“I don’t get it.” I look back and forth between them, searching for an answer.
“It’s kind of like guy code,” he explains. “You don’t fuck around with your brother’s sister. That’s not cool.”
“Don’t worry. It’s not like that.” Heat flares up in my cheeks. “I mean, not that I thought you were flirting or anything. I don’t even want you to. I’m just saying. Hayes doesn’t care what I do.”
“You sure about that?” Theo’s smirking as he turns his head to look across the room over a sea of students. I follow the direction he’s looking in, and my heart skips a beat when my eyes lock with Hayes’s. It’s like the rest of the room goes dark, and only he is standing in the light. We might as well be the only two people here.
The illusion lasts roughly three seconds before he scowls. “See? Told you,” Theo crows. “He doesn’t like other people touching his things.”
“I’m not one of his things. We’re not even related. What’s next? Is he going to brand my ass, too?”
Franky throws his head back and hollers with laughter. “I like you. You should come to my house for a party this weekend. Saturday night.”
From the corner of my eye, I can still see Hayes glowering at us. What’s he thinking? Why does he even care? Obviously, Franky is a friend of his. Otherwise, the two of them wouldn’t have been talking about whatever secret he’s hiding. Franky seemed truly concerned, too. So what difference does it make if we’re standing next to each other in line?
“Well? What do you think? Are you coming, or aren’t you?”
Theo must see my hesitation for what it is. “Don’t worry. We’ll make sure you’re okay.”
“Why wouldn’t I be okay?”
“Your first Academy party might be a little... intimidating.” For once, he’s not joking around. “Things can get out of control.”
“At last year’s winter break party, a girl OD’d in the bathroom and passed out in front of the door so we couldn’t get to her. At the last party back in May, three guys got arrested for a big fight.” When my eyes widen, Franky only shrugs. “I guess not everybody’s neighbors know not to call the cops.”
I’m more surprised over the OD, but they talk about it like it’s completely normal. I don’t think this party would be a good idea. All I keep thinking about is those girls in the bathroom snorting cocaine before class started. It’s not the drugs that scare me. It’s the girls themselves.
“Does everybody go to these parties?”
“Everybody?” Franky exchanges a look with Theo.
“I mean, is it an open invitation? I know there’s at least one person who’s going to hate me once they hear about the whole stepbrother thing.”
They exchange another look. “Madison,” Theo mutters. I nod. “Yeah. You need to watch your back around her. She’s—”
“Insane,” Franky finishes. “But she’s like a rabid dog with no teeth. She’ll only gum you.”
“I don’t even want her to get that close.” The guys laugh, and I have to laugh with them. It does seem kind of ridiculous.
“So? Does this mean you’re RSVPing yes?” Franky nudges me, grinning.
I feel Hayes staring holes through me. Not through the guys, but through me. This has nothing to do with a bro code or whatever Theo was talking about. This is about Hayes resenting me being part of his world. He resents me breathing.
And everyone thinks they can’t get too close to me for fear of what he might do. He wants to control every part of my life. I can’t even sleep because I can’t stop thinking about him, dreading him, wanting to help him.
That’s why I reach up and put a hand on Franky’s shoulder. “Yeah. I’ll be there.” I know he’s watching. I won’t give him the satisfaction of looking back, but I don’t need to.
“Nice.” He peels away from the line when I step up to the counter. “See you around.”
“See you in English.” Theo winks, grinning as he turns around. Out of the corner of my eye, I see him approach Hayes, who pushes his way through everybody to get out of the cafeteria. I was half expecting him to charge at me instead.
Shit. I just said I’d go to Franky’s party, and I don’t have anything to wear, which is the least of my problems. I pull out my phone and send a text to Salem. I need you to tell me how to survive a party at Franky’s because I said I’d go, and now I’m freaking out.
11
“You need some new clothes anyway.” Salem meets my gaze over the top of a clothes rack. “No offense.”
“None taken. I know I dress like shit.”
“You don’t dress like shit. Just like somebody who did the best she could with what she had. And you still look cute in everything you wear.”