out a small sigh. “Because believe it or not, I get what it’s like to be the new girl, the odd one out.”
I find that hard to believe, but whatever.
“Just because I come from money doesn’t mean I have it easy.” Her expression falls. “My family sent me here, and now we don’t talk anymore.”
“What do you mean, they sent you here?”
“It’s a long story, one I might tell you someday. But just know that the Jaggers… they’re all I have too.”
I’m about to reply when I hear a familiar high-pitched voice.
“Is it me, or did they forget to take out the trash today?” My eyes collide with Lylah’s and she smirks.
“What did you say?” Anger ripples up my spine, making my insides vibrate.
“You heard me.” She steps forward. “First the Jagger brothers, and now you.”
“If you’ve got a problem with me—”
“Kennedy, leave it,” Hadley says firmly. “She’s not worth it.”
“Of course, you would take the stray under your wing. I guess it’s true what they say, like calls to like.”
Hadley flinches. “Just leave it, Lylah. You’ve made your point.”
“I always knew there was something about you. You’re trash, Hadley,” she sneers. “We all know you were fucking both brothers. But what I can’t quite figure out is if you let them take turns or—”
I see red, and, before I know what I’m doing, my fist slams right into Lylah’s perfectly symmetrical face. She staggers back, her banshee-like screams filling the air, and then she lunges for me. We tumble to the floor in a tangle of limbs.
“You crazy bitch,” she shrieks, trying to claw my face off. She must get me a couple of times, because I feel a warm trickle of blood run down my cheek.
“Fuck you,” I seethe, grabbing a fistful of her hair as I slap her hard.
Someone yells, a collective gasp echoing through the cafeteria, but then strong arms are yanking me away.
“Easy, babe.” Conner’s words hit me as he starts dragging me away.
Cole is already shielding Hadley, glaring at Lylah and her crew with a murderous glint in his eye.
“What on Earth is going on here?” a loud voice booms.
“Oh shit, Principal Vager.” Conner finally releases me. As he grabs my hand, his eyes find mine. “Wanna face the music or run?”
I glance back over my shoulder and see Lylah in a man’s face, waving her arms maniacally and pointing in our direction.
Crap.
“It’s your call, Kenny,” he says, his eyes boring into mine.
Without overthinking it, I smirk. “Run.”
Chapter Eight
Conner
"Run." The second the word falls from Kenny’s lips, I thread my fingers through hers and together we take off.
Laughter erupts from her, and I can't help but smile at hearing her joy, at hearing the old Kenny that I remember so well.
We're still running as I pull my key from my pocket and unlock my car. "Quick, get in," I shout.
The reality is that no one is behind us, no one probably really cares that we've just run, but I'm enjoying the adrenaline pumping through my veins so I continue with the act.
We both drop down into my car at the same time and I bring the engine to life before speeding out of the lot.
"Oh my God, I can't believe we're skipping on my first day," Kenny shrieks.
Glancing over at her, I find her resting back in my passenger seat with her feet up on the dash and her pleated school skirt sitting high on her thighs.
My mouth waters, but I force myself out of the gutter and just focus on what she's giving me right now.
My friend back.
"I can't believe you expected anything else. We might be in the Bay now, but some things never change, K."
"Yeah, so I see." She looks over at me and our eyes connect for a brief moment before I'm forced to look back at the road. "You're still as big a goof as ever."
"I'm awesome, why would I change?"
She throws her head back once more and laughs, and I feel a little of the weight that’s been pressing down on me since she arrived in my life lift. It's a good feeling.
"Where are we going?" she asks once she's calmed down.
"Hmm..."
"What do you get up to for fun in this town?"
"I… uh..." I try to think of what we've done that's been fun here that doesn't involve getting drunk or being at a party. "I know just the place."
I drive us toward the ocean and pull up in the parking lot closest to the arcade.
"Come on then,"