A Whole New Crowd(88)

My blood ran cold, and I surged forward, around Tray. “What did you say?”
“Gray. He’s missing.” Her eyes were locked on mine and her hatred went up a notch. As she said that, the crowd moved forward. A few people called out, “Yeah, where is he, bitch?”
I looked around. This was it. They were rallying because of Gray, but I shook my head. I didn’t want to believe this. “You’re kidding me, right? Gray’s fine. Gray put you up to this.” I raised my voice, “GRAY! Where are you?”
“He’s missing.”
A guy stepped next to her. “He went missing last night. He wasn’t in school today and Dee told us that he went to see you.”
“What?” No, no, no. I couldn’t go through this again. There was no way. “Who’s Dee?”
The girl jerked forward. Her fingers tightened on her cup, and it broke in her hands. She kept glaring at me. She didn’t notice her cup or the liquid that was running down her arms and legs from it. “Stop insulting us. I hate you. Do you understand that? Gray is missing because of you.”
The guy touched her arm and said to me, “Dee was with Brian last.”
“That girl he was hooking up with?”
Just then, the crowd parted and two guys brought a girl forward. She was struggling against their hold. She didn’t see me at first and when they shoved her forward, she rounded and punched one of them. Then she turned to the girl. “What the hell, Ro? You guys just grab me?”
Ro pointed to me, her arm dripping with beer. She made no move to clean herself up.
Dee rounded and saw me. Her eyes got big, and she paled. Then she bolted.
“Hey!”
I started after her, but Tray grabbed my arm. “Stay. I’ll get her.”
“But…” I stopped. He was already gone. The guys who had brought Dee to us took off after her, but Tray lapped them in seconds. One of them stopped and came back, while the other continued after Dee and Tray. He gestured to the parking lot. “I forgot Dee ran track last year.”
Ro’s lips were pressed tight. She said through them, “Jake will bring her back.”
The guy grunted and looked at me. “Evans will bring her back. Jake’s there to help in case she knees him in the balls.” He nodded to me. “I played against Evans last year. I forgot how quick he is too.”
“Shut up, Frank.”
He shrugged. “You got your panties in a twist, but she’s here. She’s not going anywhere.” He was still staring at me and I realized he was talking about me. “I don’t think she had anything to do with Gray.”
The other guy who had first spoken for Ro shook his head. “You’re not helping, Frank.” He glanced down at Ro. “But I agree with him. We know Matthews. She’s not down like that.”
“I don’t care. Gray’s missing. He always took up for her and now he’s gone. She’s the common factor.” Her eyes sliced to mine, cutting through the air. “If you had anything to do with Gray or if he shows up dead like your ex-loser, you’re the one I will blame.”
I shook my head. I wasn’t accepting what they were saying. Gray was fine. He was always fine. “Why don’t I remember you?”
“Because I’m not like you. I don’t hang out with druggies and criminals.”
“You’re one of the popular crowd?” She wasn’t acting like it, but scanning the guys I recognized them as being a part of the athletes from Pedlam. Gray was popular. She could’ve been there and I wouldn’t have known her. I didn’t care enough to know people at that school. Gray and Brian. That was it.
“They’re coming back.” Frank laughed shortly. “Evans has her.”
He swung back to me. I sensed unspoken questions from him and bit out, “What?”
“Nothing. Just never would’ve pegged you as a girl that would get with Tray Evans from Rawley. He’s high-class.”
I bristled. I got the insult. “If Gray is missing, you’re going to want my help. Pissing me off is not the way to go.”
He lifted his chin. “How do you figure?”
“I know Jace Lanser and I can get places others can’t.”
“She’s right.” The third guy pulled Frank back. “We all know her reputation. Let’s just chill for a moment.”
Dee was being dragged by Tray, who had a firm grasp on her arm. As they neared us, he let her go and shoved her in front of me. She glanced around, but the guys formed a circle around her in seconds. She blinked, taken aback by how fast they moved. Then she swung her head to me, snarled, and glanced at Ro. The snarl dropped.