Jaden (Jaded 3)

“Who said you had to go?” I asked, combing my fingers through my hair. I’d thrown a shirt on and sweats, but I grimaced now as I looked down at what I was really wearing. The shirt was almost see-through so my bra was noticeable, and my pants stuck like glue to me. Then I stopped caring. I was hiding from the public. Who cares what I looked like behind these walls? I shrugged to myself and went to take a seat at the table.

Mena was at one end, eating a piece of toast with a glass of orange juice. Bryce was at the coffee pot and Denton was standing in between. He turned to me. “I did. Mena’s going to college today. I asked if Corrigan would take her—”

I sucked in my breath and grimaced. “Do you have a death wish?” I shook my head. We’d talked about Corrigan and Bryce hating Mena last night. He wants to put them in a car with her now? “You’re nutso, Denton.”

“Thank you.” Corrigan threw his hands in the air. “See? I’m not taking her to college. I’m not riding in a car with her. I’ve covered myself. All my professors know I’m doing online learning this semester. Why would I go back to campus now?”

“Because my sister’s going, and I need someone to watch her!” Denton’s voice rose to equal Corrigan’s. The two were involved in a standoff, both glaring at each other.

I held a hand up. “Wait. Hold on. Why does Mena need someone to watch her?”

“Exactly. Thank you again,” Corrigan huffed.

Bryce was keeping quiet, but he was watching the exchange intently.

“I need someone to watch her and make sure everything is fine.” Denton rubbed at his forehead. “I need to know everything is okay with her. I just… I can’t go. I would’ve asked Sheldon, but obviously she can’t go either and Bryce,” he lifted a hand to him, “he doesn’t go to college. That leaves you, Corrigan. Please. One day. That’s all I’m asking for.”

If Corrigan could’ve killed him with a look, Denton would’ve been dead three times over by now. Corrigan’s eyes were almost bulging out, his lips pressed tight together. Then he muttered, “I can’t fucking believe this.”

“Maybe it’s not such a bad idea.”

All eyes went straight to Bryce, who held his hands up in a surrendering motion. “Don’t kill me. Just hear me out, but maybe it’s not a bad idea.” His gaze fell to me, lingering for a moment. “You can ask around to see if there are any new rumors about who killed Grace. I have a hard time imagining her sorority has kept quiet. I bet they might know something.”

“Oh my god,” Corrigan mumbled to himself. “You were my ally, Bryce.”

“I still am, but think about it.” Bryce stepped away from the counter. He glanced to me again. “I’m thinking about Sheldon. I mean, that’s why we came back to town. We wanted to find something out. After our stint at the hotel, maybe something’s come up. We can’t find out holed up in this house.” His tone was soft, so soft. “You can be our eyes and ears now.”

“Do you know how awkward it will be, just showing up on campus? The media’s going to be called. The only ones I know who won’t betray me are my frat brothers.”

“So go to them,” I spoke up. I couldn’t believe I was agreeing with sending Corrigan along with Mena, but—

“Bryce is right. Go there. Have them ask around for you, that’s considering they agree with you and think I’ve been framed.”

“They do. They told me right away when you were taken in. They said if I needed anything, not to hesitate.”

“There you go then. Ask them now. Have them scout around campus for you.”

“I could just call to do that,” Corrigan grumbled, shooting Mena a dark look. “I don’t have to drive to campus to get that done.”

“Just go.”

Corrigan sent Bryce a withering look. “You go.”

Bryce sighed, rolling his eyes before he turned back to the coffee pot. Filling his cup, he came over to the table and slid into a chair beside mine. “It doesn’t hurt to have eyes and ears on campus. You know we’re right.”

“Screw all of you,” Corrigan burst out.

He was going. We all saw it then, and Bryce relaxed next to me. I said, “Just ask questions. Don’t do anything stupid when you’re there.”

Corrigan rolled his eyes. “I will probably have an hour before someone calls the press. People are going to be taking pictures of me, just to sell them to those tabloids.” His gaze locked with mine. “You know I’m going to be harassed like crazy when word gets out I’m on campus.”

“So go in disguise.”

Corrigan froze. Denton whipped around. Bryce sucked in a breath, and I lifted my own eyes. All four of us turned at the same time to Mena, who had just spoken. She bit her lip at the sudden attention, but shrugged one of her dainty shoulders. She said again, “Go in disguise. Isn’t that what you guys did for the hotel? You snuck in just fine. No one knew you were there, at first.”

Denton looked around. “You could, you know. I could do a different disguise, or I could call in my makeup girl. She could change your ethnicity if you wanted.”

“That is an option,” Bryce added. “Even if we already used disguises, that’s the thing with them. You can change them, and people won’t know.”