Always (Next Generation The Skulls 1)

“Yeah, I hear he’s a monster in the sack.”

She rolled her eyes. Seriously. They were talking about Anthony and Luke. Ugh.

“What about Miles? I hear Louise had sex with him and she said it was the best she’d ever had.”

She was going to be sick, really throw up.

“Come on, who do you think is better, The Skulls or the Monster Dogs?”

She’d heard enough.

Flushing the toilet, she let herself out of the bathroom to see four girls. Two of which she recognized from class but didn’t actually know their names.

She washed her hands, loving the tension that mounted.

The urge to pummel both of them was strong. Instead, she dried her hands on a towel.

Turning back to the group, she smiled. “It’s your lucky night. I catch you talking shit about my guys or my club again, you’re all going to be mourning the loss of your pretty faces after I mangle them. Happy Halloween.” She turned on her heel and walked out the door, heading toward the dance floor.

She found Miles and Daisy dancing while Anthony was on the sidelines.

Did she have to do everything herself? She was going to have to beat up her brother.

“You didn’t ask her to dance?” Tabitha asked.

“How is Simon?”

“Don’t change the question.”

“I don’t dance.”

“Now you do.” She grabbed Anthony’s hand and pulled him onto the floor. She kept hold of his hands and moved them in a choo-choo train effect.

“You’re mocking me.”

“Dance.” She threw her hands up in the air and danced.

“I don’t think ladies danced like that back then.” He pointed at her costume.

She laughed. “Come on, guys, let’s take a pic for Simon.” She pulled her camera out. Daisy, Anthony, and Miles got in on the action. She stuck her tongue out, and it flashed.

“Dance with me.” She stole Miles and urged Daisy into Anthony’s arms.

“You’ve got to stop playing matchmaker, sis. It’s not fair.”

“You’re not going to touch Daisy because you know he’ll break your legs. Why do you keep insisting on coming between them? It’s not fair.”

“No, what’s not fair is you clearly not seeing that Daisy is oblivious to all the shit you want her to see.”

She and Miles turned in a circle.

“And what, I should just allow them to make their own mistakes?”

“Yeah.”

“What if Daisy starts dating someone else?”

“Then Anthony will either kill the guy or make sure she doesn’t date him for long. You’ve got to stop trying to protect them both. They’re teenagers. Let them have some fun.” Miles hugged her close and she looked toward her best friend.

She was laughing but was in Anthony’s arms. They were so perfect together. She didn’t know why her friend didn’t see it.

“Look at them,” she said.

“Daisy is having fun. She’s already had a drink. Come morning, she’s going to be a bitch again. Let them work their shit out at their own time. You don’t need to keep helping them with this.”

The dance ended and Tabitha moved away from the dance floor. She was thankful Anthony didn’t allow Daisy to go.

She took her cell phone and started to snap pictures to share with Simon later.

Folding her arms, she watched the dancing and decided against being a lone partner. She wasn’t going to be dancing with anyone but Simon. She had promised him all of her dances years ago.

Leaving the main hall, she started to wander down the corridor. Guys and girls were all laughing, drinking, making out, and having fun.

Sure, there was a lot of spookiness going on.

“I didn’t think you’d be left alone,” Luke said.

She turned to see him complete with vampire teeth but wearing leather. His hair was spiked, and blood spatter was on his clothing.

“Are you following me?”

“Nope.”

“Good, then leave.”

“I’m curious as to why you’re all on your own.”

“I’m not on my own and if any of my crew see you with me, they’re just desperate for a fight.”

Luke chuckled. “You think I’m scared of them?”

“What is this?” she asked. “Do you have some kind of secret crush on me, is that it?” She wasn’t in the mood to deal with any shit. Her heart would always belong to Simon.

Nothing and no one was going to change that. Not even this guy.

“You think because I find you pretty I have some kind of crush?”

“Oh, so you find me pretty. Good to know.” She rolled her eyes and kept on walking.

“You’ve got an attitude, you know that?”

“Yep.” She wasn’t about to deny something she certainly knew to be true. She had an attitude when it came to opposing clubs.

The Skulls and Monster Dogs MC should never have crossed paths. She wasn’t an idiot. She knew this. Everyone did, and the only reason they did cross paths was because of the school change. Her parents hadn’t wanted her or Miles to go, but Lash and Angel had no problem sending Anthony.