Surge - Maya Nicole Page 0,28

where the Tritons crew sat and got louder and louder.

My face was probably as red as Ivy's hair as I ran for the nearest exit. I'd rather run than have them see my cry.

I ran right into a brick wall of a body and almost fell back. "Officer Thomas. They-"

He laughed and shoved past me just before Ivy and Aiden came out of the cafeteria. I stood gaping as he walked into the cafeteria, the chanting filtering out and then cutting off as the door shut.

I shut my eyes and held up a hand as Aiden started to talk. "I need to get out of here."

"We'll come with you." Ivy's voice was shaking.

"Alone."

I walked as fast as I could to the nearest bathroom and shut and locked the main door. I didn't hear anyone inside and a sob escaped me.

I needed to find my father.

"Come on, Riley. Please don't lock yourself away like this." Ivy stood at the end of my bed where I was curled under the covers. "They want to break you, but you can't let them."

"Easy for you to say, they haven't done shit to you." My words were muffled by the pillow my face was buried in.

"Ivy's right." Aiden laid down next to me and yanked the comforter and pillow away from me. "When I came out in junior high, do you remember what happened?"

I rubbed my swollen eyes. "Yes."

"I could have locked myself back in my closet, but instead, I embraced it, and soon enough only a few assholes were calling me a faggot." Aiden stroked my hair. "So let's get you dressed and looking fierce. We'll show those idiots that you are a queen."

I snorted back a laugh. "I'm scared."

Ivy came out of my closet and threw two hangers on the bed. "What's the worst they could do? If they were going to physically hurt you, they would have already."

"Even the police are on their side." I pulled my bottom lip between my teeth. "They could murder me and get away with it."

I had fallen headfirst down a deep, dark hole of what-ifs when I got home from school. I was letting them win instead of putting a stop to their madness. It wasn’t like I had a choice in the matter. It was three against one.

"No." Aiden stood and took a red lace bra from Ivy. "Jax has kissed you twice. He might hate you for whatever reason, but that boy desires you."

I scrunched my nose and sat up. "It's all just a game."

"Then beat him at his game. Go after one of his friends." Aiden laughed and twirled the bra around his finger. "Turn them against each other."

"You want me to seduce one of them?" I couldn't help it, I laughed at that. "It's not a bad idea, though. Maybe I can get some information out of one of them."

Ivy practically skipped over to the bed and grabbed my hands, yanking me to my feet. "You can ask Morgan to dance with you and give Jax a show he won't forget!"

"I don't know... that will probably make the situation worse, won't it?" I snatched the bra from Aiden as it almost hit me.

"Maybe, but he'll also be pissed at Morgan." Ivy ushered me into the bathroom. "Take a shower and we'll do your hair and make-up."

"This isn't one of those high school dramas you like to watch. Besides, I literally have no sex appeal."

"Honey, I'm gay, and I even know that is false. Just because you don't see it, doesn't mean others don't." Aiden plopped down on the bed and pulled out his phone. "Now hurry up, you hussy, we have men to seduce."

My common sense told me going to the senior bonfire to flirt with Morgan was a bad idea, but if I could distract him, there might be an opportunity to get information out of him. And maybe Ivy and Aiden were right. Maybe they would turn against each other.

It wouldn't hurt to try.

Chapter Nine

The parking lot for the cove was almost full by the time we arrived. The town of Salinity Cove got its name from the crescent-shaped inlet that was sheltered from the wind and provided a private setting for shenanigans.

It was surrounded by cliffs, and the only way to get to it was through a three-foot wide path. During the day, it was a hotspot for families looking to escape the world for a bit, but at night, teenagers and young adults used it to party.

It was