Chapter seven
STONE
Ispendtherest of the weekend hanging out at Mason’s, which doesn’t go unnoticed.
“What’s going on?” he asks me on Sunday, when I’m still there after Reid leaves to go home.
“Huh?”
“You don’t normally avoid your house.”
“Are you trying to kick me out?” He gives me a look that says he’s not buying my bullshit, and I sigh, slouching lower into the sofa. “We’ve got Lewis’s mail-order bride and her mum moving in.”
“No way! Why didn’t you say?” he asks, sitting up and paying more attention.
“I’m trying to forget it’s even happening, but apparently they need help after her dad’s death. Typical manipulation shit.”
“Damn, man. That must be bringing memories back.”
“Whatever, it was a long time ago.” I shrug like it’s not a big deal, but Mason knows it is, and Reid would too if he was still here.
“I guess. So that’s why you’re such a miser? Nothing to do with that girl not being at the club?”
“Yeah. I guess I just need to fuck someone else, eh?” I’m playing it off, but we both know that girl affected me in a way no one has in a while. To go from that to having these two move in seems like a joke.
“Maybe one not quite so fucking crazy?” he offers with a grin. I chuckle, having told both him and Reid about seeing her wade into the ocean the other night, but I can handle a bit of crazy. At least then life wouldn’t always be so predictable.
I end up staying at Mason’s for dinner, keeping out of the way of my house until the others could’ve reasonably gone to bed, and then on the drive home I wonder why. These people shouldn’t be keeping me away from my own home. As soon as I park my car I message Winnie, letting her know I’m throwing the End of Spring Break party at mine in a couple of weeks. I’ll do what I want here—fuck what they think—and Winnie is the best way of getting information out. I rarely host events here, but it’d be my turn soon enough anyway, and I’m sure Dad won’t mind.
The next morning I manage to avoid everyone without even trying and meet with Mason and Reid in the car park as usual. Winnie sidles up to us instantly. I should’ve known messaging her would encourage this latching on she’s so fond of.
“There’s a new Highland guy,” she says with a smirk that I think she thinks is attractive but really isn’t.
“What the fuck? Who would dare?” Reid asks. Students very rarely transfer between the two schools because of the rivalry, and we take the uncommon chances to show exactly why doing it is a bad idea, just like Highland does to unlucky Oakview transfers. Guess that’s two new students for everyone to gawp at today.
“Doesn’t matter, we know what to do,” I say to the small group around us. “Open season.” Not that anyone needs encouragement, but word will spread that the newbie is fair game now that I’ve given the okay. Let’s see how long this one lasts.