Easton, and Xavier.
How did they not help me before the accident?
How could they have been such bad friends that they let me get into the mess I was in?
Someone bumped into me before I could get closer to Evie and Darcy.
I looked to my left and saw Xavier standing next to me.
“Want that hoodie back yet?” I asked.
“Not yet,” he said.
“Did you forget where to go, Winter?”
I looked to my right and Easton was next to me.
“Hey. You’re here today.”
“Of course I am,” he said. “Drove my new car.”
“It’s the kind of car you drive when your dick is small,” Xavier said.
“Want me to prove that theory wrong?” Easton asked.
I turned and I stepped back.
I hit someone.
I didn’t bother turning around.
I already knew it was Noah.
“Morning, Noah,” I said.
“Winter,” he said.
They were surrounding me.
They were dangerous. Deadly.
But it didn’t bother me.
Not because of any nonsense feelings.
No way.
It was because I was more dangerous. I was more deadly.
I was officially their worst nightmare.
We stood in the dark and quiet hallway.
Noah looked irritated.
I found out why a few seconds later.
“I have to talk to Bevil,” he said. “I’ll catch you all later.”
“You good?” Easton asked.
“Just bullshit stuff,” he said. “I’ll tell you right now. I’m not fucking going to law school. No matter what.”
He looked at me and nodded.
When he was gone, I pointed. “Law school?”
“Don’t ask,” Easton said.
“I kind of already did.”
“His old man is forcing him into law school,” Xavier said. “It’s complete bullshit.”
“Forced parenting,” Easton said. “What a way to live.”
“Forced?” I asked. “Can anyone force Noah to do something?”
I tried to laugh.
They didn’t.
This was obviously a serious subject.
Before I could say anything else, I saw a police officer at the opposite end of the hallway.
My heart stopped.
I thought about Noah’s car. And the tire thingy Talon used to smash the taillight. I thought about the guy Talon beat up. I thought about Easton’s car blowing up.
“Ah, fuck,” Easton said. “That’s for me.”
“What?” I asked.
“I have to face a little heat,” he said.
“Meaning?” I asked.
Easton looked at me.
The look he gave me made me wish I wasn’t in that hallway with him. Or Xavier. Or Noah, even though Noah wasn’t there anymore.
This wasn’t fun and games.
Easton showed his hands and walked toward the police officer.
I watched intently, waiting to see what was going to happen.
The two disappeared down the main hallway, meaning I wouldn’t see what would happen.
And it also meant I was alone with Xavier.
Slowly, I turned my head and set my sights on him.
“What happened there?” I asked.
“Easton is on a little bit of a warpath.”
“Oh?”
“That car meant a lot to him,” Xavier said.
“I’ve heard that a few times now,” I said.
“He’s not taking it well. Not that I could blame him. I’m getting the vibe that something bigger is going on here. It’s like walking through fog. You can hear. You can feel. You can sense things. But you just can’t quite see it.”
“Seems like someone saw something if Easton is in trouble,” I said.
Xavier got closer to me. “Well, that’s just stupidity on his part. He went after someone and got caught.”
“After?”
“Just double checking a few things,” Xavier said. “Anyone who needs to be put back in line. No big deal.”
“So you’re saying that Easton beat someone up or whatever…”
“Yup,” Xavier said.
He abruptly turned on his heels and started to walk.
I had a few seconds to myself and I thought about what was happening here.
Easton was lashing out. That was the plan. That was a good thing. But…
I swallowed hard.
He went after someone who was innocent. At least innocent when it came to torching the prized car.
That meant someone got hurt for no reason.
Because of me.
Because of my actions and need for revenge.
I took a small breath and started to walk to catch up to Xavier.
In the back of my head, I heard Talon’s voice.
It’s just collateral, darling. Shit happens. This is what you wanted. Sometimes people get hurt.
I accidentally bumped my arm into Xavier’s arm.
He looked over and down at me like he had never seen me before.
These guys knew how to keep their faces mostly straight.
It was their actions surrounding what I was doing to them that made me know this was working.
“Are you ever going to come get your hoodie back?” I asked. “There’s a time limit on it.”
“There is?” Xavier asked.
“Oh yeah,” I said. “Big time. After a while, it becomes mine. Then you’ll never get it back.”
“Are you wearing it?”
“I’m not answering that. That’s a personal question.”
Xavier almost looked like