Trouble at Brayshaw High - Meagan Brandy Page 0,27

motherfucker, Graven. You wanna stand here, brave enough to run your mouth when you know I could lay you out in a solid fucking second, then be brave, bitch.” I drop my voice to a whisper so only he can hear, driving him backward with my forehead on his. “You and I both know I have to leave you standing, for now.”

He glares, but the sweat forming at his hairline tells me he’s ready to piss his Moncler cotton fucking track pants. “Dunk on me, Brayshaw...” He licks his lips and edges back the smallest bit, but I lean with him, not allowing him the space he’s searching for.

My hand starts twitching at my sides. I know he’s about to throw what’s mine in my face like she belongs to him.

“Dunk on me, and I’ll let her sleep in a separate bed tonight, instead of mine—”

My fist flies, connecting with his jaw and he drops to the gravel.

I go to drop down on top of him, but Captain and Royce pull me back, shoving me toward the opposite side of the court.

“Fuck,” Coach spits, tossing his clipboard. “All right, this half, stay on this side.” He looks to me with a glare. “You boys stay on that fucking side. Fifty suicides. Go!”

I jerk from Captain’s hold and he and Royce throw their arms over my shoulders laughing quietly to themselves.

I can’t help it and a small grin takes over.

Fuck that fool.

“Yo, Maddoc!” I turn back, tipping my chin at Mac. “Car’s confirmed. Party’s at the Tower at eight, yeah?” he shouts.

Collins’ eyes hit Mac in my peripheral and I fight a smirk.

“Yup, invite anyone you want, doors are open tonight.” I turn back around, and Royce elbows me.

All fucking set.

I shuffle through paper after paper, coming up with nothing. For a library full of files, the Gravens seem to keep nothing but worthless shit here. Pool boy and gardening receipts galore – useless.

With a sigh, I close the door back and head down the gaudy ass spiral staircase. The second I hit the marble landing, there’s a knock at the door.

I stand there a moment, just staring at it, and then they knock again.

Fucking Collins, who is at practice causing problems, I’m sure, won’t allow me and his maid to be here alone, so he sends her on her way every time he leaves. Probably texts her on his way home every time, heaven fucking forbid he has to hang his own coat.

The doorbell rings next.

Fuck.

A low growl leaves me, and I yank the door open with a frown, prepared to tell his buddies to kick rocks, but my brows meet my hairline when none other than Maria Vega, my so-called social worker, is at the door.

“Raven.”

“Ms. V.”

Interesting fucking timing.

She frowns. “Are you going to invite me in?”

“No.” I lean against the frame and cross my arms. “Not my house.”

“And you care why?”

I blink at her. I don’t care – don’t want to let her in either.

She sighs. “Fine. Listen, I’m here because I was unaware of your new arrangements.”

I run my tongue across my teeth. “What led you this way, Ms. V?”

She blanches a second. “It’s my job to know where you are.”

“Yet you weren’t aware of my new arrangements.” I lift a brow. “Yeah?”

Her eyes tighten. “I ... look, we have to remove you and place you back in the Bray house, with Ms. Maybell.”

We?

“That’s not gonna work for me.”

She hesitates before responding. “I’m afraid it’s not your choice.”

I eye her, already having had suspicions about her character, none of which I’ve confirmed, but still. I stand taller, grabbing onto the door with one hand and the frame with the other.

“How ‘bout this? You call your people and have them come in and remove me?”

She observes me a moment, her voice a little less sugary this round. “Do you really want them to take you in and make you go through a hearing and replacement home, all because you wouldn’t cooperate with me? I’m making this easy and offering to take you back to your original location.”

I scoff, a small smirk coming out as I shake my head at her. “You’re as full of shit as you are sure, Ms. Vega,” I quip, and she fidgets under my unrelenting stare, a crease forming on her forehead. “You do what you need to, and I’ll be here until I’m not.” I go to step back but pause and instead step outside, right in her face. She doesn’t cower away,