Untouched (Bay Falls High, #1)(46)

“What be known?”

“That they have someone new.”

I laughed. “Someone new? Me? Not a chance in hell.”

Beth shrugged her shoulders. “Whatever you say, Ti. I warned you. I can keep warning you.”

“Beth… nothing is happening,” I said. “I was home with… at the pool…”

Now I was being a shady bitch by not telling her about Gi and Iris.

“With your friends,” Beth said.

Never mind.

“Hey, what is the deal with you and them?” I asked. “I mean, bad enough we have to deal with Blair and Vicky, right?”

Beth shut her locker. “Don’t worry about it. I have to go meet up with Denny.”

“How is he?”

“How do you think?”

“I didn’t do anything in that situation. You know that, right?”

“I know,” Beth said. “It still sucks though.”

Beth turned and I grabbed her hand. “Hey. It does suck. Everything fucking sucks.”

Beth forced a smile and walked away.

I opened my locker finally and stepped back.

There was a plate.

With…

A grilled cheese sandwich on it.

A smile flickered across my face.

There was a note from Barr.



You can get a grilled cheese around here, love. Just ask.



I touched the grilled cheese and it was still a little warm.

I had no idea how the hell Barr pulled this off.

I had no idea what to do with it, other than eat it.

But it was morning.

And I had to get to class.

And I still didn’t trust Barr.

For all I knew he could have poisoned it.

Or maybe it was just a kind gesture.

Or his version of an apology for all that was happening.

Yeah right.

I knew better.

There was always a reason for anything they did.

No matter how it made me feel.





I arrived at the ditch at the time Kip texted me to be there.

It was right around dark and it was just me.

Gi and Iris were meeting me when the fights were going to start. I tried to invite Beth but she said if she went, she was going with Denny and they’d just linger around behind it all. She said it wasn’t her thing anymore.

I guess in a way that made sense considering Denny got his ass kicked in the ditch.

As I slowly walked toward the ditch I looked around feeling watched.

All the fires were lit and the ditch was just there.

Empty.

But only for a few seconds.

I heard a small scuffle and watched as Press and Barr pushed someone into the ditch.

It was a preppy looking guy in a white polo shirt and tan shorts.

He didn’t look like the fighting type but his face was a mess.

He looked already beaten up.

Not freshly beaten up either.

All of the marks and cuts were days old.

“Where is Kip?” he asked.

He didn’t look worried.

“He’ll be here in a second,” Barr said. “Want a smoke?”

“No,” the guy said. “I want to figure this shit out. They don’t get to do this to us, man. It’s bullshit. We had every right to be at that party. Dylan rented the house. They showed up which meant they were under our control.”

“Take it easy, Jacob,” Pres said. “We’ll get it sorted.”

“Look at me,” Jacob yelled. “Look at my face. Look what he did to me.”

Barr and Pres nodded.

I felt something touch my arms and I jumped.

“It’s just me, girl,” a soothing voice said.

Kip.

His fingertips touched my arms, sliding up and down, sending my body into an intense relaxed state. Well, everywhere on my body except one spot. That spot was very excited.

Kip put his chin to my shoulder.

He smelled so soothing.

Like the ocean.

“I have to go handle this,” he whispered. “I want you to watch.”

“What happened to him?” I asked.

“Weslee Jackson,” Kip said.

“Who?”

“Wes.”

“Oh. That name. I’ve heard it before. That’s Hidden Creek High, right?”

“Bingo, girl,” Kip said.

Kip brushed his cheek to mine and then walked away.

He was in a white sleeveless shirt and jeans.

He didn’t look like some rich surfer boy.

He looked like a man ready for a fight.

I slowly followed him.

Kip walked down into the ditch.

“Hey, man,” Jacob said.

Kip nodded.

Barr and Pres turned and walked away.

“Heard you were asking for me,” Kip said.

“Yeah. I mean, the three of you. I already talked to Barr and Pres. I know I’m not in your group or whatever. But this is personal. To all of us. To BFH.”

“I agree,” Kip said. “So Wes caught you fucking his girl?”

“Something like that,” Jacob said. “Bitch had it coming to her. Wes knew what he was getting into. They weren’t together. I made my move.”

“I heard she didn’t want that move, Jacob.”