Untouched (Bay Falls High, #1)(55)

I did text her. And she did respond. But I wanted to tell her in person that things were cool. That I was sorry she was there when Vicky started slashing at us with the screwdriver. In a way I did feel bad for Beth. She had been the first person to talk to me. The day she came out of Jacobson’s office faking period cramps… how perfect, right?

My plate was getting full.

Like really full.

But then an idea came to me.

Something that I could try.

Claire obviously had some kind of hold over Jacobson. And I had something like the protection of Pres, Barr, and Kip.

But I also needed to understand more about them and why they were doing what they were doing.

I bit my lip, ripped open my locker, and grabbed the screwdriver.

I tucked it into my bag and walked the hall to class alone.

Just to think.





“Thought you were a ghost,” Gi said.

“Ohhhh,” Iris said, wiggling her fingers at me.

"I tried this new thing today where I don’t cause trouble,” I said.

“That’s lame,” Iris said.

“But class is over,” I said.

“Trouble time?” Iris said.

“Tons of it,” Gi said.

“You never know,” I said. “I’m going to go take a walk. Sit in the bleachers. Think about some things.”

“Or you could get drunk with me tonight at Roman’s party,” Iris said.

“Are you really going to that?” Gi asked.

“It’s a party,” Iris said. “Of course I’m going. I’m not leaving town. It’s right on the beach. I mean… do I have to keep selling it?”

“I don’t know what I’m doing yet tonight,” I said.

They both looked at me.

They shook their heads.

“What?” I asked.

“Can’t take your hand off the hot stove, Ti,” Gi whispered.

“Or away from the hard dick,” Iris said.

“First off…” I showed my hands. “Nothing burned here. My hands are clean. Of burns and fuckpoles.”

Iris snorted. “Fuckpoles?”

I shrugged my shoulders.

“I don’t know whether I love you or hate you, Ti,” Gi said.

I wiggled my fingers now. “I know what I’m doing here.”

“No you don’t,” Gi said. “You have no fucking idea what you’re doing here.”

“But she’s faking it, right?” Iris asked.

I didn’t respond.

Instead I just walked away, leaving them behind.

“I’ll text you,” Iris said. “I’ll pick you up later.”

“Unless you’re stuck to a fuckpole,” Gi yelled.

I put up both middle fingers and just kept walking.

It was the first moment where I truly felt like I maybe belonged there. That I was comfortable in the hallways of BFH.

I knew that feeling could last all of ten seconds so I didn’t get too lost in it.

But I did what I said I was going to do.

I went to the bleachers.

Walking through the giant stadium to the football field, like it was some huge professional team.

And it didn’t shock me to see Brando and Maverick standing together, talking, shirtless, sweating, Brando spinning a football on the palm of his hand. There was a group of guys on the opposite sideline, drinking water and whatever else, waiting for Brando and Maverick to give them the next command.

I took one more step and then saw them.

Pres, Barr, and Kip.

All three walking from another part of the field toward Brando and Maverick.

Brando gave a head nod and when Maverick looked, he put his head back like he was pissed off.

Maverick then patted Brando’s shoulder and pointed to the other side of the field. Brando shook his head and stood next to Maverick.

All I could think about was the ditch.

If they were going to fight.

If something crazy was about to go down.

Barr put a hand out and stopped Kip from walking, letting Pres finish the walk by himself. Barr lit up a cigarette. Kip folded his arms.

I could feel the tension from the distance I was at.

Pres walked right up to Brando and Maverick. There were no handshakes. No fist bumps. No stupid looking bro hugs.

They talked.

I obviously couldn’t hear a word they were saying.

I couldn’t read their lips either.

It also didn’t help that my eyes keep looking to Barr and Kip.

As though they were broken up into two groups.

Group A: those who have made out with Tinsley.

Group B: those who have not made out with Tinsley.

Those stupid kisses were going to haunt me for the rest of my life.

Finally, Pres nodded and backed away.

When he turned, Brando and Maverick looked at each other, eyes wide, and it looked like they both sighed at the same time.

I still waited, intrigued by whatever just happened.

Pres walked to Barr and Kip.

They broke apart and Pres kept walking.

Barr flicked his half smoked cigarette toward Brando and Maverick before turning. Kip had nothing to flick so he just turned and walked.

When they were out of sight, I came into sight.

Maverick jogged to the sidelines while Brando tossed the football into the air and caught it.