Jaded (Jaded 1)

"What's with the interrogation?" Chantal piped up. She pursed her frosted red lips farther out. One of the guys groaned.

"My brother's on-location. He's not even around."

Bryce relaxed slightly and sat back.

Mena muttered, "Is this what all the parties are like? I didn't know I'd ge

t attacked by your boys, Sheldon."

My eyes sparked at that. "What are you talking about?" I asked.

Chantal purred, enjoying the change in conversation.

Mena bristled uncomfortably. "I mean," she swallowed. "I didn't mean anything."

"No, you did. What did you mean?"

"I just meant…come on. Corrigan throws himself at me inside and Bryce is doing twenty-questions out here. What happened to just 'here's a drink, now sit and flirt'?" She laughed nervously.

"I think your 'hazing' is nothing compared to what your brother said to me."

Bryce leaned forward and watched us intently.

"What are you talking about?" Mena stilled.

Bryce swore and demanded, "Like you don't know. You were at the house when we got back. We were getting out of the car at midnight when you showed up. That's freaky."

I sucked my breath in. Whether Bryce had meant to or not, he'd just destroyed Mena's social credibility. I didn't care about rumors or gossip, mainly because it was junk and normally about me. However, when Bryce Scout said that he thought someone was freaky, so did everyone else.

I almost heard Chantal's own snub as she giggled in delight.

Mena paled.

"Look," I said, a little gentler. "Bryce is right. You knew Denton came to talk to me and you knew what he was going to say. He said some pretty harsh stuff to me, and he still hit on me. So between the two of us, I think I was the one attacked."

"That's because you two kept baiting him."

"Because he's weird," Bryce bit out and stood up. "I don't like the fucker."

He walked away and Mena looked at me helplessly.

"Was it bad? What he said to you?"

"Yeah." It was the truth. "It was pretty low."

"I'm sorry."

I heaved a sigh. I didn't know what the hell to do now.

Chantal asked, a malicious innocence on her face, "So…is your brother Denton Steele?"

Wariness flashed over Mena before she said, "Yeah."

"That dude's gay," Tatum grumbled and walked off. The rest of the guys followed except one, who was intent on Chantal's boobs.

Bryce had started it and the other guys followed in line.

I'd only felt pity a handful of times and this was one of those times. I pitied Mena.

Chantal sniffed and stood. Another halter-top readjustment was followed with a shift of her mini-skirt.

"Why do you wear clothes like that if you have to constantly do that?" Mena asked, coolly.

Chantal gave her a blinding smile and replied sweetly, "Because it drives the guys crazy."

When she left, I leaned over and whispered, "And it earns you a reputation as a whore."

Mena gave me a wan smile. "Sorry. I just saw my social career crumble into dust."

"I'm sorry." I meant it.

"I know. I don't think Bryce was even thinking. He was just concerned about you."

I coughed.

Mena continued, scornfully, "And what is her name? What is her problem, anyway?"

"Collette Chantal. She's a plastic booby Barbie."

"She's a bit plump to be a Barbie."

"Yeah, but…the guys seem to like the extra meat."

"I should just leave," Mena sighed in resignation. "The rest of the night is going to be awful. Everyone's going to turn on me pretty soon. They're going to throw peanuts like I'm a monkey in the zoo or something." Mena moaned.

I patted her knee. "I'm not going anywhere. They wouldn't dare throw peanuts at me."

"Right. It'll just happen when you're not by my side. Besides, you're going to disappear with Bryce tonight anyway."

I shifted again, uncomfortable.

"Let's get something else to drink," I announced and dragged her behind. Inside the kitchen, where the keg had been placed, Bryce and the guys all stood around it. Corrigan spotted us and stumbled over. He threw an arm around both of our shoulders and announced, "So…I heard there was talk about a threesome." He grinned stupidly. "How about it, ladies?"

I smiled as I slid a hand downwards.

Corrigan held his breath, his eyes widened.

And I pulled his zipper up, purposely catching on something.

Corrigan howled in pain.

I laughed, "That's what you get for walking around with your pants open, Corrigan."

"You are such a…," he fumed.

I waited with an eyebrow raised.

"I hate you," he growled and limped away to grab an icepack.

I laughed in delight.

Mena had been quiet the entire time, but she murmured now, "I don't think I could be friends with you guys. You guys have your own rules or something. You're vicious to each other."

I caught an ice-pack from Bryce and chucked it at Corrigan's back. He turned and glared before he bent to place it over his groin.

"It's called respect, Mena," I remarked. "You have to earn it before you can demand it."

Mena stayed as I pushed through the crowd.

I hadn't gone far before I spotted Mandy Justice flirting with two guys that I remembered from the cafeteria. One of the guys had been talking to Leisha. "Mandy," I called out and Mandy's eyes widened in alarm. "Hi."

"Hey, Sheldon," she replied, guarded.

"Who are your friends?" I asked, flirtatiously.