A Whole New Crowd (A Whole New Crowd #1)(51)

“You’re Matthews, right?”
“Huh?” I lifted my head and blinked. I realized that I had stopped and was now the last in the cave.
A guy from school was frowning at me. He was waiting at the mouth and he waved for me. “Come on. You’re the last. Most everyone’s taken off already.”
“Oh. Okay.” I hurried forward, but I was too dazed to focus on walking over the rocks. I wasn’t paying attention and a moment later, I was out of the cave and on the road again.
“See you.” The guy gestured farther down the road before he hopped in a car that was waiting for him. The door was opened and as soon as he was inside, it took off. His friends yelled out, “Hell yeah! Party at Rickets’ tonight.” Their sounds faded and I turned to see Tray waiting for me.
He was standing by his car, his arms folded over his chest. His head was tucked down and he could’ve been asleep from how casual his posture was. He wasn’t watching me, but I knew he was alert and aware of my approach. When I stood in front of him, he lifted his head. His eyes were guarded.
For a moment, we stared at each other.
The air was thick. There were so many emotions inside me, all of them were swirling around to form a vacuum. He terrified me. He always would, but as I continued to hold his gaze and as his wall began to slide away, I saw the same fear in him. Then an emotion flickered in me, so deep that I was surprised to feel it at all. Hope. It swept through me, a small flicker that grew to a full flame and it mingled right alongside the empty void that had been placed there from overhearing Jennica and Amber’s conversation. Tray must’ve seen the pain in me. His wall fell away completely and he lifted an arm, beckoning to me.
I went to him.
He wrapped his arm around me, sheltering me, and even though he had no idea what was wrong, he pressed a kiss to my forehead. Brushing some of my hair aside in a loving gesture, he comforted me.
I didn’t like depending on people, but I would for a moment. I’d allow myself this pause in my normal living to be weak.
Tray held me for a while longer. He didn’t ask what was wrong. He knew me well enough to know I would tell him when I was ready. After standing there, hugging him back, allowing myself to be comforted, I swallowed and pushed the storm down inside me. He felt it and stiffened. His arm fell away the same time that I moved back from him.
We continued to look at each other, then he nodded. As he went to the driver’s door, I went to the passenger door and we both got in. He drove me home. We still didn’t talk. The farther we got from Crystal Bay and the closer we got to town, I slid down in my seat and watched the scenery go by. I had conversations ahead of me. I knew all of them were going to be painful, but I needed to find out the truth.
If my adopted family had been forced to adopt me, then why? By who? I needed to find that answer and I needed to find out about Mandy. I loved her already. It wasn’t until then, at hearing my relationship with her might be a farce, that I realized it.
When Tray pulled up to my house, I saw the other cars. The curtains were pulled back so I was able to see into the kitchen. It was full of Mandy’s friends. Assuming these were from ‘Tristan’s’ group, from what I overheard, I prepared myself for weirdness and ass-kissing.
“You okay?”
I glanced over. The concern in Tray’s eyes was evident. I nodded. “I just heard some things that I have to deal with.”
“You need help?”
I shook my head. “No. This is on me.” A shriek of laughter came from the house and I looked over again. They were all giggling, moving around the kitchen with drinks in hand. A girl was filling their glasses with more wine.
“Okay. Everyone’s heading to my house tonight to go to Rickets’. Are you coming?”
“Yeah.” Then a plan began to formulate. “Can you pick me up? Everyone’s meeting at your house, right?”
He frowned but nodded. “Sure. When everyone takes off, I’ll just let them know I’m going to swing by and pick you up first.”
“Okay.”
“You didn’t want to get a ride to my house with your sister?” He leaned down so he could get a better view of my house. “Although, they look too drunk to drive anyway.”
There was one girl who looked sober. She was thin with white-blonde hair, and she stood out among the group. She’d been the one pouring wine into the glasses. I was willing to bet she was Tristan. It was obvious she was the leader. She stood with confidence. Her shoulders were straight. Her chin was lifted, and it looked like she was watching over her minions. I hadn’t paid attention to Mandy’s friends earlier, but despite the distance between the house and car, I could tell she was pretty. She had a heart-shaped face, small petite looks, and higher-set cheekbones. I was starting to suspect she was a rival to Jennica and Amber in the looks department. All three girls were beautiful.
As I continued to study Tristan, I said to Tray, “No, they have a sober driver.” I looked to him. “I need Mandy out of the house. I have to look for something when no one else is around. The timing is too good for me to pass up.”
He nodded. “Okay. I’ll send the group ahead without me and I’ll wait outside until you’re ready.”
“Okay. Thank you.”
“I hope everything’s okay?”
I gave him a fleeting smile. “So do I.” I got out of the car and headed in. I had been exposed to a hornet’s nest and I was going to step right on it.



CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

I understood the drug life. It wasn’t because I took drugs. It was because I had taken care of someone that did. Brian. Standing in front of Mandy’s room, all those memories flooded back. I had taken him to rehab twice. Jace took him the last time, and he had kept clean so far—so far. He might’ve relapsed, but I had no idea. A small knot formed in my throat as I realized that truth. Brian wasn’t my concern any longer. Mandy was.