And just like that, Trisha’s eyes went wide and she forced a smile that wasn’t real. This was not going well at all. Why couldn’t I stop being a guy for a f**king minute and not screw shit up?
“You better, uh . . . get back to that,” Trisha said, then turned and hurried off. Riley glared back at me, then rolled her eyes before closing in fast behind Trisha.
“Why were you talking to her? Who is she, even? Those clothes sure have seen better days. Someone needs to tell her they don’t fit anymore.” Noah’s catty tone didn’t win her any points with me.
The nerdy guys stopped in front of us, his disgusted gaze on Noah. “She’s class. Something you couldn’t possibly comprehend,” he said. Then he looked at me. “And something you’re not good enough for.”
Then he walked off.
Noah let out a high laugh. “Seriously? That dork just said that to us? About her? Puh-lease. She wishes.”
No, I wished. Fucking hard.
Shaking Noah loose, I stepped away from her. “I’ve changed my mind, Noah. Tonight’s not good for me,” I told her, then left her standing there. She’d recover soon enough. I just didn’t have time to care.
Dewayne walked up beside me and slapped me on the back. “And he’s off the horse again, folks. Trisha Corbin has got him all kinds of f**ked up.”
I didn’t respond to him. Dewayne was typically a smart-ass. He liked to say shit to fire you up. And unlike Preston and Marcus, he could take me on. I glared at him and headed for my next class.
“For what it’s worth, she didn’t take it well when she first saw you with Noah. Girl’s face went pale, and I think it hurt her. So maybe you’re onto something. Just don’t try to make her jealous. That’s not her style.”
I hated it when Dewayne was right.
Trisha
The crowd was already loud, and the game hadn’t even started. There were big paper banners that the cheerleaders had made lining the fence. The stupidest one I saw was ROCK WILL ROCK YOU! I mean, seriously? It takes the whole team. I’ve watched football before. Rock couldn’t win the entire game for them.
Krit and Green had taken off with some other friends once we got here. I told him to check in with me every thirty minutes. He’d rolled his eyes and muttered, “Whatever.”
This wasn’t something he had ever gotten to do. I knew it was a big deal to come and hang out with friends. It was a normal thing that most kids did, but we were limited. Seeing as our mother was crazy.
I searched the crowd until I saw his blond head in a group of guys I’d never seen before. They seemed older. “Who are they?” I asked Riley, concerned.
“Calm down, mama bear. They’re in his grade. That tallest one with the oddly impressive gun show for a thirteen-year-old is Dewayne Falco’s little brother, Dustin. He’s the big shit in his grade. Apparently, when Krit picks friends he goes big.”
I wasn’t sure I liked the idea of Krit hanging out with Dewayne Falco’s brother. “Maybe I should go get him,” I said, chewing on my bottom lip.
“And make him hate you? I don’t suggest it. And Dustin Falco never gets in trouble. The Falcos are good people. Their dad owns Falco Construction. I’ve met his mom. Really sweet. She came in the office last year to drop off some pain medicine for Dewayne when I was working in there third period.”
Okay, fine. Just because Rock and Preston slept with every woman on earth didn’t mean Dewayne did. I was being judgmental again. Ugh. I wish I didn’t do that.
“Okay. You’re right. I can see him, anyway. He’s fine.”
A pretty redhead walked up to them, and Dustin Falco slipped his arm around her shoulders and pulled her against him. Not sure I liked that, either. That seemed way too familiar for eighth graders.
“You sure he’s Krit’s age?” I asked as he kissed the girl’s head.
“Yeah, I’m sure. That’s Sienna Roy. She’s Dustin’s best friend,” Riley explained.
How did she know this? And they so didn’t look like friends. “How do you know all these people?”
She shrugged. “Small town. I’ve gone to church with Sienna Roy most of my life.”
Davey walked up the steps toward us, drawing my attention off my brother. Davey had gone to get “rations,” he had said. I had to hold my side because I couldn’t not laugh. He was carrying three nachos and cheese, three hot dogs, three bags of cotton candy, and what looked like an assortment of candy piled on top. There were bottles of soda sticking out of both his front pockets. I assumed he had one more in a back pocket.
“You buy out the refreshments?” Riley asked, standing up and taking things from his hands.
“Not exactly. But I tried,” he replied.