Fallen Crest High(61)

Logan was in the middle of the kitchen with his hand around the keg's nozzle.

When he saw his brother, he lifted it up and let it go. Beer soaked everyone in the room, but no one was upset. The girls shrieked in laughter and the guys raised their drinks in salute.

So this was their life.

They were celebrities in Fallen Crest and I was starting to realize the magnitude of it all.

Then Logan was in front of me and bent forward. I was picked up in the air in the next moment and flung over his shoulder. He smacked my butt and turned me around. Then he lifted a cup in the air. The room quieted.

"This is my new stepsister. Help me and Mase welcome her to the family." He gave me a smirk when I twisted around. "By getting her drunk!"

Another round of cheers went through the room and I heard an echoing chorus throughout the house, though I doubt they knew what they had cheered for.

I hit him in the head. "Put me down."

When I was on my feet, I saw that Mason was in the far corner of the kitchen.

He had a drink in hand and as I watched a blonde wrapped herself around his arm. He didn't shake her off.

A glass was being nudged into my hand and I saw that Logan was trying to give me a shot. "What?"

"Take it. I'll do a shot with you."

I pulled him close and yelled in his ear, "I don't really drink, Logan."

His hand curved around my back. "Just let loose, for tonight only." Then he pressed his mouth to my ear and I heard the seriousness in his voice. "I want you to have fun and I won't let anything happen to you. Promise. Everyone will look out for you since I told 'em your family."

He pulled away and clinked his glass with mine. "Drink up, sis."

"I'm not your sister."

"If you're mom has anything to say about it, you will be."

A flash of anger went through me, but not at him. I gripped the shot glass and drained it. Logan whistled his approval and filled it again. And the night went on like that.

Mason disappeared and Logan wouldn't let me out of his eyesight. An hour later, after he'd been pulled downstairs for a game of pool, I looked up and saw Jessica. She was in a corner by herself. I didn't know anyone else in the room, but it was full of people and they all knew Logan. Most of the guys were tall and muscular with athletic builds so I assumed they were on the football team with him.

I searched for Lydia or Jill, but it was Jessica seemed alone. Then I nudged someone beside me. When he turned with his poolstick in hand, I asked,

"Anyone from Academy come tonight?"

He gestured outside. "They're all out by the lake. Why?" He narrowed his eyes.

"You an Academy kid?"

"Ethan!" Logan barked from across the table. "Your shot."

Ethan gave me another suspicious scan and left. As he bent over and started to line up a shot, I felt someone beside me and looked up.

I sighed. Who else?

"Hi, Sam," Jessica spoke in a quiet voice. She inched closer when someone scooted past her.

I felt Logan's gaze, but he didn't join us. Thank goodness.

Her shoulders dropped an inch and I wondered if she had wanted the opposite, then I felt stupid. Of course, she did. Why else would my ex best friend talk to me?

"What do you want, Jess?"

"I need a reason to say hi to you? I thought we were friends."

Someone fell against the wall next to me and I didn't have to look. I held my breath for a moment and was thankful when Logan remained quiet.

"You screwed my boyfriend for two years. You haven't said a word to me since I found out."