The Original Crowd (A Whole New Crowd 0.50)

And I’d take him down. Because, in that moment, I knew that he had fucked with my life.

*

We went to Pedlam Hospital. Which was ironic, at least I thought so. While Bryce and Grant were getting checked out, with the rest of the girls too—I slipped up the side stairs, towards Geezer’s room. Tray watched me go, so I figured he’d guess where I was. We’d be there awhile anyway. It’s the ER, they’re always busy.

I waited for a nurse to open the locked door and I caught it just as she turned the corner. Sneaking through, I silently walked down the hallway, seeing Geezer’s door was slightly ajar. I could hear the television on, more in the background and he was talking to someone on the phone.

“Dude. I know, but it’s not right. Taryn has a right to know. I know, but—just—you promised, man.”

The curtain was pulled so he didn’t see my shadow enter.

Geezer moaned, “That’s not fair. Look, I’m just saying…I won’t tell her, alright. Fuck that.” He slammed the phone down, swearing swiftly.

Then I stepped around the curtain.

Geezer hadn’t seen me. He was staring out the window, replaying whatever conversation had just taken place.

And then he turned his head, and our eyes locked.

He looked paralyzed.

I was furious.

“Taryn—”

I cut him off, coldly, “You’re going to tell me. You’re going to tell me everything. Right now.”

“I can’t, Taryn,” he began, almost desperately, “I can’t…they’ll—”

“You’re going to tell me because if you don’t I’ll send your dad straight back to prison.”

Geezer cared about three things: getting high, his father, and his friends.

Threatening his life was useless. Geezer didn’t care how he went out, as long as he was high when it happened. His dad, however, was another story. He still held out hope that they’d have some relationship, that his dad would love him one day. He knew I’d follow through with my threat without a second thought.

I’d never do the first. It would’ve been an empty threat, but this one—both of us knew it was the truth.

“If I say anything, they’ll kill him, Taryn.”

“If you don’t tell me, he’s dead either way. They’ll just get him in prison,” I returned evenly.

“Taryn,” he begged, tears brimming in his eyes, “I can’t. You don’t understand—”

“I don’t know what, not yet, but I know something’s going down. So much doesn’t add up, Geezer, and I’m beyond furious. I will figure it out,” I promised, my eyes glittering with fury in the moonlight.

Geezer caught in his breath, staring at me, and he weighed his options.

He choked out, “Brian didn’t beat me like this because of you. He did it because—”

“Geezer,” I reminded him tensely.

“My dad’s not working for Brian, not really. He’s a drug-runner from Boston. He came into town with a new crew.”

“What does that have to do with Brian?”

“Because Brian’s working for ‘em too.”

I tested my theory. “Who’s Galverson?” I saw Geezer freeze. His skin turned a chalky pale color. He looked like death warmed over.