Real original, asshole. I kept going. Since most the people outside were from Pedlam, I figured my allies were inside. I doubted Brian was in attendance.

“Hey.” The guy tried to grab my elbow.

I wrenched my arm out of his grasp. “Let me go.”

“Whoa. Calm, bitch.”

I didn’t know what I would do or say.

“Whatever.” I darted past him.

“Hey!” He tried to follow me, but I got lost in the crowd. When I headed to the back patio, I saw Mandy on that cousin’s lap, his hand under her skirt. My eyes narrowed. The fact that this had gotten past everyone’s attention mystified me, but reinforced my theory that people were dumb. She tipped her head back and laughed. I groaned. She was drunk. That wasn’t a normal Mandy laugh.

At the same table was Tray and also…I stopped walking when I saw my lab partner? A double what the hell?