The Original Crowd (A Whole New Crowd 0.50)

I glanced uncertainly at Helms and saw a look of disgust pass over his eyes. Abruptly he stood up and announced, “I’ll sit with Tray.”

So I got my own table. Yay!

Thank goodness it was behind Honey and Bit.

But before I could sit down, Tray spoke up, “She can sit with me.”

Helms froze, about to sit down beside him. He looked at Tray and read something on his face because he didn’t say anything when he stood back up and returned to his table.

I met Tray’s eyes, saw the fierceness, and figured…probably not a good idea. “I’m good up here.”

“Oh no, Taryn,” Tray said quickly, “sit with me. Really.”

The class was watching, every fricking word, and they loved it. Honey and Bit’s eyes were as wide as saucers. Molly squeaked from her seat, which was parallel to Tray’s table.

So I sat at Tray’s table—reluctantly. Tray flicked his gaze to Mr. Hauge, who must’ve taken it as a command to start, because he immediately started class then.

Tray sat rigidly next to me. I could feel the tension in his body.

I stole a few glances his way, but was met with a cold, even stare back. Tray was quite fine glaring at me during the entire class. I gave up trying to win the staring contest, mostly because I got weirded out.

I couldn’t help but remember Jace’s words about Tray.

“He’s not another Brian, Taryn. Remember that.”

“Meaning that my obsessive ex is the lesser of the two evils.” I had joked at the time.

I looked at Tray again. Nope. This was all on me. I didn’t have Brian or Jace to hide behind, to protect me. I had to fight this one all on my own.

Mr. Hauge asked the class, “Mrs. Grantlins has asked me to send two volunteers to the counselor’s office.”

Tray spoke up, “We’ll go.”

And, of course, that meant me too, because no one else was standing up.

Tray didn’t give me time to decide because he simply grabbed my arm and hauled me out of there. Once in the hallway, I wrenched my arm away and snapped, “Ouch.”

That’s when I was met with the full force of Tray’s fury because he grabbed my arm again and yanked me into the empty gymnasium.

“This isn’t the way to Mrs. Grantlins’ office.”

“You don’t even know who Mrs. Grantlins’ is,” Tray snapped, hauling me into the equipment closet. The door was heavy as he slammed it shut. “What the fuck do you think you’re doing?!”

“Excuse me?” I asked stiffly. Yeah. The sex had been great, but if it was the price—I’d give it up gladly.

“You know what!” he cut out tensely. “The entire fucking school is going off about you and Amber. You said that we hurt people, that we don’t give a shit about them.”

“You don’t!” I cried out.

Tray shot back, “Neither do you. You are the coldest bitch in this school and now you’ve decided to be their personal savior?!”

“I care,” I yelled back.

“No, you don’t. You started caring the second you saw Mandy bending under Amber’s influence.”

Well…yeah.

“No, I didn’t. I’m sick and tired of how—” I started to say.