Fallen Crest Alternative Version (Fallen Crest High #2.1)(23)

One of her hands clung to my arm. A sob wracked through her body as she trembled against me. “He doesn’t want me. He doesn’t want me…”

She cried, and I held her. We remained like that for a while. I didn’t keep track of the time so I had no clue how long we’d been gone, but when my phone kept buzzing in my pocket, I pulled it out. It was from Mason. ‘Logan said you left. Where at?’

‘Still here. Adam’s car is blocked in.’

‘Where?’

‘By the tree. Becky is crying.’

There was a pause for a minute and then my phone buzzed again. ‘Some of your chicks showed up. Dunno how. Come back?’

I sighed as I looked down. Becky was still crying, though they had subsided in the last few minutes. She wiped at her nose and asked, “Who is that?”

“It’s Mason. He said some of the girls from our school showed up.”

She hiccupped. “What does he want?”

“We have to go back.”

She paled and jerked her head. “I can’t, Sam. Adam saw…I was crying in front of him.”

“He thinks you were drunk. You’re not anymore.”

She groaned. “Can I be? That’d make it better.”

I hopped off the trunk and faced her. My chin was firm. I wish it wasn’t. This wasn’t something I wanted to do either, but I held my hand out. “Come on, bucko. We’ve got to go and face the music.”

“Can we get drunk?”

At first I said no. When we got closer to the barn and I saw who was there, my eyes went flat and I grabbed the first beer offered.

Becky squealed next to me and grabbed a cup as well.

Cassandra and Amelia glared at us.

“Oh, look. Bitch,” Cassandra clipped out. Her hand fell from her side and she started towards me, but Adam swung an arm around her waist and held her back. He stepped in between and held her back by her shoulders.

“What are you doing, Cass?”

“I’m going to teach her a lesson. Once and for all.” Her glare didn’t diminish as she looked around him. It intensified.

“I smell a catfight.”

Everything shifted, and I straightened to my fullest height. I swung around and there stood Kate and Parker, both with similar glares on their faces. Parker pulled down her thin top, but it wasn’t enough to cover her frame. Like Kate, her ribcage was showing and it was evident she wore no bra.

“Isn’t it January?” I grumbled. “We’re supposed to wear sweaters this time of year.”

“We’re in California.” Kate stepped towards me. It was more like she stalked towards me. A chill went down my back, and I edged back a step. She walked like a panther would towards its kill. “If you’re cold, have some booze.”

“Yeah.” Parker started forward, but Kate clamped a hand on her arm. She was jerked back. “Drink up, wino.”

“Wino?” Nate materialized at my side. He couldn’t hide his amusement. “Since when did you start drinking?”

“Nate!”

“Parker, stop,” Kate seethed.

I grinned at him before I took the cup he’d been holding. “Tonight, apparently. I’m a wino, you know.”

“I heard.”

“I have a drinking problem.”

He shook his head and tsked me. “You’re so young, Sam. So sad.”

I finished his drink in one swallow. “Tragic even.” And I tried to ignore the burning in my throat. What had he been drinking?

“You two are making fun of me,” Parker screeched as she continued to strain against Kate’s hold. She had one hand on her arm and a tired expression on her face. When she yawned, her fingers let go and Parker stopped in surprise.

She hissed at her, “You’re supposed to hold me back.”

“I’m bored. We can’t do anything.” Kate gestured to Nate. “He’s here.”

“Nate. Leave.” Parker turned to him.

His grin grew. “You leave.”

“Come on. Just go. Please.” Her smile turned seductive. “I’ll make it worthwhile.”

He mirrored in Kate’s boredom. “Been there for the night.” Then he smirked. “And we all know you’ll come crawling back later.”

She flushed. “I won’t now.”

When she turned and stomped away, he called after her, “Good to know. I’ll look for someone else.”

She froze, twisted back around, and opened her mouth. Kate yanked her behind as she led them away now. “That was stupid of you.”

We heard Parker mumble, “He wasn’t supposed to call my bluff—”

“Idiot.”

I turned with a grin on my face, but—slap! My head snapped to the side, and a stinging spread from my cheek. I sucked in my breath at the pain and looked back with a glare.

Cassandra had her arm extended back for another slap.

A growl burst out of me and I started to charge her when she was yanked to the side and an arm pulled me backwards. I kicked at them. “Let me go!”

“She’s a bitch!” Cassandra screeched. “Let me go, Adam! She deserves this.”

His head was bent low as he whispered something to her. It enraged her further, and she clawed at his arm. “Let go! Let go! Let go!”