Jaded (Jaded #1)(92)

Bryce clenched his jaw, but turned back and snapped at the tech. to finish working.

I met Corrigan’s gaze and saw sympathy in that moment. Any other time, any other person, I would’ve lashed at them. I didn’t need anyone’s sympathy, but it was Corrigan. The sympathy was replaced with a hardening and I knew Corrigan wanted to beat this guy just as much as myself and Bryce.

I left suddenly, ignored the sudden calls from Bryce and Corrigan and swept into my room.

I hurried to my nightstand, reached inside, and heaved a breath of relief as my fingers found the cold metal of the Colt.45.

Instead of leaving it, I tucked it into my pants and left again.

This time, I moved through the house and headed towards the garage.

A few of the guys tried to stop me, but I ignored them like I’d ignored Bryce and Corrigan. As I cleared the garage, Yerling, Mena, and a few other straightened abruptly at my sudden appearance.

Mena remained quiet, but Yerling smiled, smug, and threw the first taunt. “Come to beg, Sheldon?”

“Come to die, Yerling?” I threw back.

The frown was there, slightly, but it was replaced with malicious amusement and then…just wariness.

I tilted my head and mocked, cruelly, “This isn’t the Yerling that promised me it’d be you and me one of these nights.” I moved closer and pressed, taunting, “What happened to that brave little boy? Did he get beat up one too many times? Does he no longer have some balls? Or maybe you do, maybe you’re the one who’s doing all of this?” I wanted that. I wanted him right in front of me. I wanted a target, finally.

“You might want to watch it,” Yerling flashed a growl, but shook his head and moved a step back.

Mena stood just at my right, so I attacked her instead, “What happened to you? It seemed like you turned crazy overnight.”

Mena smiled sadly and remarked, “You know, I actually just wanted to be your friend.” Mena added, not unkind, “That’s all I really wanted, but…I learned my lesson.

We all learned our lesson not to mess with you, Corrigan, and Bryce. You guys don’t need anyone else, just each other. It’s…sad, really.”

Everything she said wasn’t untrue.

“Bryce didn’t like me from the start because I could’ve been the best friend. I would’ve taken you away from him—or I’m sure that’s what he thought. And you know what pissed me off the most—you liked me, Sheldon. You actually did, but you listened to them even though they were so wrong about me.” She finished with a triumphant, bittersweet, arch to her eyebrow, “And you know it.”

“No,” I shook my head. “You gave up. That’s what you did and then you started hanging out with this crowd. You make it sound like we’re the crowned throne that reigns over the entire student body. It’s not like that at all.”

“Really?”

One of Yerling’s buddies grew disgusted and snarled, “We didn’t come to hash out girlfriend issues. We came to mess up your house, Jeneve.”

He wanted fear, but he got a laugh instead.

“Seems to be the theme,” I said easily. “I already trashed it. Bryce and Corrigan had a go today. You’re welcome to it.”

He flashed confusion and Chad chuckled, an ugly sound. He moved forward and remarked, “This is what she does. She plays with your mind, laughs in your face, and then she taunts you with her body.”

I arched an eyebrow, “Really? Did I tease you? Is that why you turned psycho too?”

“Seems to be the theme,” Mena mocked me, twisting my words.

“For all your show—you’re nothing, but a tease, Sheldon. Everyone hates a tease,” Chad spoke again.

He stepped forward again and I cooed, “Oh—you’re getting more confident.

Now the real Chad is coming back, makes me wonder where you went?”

“You want to know? You really want to know?” He baited me, ruthlessly, but I didn’t care.

I followed the crumbs and took the hook, “Yeah, Chad, I want to know. It’s why I asked.”

“Your boys made it pretty clear that if I ever talked to you again, I’d end up in a body cast instead of a grave.”

That sounded like them.

I shrugged, “We’ll find out, won’t we?”

He barked out a laugh and shook his head in amazement, “I can’t believe you.

You’re outnumbered fifteen to one and you’re still flinging insults in our faces. When do you get real?”

“Are you serious? Do you think you’re my big problem?” I threw back, actually enjoying this. “You’re nothing. You’re just a guy trying to be bigger than who you are. If you were really who you say you are—you wouldn’t be crashing a high school party.” I stepped back and delivered, cruelly, “How sad is that?”

Mena finally reared her head and spat out, “I think you’re the sad one, Sheldon!”

“Finally!” I exclaimed with a wide smile. “I’d like to meet the real Mena, not the façade that you’ve shown me this whole time.” I added, “I am not friends with weak people. If you want to be my friend, you have to prove you’ve got some spine behind you. That’s who I am, Mena. I respect nothing less.”