Always Crew - Tijan Page 0,109

me and paused. “Hey.”

I lifted my chin up. “You guys know where these two might be?”

“Oh.” One hid a grin.

The other pointed down the hallway. “They hang out a lot with Angeline and V. Room 413.”

So I went to room 413.

I knocked.

No answer, but I heard more music blaring from inside. It sounded like Spanish rap, so I knocked again.

No answer.

Trying the knob, it was unlocked. I opened the door, looked inside and nothing.

So then I stood there and thought, If I was a girl, where would I get ready to go out for a girls’ night?

Yeah. I felt like smacking myself.

I headed for the bathroom, which also had music coming from inside. This time it was techno, and I pushed open to see four girls dancing in sync, up and down, and yelling along with the music. I had no clue what song it was or even what words they were saying, but they were all in different stages of getting dressed.

I’d met these girls earlier, but there’d never been a lot of personal time with them, not like this anyway. So I didn’t know know them, just who they were basically.

Angeline’s freckles looked flushed, and I wondered when she’d start giggling. I knew that much about her.

Veronica was next to her, shorter. Her dark eyes looked fierce and her hair looked shiny and ready to rumble. I also knew she was known as someone not to fuck with, which was now making me wonder why Blaise wanted me here? Oh well. I knew Jade a little bit better, but not much.

Then there was Aspen.

She saw me in the mirror, her hair being curled and she shrieked. “BREN!”

The rest looked and, “BREN!”

“BRENNERS!”

“It’s the Bren Bren!” Veronica was nodding emphatically, her bottom lip sticking out in approval. “Nice. You’re hot. I’d do you if I went that way.”

Oh.

I grinned because who wouldn’t smile at that?

“Thanks.”

She winked, going back and stopping her bouncing/dancing so she could finish her eyeliner.

Aspen was all dressed, looking like she needed to finish her hair.

Jade looked ready to go, or I thought? I wasn’t sure. She was swaying back and forth in front of the mirror now, using a lip gloss as a microphone.

And Angeline, she ducked her head, her red hair falling forward to avoid me.

Note that she wasn’t only an uncontrollable giggler, but also hella shy.

“Hey, guys.”

“Oh! Drink?” Jade asked, taking her backpack off and hefting it with a solid thud on the counter. “We’re mostly ready, just waiting for Aspen to finish her hair—”

“Done!” Aspen announced, yanking the cord out from the wall and then hurrying to put a bunch of her makeup in a plastic container. She spoke as she worked, “Yeah. Give Bren a drink. Tonight is for fun. We’re all going to have fun tonight.”

We’re all having fun.

I was down with that also.

Angeline started gathering the makeup on the counter in front of her and Veronica, while Veronica turned and leaned her hip against the sink. She was eyeing me up and down again. “So, you’re the one with Blaise’s brother, huh?”

I glanced at Aspen.

She was hiding a smile. She and Jade shared a look. Both were hiding grins.

“Uh, yeah.”

Veronica raised her chin up, giving me a side-eye as Angeline finished getting all of their stuff. “You’re friends with Tabatha Sweets?”

“You know Tabatha?”

“She’s a Kappa. That house is the best on campus. Plus, Jessinda Hinkley is like sorority-royalty. We heard you had a scrape with Hinkley. I want to know how that went down?”

What had I gotten myself into here?

But instead of answering, Aspen went around me and opened the door. Jade followed her, holding out a glass. She pushed it into my hand. “Hope you like a pink vodka? It’s with lemonade and Sprite. I pre-made them because where we’re going, you can’t be too sure.”

I took the glass, but asked as she slipped around me, following Aspen, “Where are we going?”

She was through the door.

I looked back to Angeline and Veronica. Both were watching me. Both weren’t looking happy now. They were more cautious.

“Where are we going?”

“You can’t tell the guys.”

Oh, God. This was why Blaise wanted me here.

“Why?”

“Uh.” Angeline was holding their makeup container in front of her with both hands. She moved toward me two steps and nodded to my drink. “Maybe you should drink that whole thing before we go?”

Where were we going?

“Tell me. Now.”

Both ignored me.

Angeline shrugged and left.

Veronica followed but winked as she sauntered out. “Drink up, sweetie. Heard you and me are