The Original Crowd (A Whole New Crowd 0.50)

“What’s going on?” Jasmine Kent asked, laughing as she sat on the couch opposite us. Tray, Bryce Sethlers, Grant Lancaster, and Devon Hedley trailing behind. The only person missing was Grant’s sister, Amber.

I knew some about them—there were enough rumors swirling about every single one of them. Amber and Grant were twins. Grant had hated Tray at one point because he screwed Amber a few times—apparently, Amber had been panting after Tray for years until he finally succumbed. And Jasmine had a brief stint with him too—but it only lasted six months according to my science partner who wore microscope glasses. (I could never remember her name.)

I had also heard that even though Mandy was hot and steady with Devon, it didn’t mean that she had snuffed out the torch she had for Tray since the sixth grade. However, Devon and Mandy were the longest running couple in the school—I think they have been together for four years now. Bryce and Jasmine merely sleep together every now and then; you could usually see them at parties panting and grinding with each other. Most people would take bets on how long it took before they’d either be found in a corner or some closet. The more I think about it, I don’t remember hearing a whole lot about Grant’s love life…maybe he just had more class.

Yep. The social elite were in my living room. Well, Mandy’s living room.

“Leave her alone, Mandy. The girl’s frigid. She said no,” Tray said in a low tone.

I rounded on him. “Excuse me?”

“You heard me.” He smirked.

“Got your little knickers all wrapped in a bunch, huh? Rejection must really get you if you gotta resort to name-calling. Kinda superficial, don’t you think?” I taunted.

“Oh, they’re not little.” He grinned, completely at ease.

Bastard.

“Says you.”

“Says me.” Jasmine giggled.

Mandy had fallen uncharacteristically silent.

“And you’re pretty experienced, huh?”

“Taryn!” Mandy hissed.

“Whatever,” I mumbled, standing and moving towards the door.

“Oh, come on,” Mandy called out, “Taryn, come hang out. These are my friends and you’re my sister.”

I turned around. Tray was watching, amused by the scene. Jasmine had turned to glaring at me—guess she didn’t like what I implied. The guys were—well, guys. They were snickering, apparently they thought my comment about Jasmine was funny.

This was a game to them, even to Jasmine as she let a smile slip out after being nudged from Grant.

But it wasn’t a game to me. It used to be, my whole life had been just a game, but the stakes were too high now that I had a family I actually wanted to stay with.

“I’m not doing it. Whatever you want me to take, I’m not doing it.”

“We’re not asking anymore,” Tray remarked, sounding bored.

“Yeah,” Mandy agreed. “We’ll figure something else out, okay? So just chill, alright?”

They were all watching me and I knew whatever I did next would seal my position in the school. Logically I knew that my placement was firm, finalized, because Mandy was my sister, but…that’s not what I felt. I went against what my instincts were screaming at me and I slowly sat back down and resumed watching the movie.

Mandy squeezed my arm slightly before she started chatting to Jasmine over my head.

I was silent throughout the rest of the evening. I think they were a little cautious around me; I kept a low profile at school and I was pretty quiet every time Mandy invited them over the few months they’ve known me. It was the first time anyone had seen the confrontational side of me.

Everyone meandered to the kitchen where Mandy put a pizza in the oven. I had followed and perched on a stool, my hands wrapped around my pop. Tray had been watching me the entire evening, and it was pissing me off. I didn’t like letting people read me—call me paranoid, but I was guarded for a reason—but I knew what he was doing. He was trying to figure me out; figure out my weaknesses and so forth. He didn’t like having someone so unpredictable in his group.

When the phone rang, Mandy handed it over saying, “It’s for you. Dunno know who it is.”

Frowning, I asked, “Hello?”

“Babe.”