Break Me (Brayshaw High 5)

I laugh and stand with her. “Okay.”

I’m almost positive Royce was hoping I’d be upset that he took over my afternoon as I’m sure he believes he did, but honestly, I don’t even care. I still had Valine, even if it did take some bribery to get her to come out with me in the end.

“So don’t look.” She digs into her bag, pulling out some ChapStick. “But the weirdo over by the bathrooms keeps looking this way.”

“What makes him a weirdo?”

Her hand pauses at her lips. “He’s standing outside the men’s bathroom, peeping on two girls on a park bench.”

I grab a piece of garbage off the ground so I can turn to throw it away.

Valine scoffs. “Real subtle, chick. Remind me never to do recon with you.”

“Shut up.” I look over and squint. “Wait, I know that guy.”

“Ugh,” she grumbles. “Of course you do. Well, I’m out. See you at the house later tonight.”

I nod and start walking forward.

His eyes lift, shifting right this way but when he realizes I’m headed to him, they widen.

He quickly straightens and puts on a small grin. “Hey, Brielle, right?”

I laugh. “Yeah, August, right?” I tease.

We both know he didn’t forget but got caught staring.

He gives a sheepish grin, glancing toward Valine. “New girl?”

I tilt my head. “So you live around here, then?”

His eyes pop to mine. “I do, yeah. Just moved back actually, so I’m sort of out of tune with things. Need to play catch-up, reunite, you know?”

I nod. “Well, there’s supposed to be a party tonight, you should come. You can give me your number and I can send you the address?”

He rubs his lips together. “Who are you going with?”

“Oh, I’m actually working,” I tell him and a slight frown forms above his brows. “But I’ll be there, and I’m sure some others you might know will be if you’re from here. Did you go to Brayshaw High?”

A low chuckle leaves him and he looks over my shoulder. “Maybe next time, but I’ll see you soon.” He begins walking backward, and then spins and cuts behind the building.

A few seconds later a horn honks, and my name is called.

I turn to find Chloe at the curb, staring this way.

I rush over, smiling at her little convertible.

“Girl, if your man knew you were out here like this, he’d whoop that ass.” She chuckles. “But maybe that’s what you’re into, huh?”

I shake my head. “Not my man, trust me.”

“But you are into it?”

I laugh and she nods for me to climb in. “Mac’s supposed to pick you up in a couple hours, right?”

“That’s what Royce said, yeah. Do you mind?”

Her head snaps my way, and she smirks. “Girl, if you only knew how good I am at sharing.”

A few minutes pass and then she’s pulling up in front of the group home.

I climb out, but something has me turning back to ask, “Hey, do you know a guy named August?”

“August?” She tips her head. “That would be a no. Why?”

“I met him twice now since I’ve been here. He said he just moved back.”

She nods, her eyes narrowing. “Huh, be careful, maybe ask Royce?” She pauses and then we’re both laughing because yeah right.

I head inside and before I know it, I’m climbing into Mac’s truck and headed for the party.

Excitement swims in my abdomen as we arrive, and promptly fifteen minutes later, it’s long gone.

I was excited to ‘work’, but now I’ll be excited when it’s time to go home.

With a huff, I toss the plastic cups in the garbage and pull out a new stack, setting them beside the array of half-empty bottles.

When Royce said ‘work’ I thought... I don’t know what I thought, but I definitely didn’t expect to be cleaning up after half drunk, half sober, half-naked, Brayshaw students. Yet, here I am, doing exactly that.

Yay freaking me.

Mac steps through the screen door with an empty beer bottle and lifts it up, so I open the bag in my hand and he drops it inside.

“Thanks.” He leans his hips against the counter near me, glancing over when his girlfriend, Chloe, walks in behind him.

She steps between his legs and leans her back to his chest.

“Hey.” She smiles, her eyes roaming over my outfit in approval.

It’s just a simple black romper with no straps that lays about mid-thigh, but it’s cute and fun and something I’ve had for so long but never had a place to wear it to.

“Hey.”

“You know he’s fucking with you, right?” She tilts her head, letting me in on a secret that should have been obvious. “He has a cleanup crew. They take care of everything before, during, and after.”

“Then why am I doing this?”

She smirks. “I don’t know, why are you?”

“He said—” I cut myself off.

He said to ‘keep it clean’ and followed with a clipped ‘find a way’.