Untouched (Bay Falls High, #1)(39)

I wasn’t sure what that meant, other than something very dirty.

Ignoring the lollipops and the thoughts in my head, I shut the locker and waited for Beth.

She didn’t show up.

At least not right away.

And when I did see her, she was walking down the hallway with Denny.

His right hand was in a black cast.

He looked tired and a mess.

Beth looked at me and I gave a wave.

She mouthed to me I’m sorry and cringed.

I tried to wave her off, letting her know it was okay.

I mean, but was it okay?

What had Denny actually done to get the attention of the Rulz? They said it wasn’t just because of me. But who the hell knew what to believe when it came to them?

I cut through the hall and went to Gi’s locker.

“Hey,” I said.

“Tell me what I heard is true,” she said.

“What did you hear now?”

“You were riding with Barr this morning.”

“Oh… that…”

“And then you weren’t with him when he got here,” Gi said with a grin. “Here I thought you were a good girl… but you’re in bed with the devil.”

“Nobody is in bed with me,” I said. “He offered to give me a ride.”

“I bet he did.”

“Gi…”

“That’s what they do, Ti. They make it like an honor thing, you know? Like we should be honored that they want one of us.”

“I’m untouched, Gi,” I said.

“Of course you are,” Iris said from behind me. “And here I thought I liked you.”

I turned. “Do I need to get my screwdriver again?”

“Go ahead,” Iris said. “Fuck up my car. Try me.”

“I’d stab your ass with it but you’d probably like that,” I said.

“Only when she’s drunk,” Gi muttered.

Iris put up the middle finger on her left hand and waved it at Gi. “At least I don’t get dumped for being a prude.”

“Having standards isn’t being a prude,” Gi said.

“Whatever,” Iris said. She looked at me. “What happened to the bad ass carving out Blair’s car?”

“None of your business, Iris,” I said.

“Hey, our new girl here…,” Gi said, putting an arm around me. “She got a ride from Barr.”

“Oh yeah?” Iris asked.

“Picked her up at home,” Gi said. “But he arrived at school alone.”

“Damn,” Iris said. “Badass mode back on. What’d you do to him to get that ride?”

“Nothing,” I said. “Which is why I walked the rest of the way. I don’t fall for that stuff.”

“Dangerous,” Gi said.

“Seriously,” Iris said. “There are a lot of girls here who would give anything to be you, Ti. I mean that. So many rich bitches around here are dying to get their attention. And you have it. Locked right in.”

“But it doesn’t make any sense. Why?” I said.

“Who cares?” Iris asked.

“She’s got a point,” Gi said. “You can ask questions later.”

“Or just not get too close,” I said.

“Too late for that, Ti,” Iris said.

I felt my butt vibrate from my phone.

When I looked, it was Mom.

“I have to take this,” I whispered. “I’ll be back later.”

I rushed through the hallway toward the closest door.

Once outside, I took the call from Mom.

“Hey,” I said. “I’m supposed to be going to class.”

“They’re shutting the place down,” Mom said.

“What?”

“I just heard about it,” Mom said. “I’m not done with this yet. I’m not done here. I can’t leave here.”

“Wait a second,” I said. “Who…”

I gritted my teeth.

Barr.

I had no clue what he did or why or how.

“They’re talking about finding new places for us,” Mom said. “I need to talk to Claire. Maybe I can stay with her. You’ll help me. Right?”

“Stop freaking out,” I said.

“I can’t fucking help it,” Mom yelled. “I’m coming off this shit. I haven’t had… goddammit…”

“Okay, thrown okay,” I said. “I’m sorry. Take a breath, Mom. Take a deep breath and relax.”

“If I get out of here, I can’t do it,” she said. “I’ll admit it, Tinsley. I can’t fucking do it. I already know where to go. Who to call. I’m shaking thinking about it.”

My entire body shook with rage.

At everyone.

At everything.

“I’m going to lose it for good if I leave here, Tinsley,” Mom said. “I’m telling you right now. You need to figure something out. And not through Claire either. Forget what I said before. No. We don’t need her fucking money for this. Maybe she did this. To get back at us.”

“Get back at us for what?” I asked.

“I stole stuff from her a long time ago. Don’t you see it, Tinsley? This is the perfect setup.”