The Original Crowd (A Whole New Crowd 0.50)

“Why are you pushing this?”

“Because Mandy’s my sister and because the girl has to know how long it’s gone on for. Don’t ask me why, but we just have to know. Besides, I’m getting the PRS-500 for you, it’s the least you can do.”

“Fuck that. No. That’s for Mandy to ask Dev, not you to ask me,” he said firmly.

I needed a new tactic, so I pulled him closer and slid a leg around his and twined it around his waist, bringing him into full contact against me. I could feel him through my clothes and I slid one hand up his chest to curl around his neck. He had both arms around me, one tilted my neck back and the other was on my butt, grinding me against him, our mouths inches apart.

“I want to know how long,” I breathed against him, my lips grazing his as I spoke.

“And my response is, fuck you.”

His hand left my neck to grasp my other leg and twine it around his waist, both legs now wrapped around him. I fell against the counter slightly as he arched me against him. I gasped from feeling him and the heat that seared through my body. He slid his hand to the front of my pants and moved underneath my shirt. I panted silently as his fingers caressed me, moving upwards to softly flick against one of my nipples.

“I’m going to get you off,” I said silkily, seeing his eyes darken at my words and his body’s response. “And you’re going to tell me what I want.”

“And my response will be the same, I want to fuck you,” he promised, his intent glittering in his amber eyes as he slammed his mouth against mine. It wasn’t exactly rough, but it was fiery.

I tilted my head back and opened my mouth, feeling his tongue sweep inside where it met with mine. As I felt him lift me from the barstool and plant me higher on the counter, I heard a soft moan and realized it had come from me. One of his hands was keeping my leg firmly wrapped around him as the other was exploring underneath my shirt, moving to the other breast. I slid one of my hands underneath his shirt and explored him in return, the other was wrapped firmly around his taut shoulders.

And then he ripped himself away from me, both of us breathing hard.

“What—” I murmured, dazed.

Tray ran a hand through his hair. “Fuck.”

Then I saw the headlights through the window. Mandy or someone had arrived.

I don’t think I even cared if they had seen us or not.

“Bathroom,” I choked out.

Jerking his head, he clipped out, “Second door on your right.”

*

After I’d composed myself, I emerged from the bathroom and could hear Mandy’s shrill voice yelling. Rounding the corner, I saw Tray leaning against the counter again, his eyes unreadable as he watched the scene before him. Mandy, eyes wild, hands gesturing in the air, was ranting about Devon and Jasmine. Seeing Grant lounging in the doorway, I figured he was her sober-cab since it was obvious Mandy was very drunk. Her speech was slurring, but everyone could make out exactly who she was damning to hell, the cheating bastard.

Spotting me, she exclaimed, “I know now, Taryn! I know now. God, I want to kill that bastard. I thought she was a friend, but Jasmine’s nothing more than a back-stabbing bitch slut.”

I was at a loss. Mandy was beyond control right now. Tray and Grant both looked detached, as if this were a common occurrence, one they’d grown immune to. And maybe it was.

“Huh,” I faltered, shaking my head, “so you walked in on them?”

That was the wrong thing to say because Mandy launched into a screech, painting a vivid picture of what she saw when she caught them: what clothes were missing, what position they were in, and the grunting noises they were making.

“Okay,” I said quickly, “that’s good, I get the picture.”

Mandy let out a sob, you could hear the catch in her throat when she said, “It’s been going on for a year.”

I met Tray’s eyes, he was bemused, remembering my promise.

“That slut has been going behind my back for a year. It started last year at homecoming. At Bryce’s party. I was in New York with student council so I missed it and I guess Devon got lonely,” she said bitterly, hiccupping on a sob. “I fucking hate them!”

I moved beside her, but stayed a few feet away.

“Oh my God, Taryn!” she wailed. “What am I going to do? Everyone’s going to know. And…I’m…I loved him. He was my first, you know…how could she do this to me? What am I thinking, of course she would’ve. Jasmine’s screwed every guy in our grade. They all just run to her, the only guy who’s sent her packing was Tray,” she scoffed, gesturing carelessly in Tray’s direction. “Guess she had to move onto a new target. Bryce wasn’t enough for her.”

“You get even,” I said coldly, “and you keep your head high at school. Fuck whoever knows or talks about it.”