I grip him by his shirt collar and slam him up against the brick wall. “Tell me what the fuck you know.”
“I don’t know anything,” he pleads. “Just that I moved into a shitty neighborhood and found out that the most popular girl of Haven Grace Prep lives right next door. That’s all, I swear.”
Trying to pry my arm off, he doesn’t get anywhere. I pull him off the wall only to push him right back into it, grinning evilly as he bangs his head. “You leave her the fuck alone; do you understand me? And if I find out you’re telling anyone what you know, I’ll make it so no one hears from you again.”
He nods rapidly, and I drop him to the ground. Feeling satisfied, I leave him to tend to what is probably a killer headache. Knox is around the corner, and when he sees me approach, he smirks.
“That was fast.”
I pull a cigarette from my pack and place it between my lips before offering him one as well. “He’s a whiny little bitch. Doesn’t do confrontation well, does he?”
Chuckling, he kicks a rock by his foot. “No. He just talks a lot of shit.”
“That’s what I’m worried about.” I take my keys out of my pocket. “Keep an eye on him. Make sure he doesn’t try anything else.”
“Already planned on it,” he tells me. “But answer me this.”
“What?”
I swear, if he’s another one of those people who want to ask me a bunch of questions on my relationship status, I’m going to walk back to Trey and use him as a human punching bag.
“Does she know?”
My brows furrow. “Know what?”
He smirks, as if he has all the answers to all the world’s greatest questions. “That you’re in love with her.”
My eyes widen, and the concept alone has me sputtering on the smoke inside my lungs. I cough violently, and when I finally calm down, I look him straight in the eyes.
“You’ve got it all wrong, man.”
Now it’s his turn to look confused. “Well, from where I’m standing, that’s exactly what it looks like. You beat up her fake boyfriend—nice work by the way—and now, you were just protecting her honor with Big Mouth back there.”
I laugh darkly and shake my head. “No, I’m protecting what’s mine. Savannah’s heart isn’t what I’m after. It’s her demise.”
17
Savannah
I sit on my porch as I wait for Delaney. Shivering, I wrap my jacket tighter around me. Usually, Brady would already be out front, but he called this morning to tell me he came down with a stomach bug. I considered walking, until the temperature instantly made me shy away from the whole idea.
“If it isn’t Princess Savannah.” Trey’s irritating voice catches my attention. “What’s wrong? Your chariot never arrived to pick you up?”
I roll my eyes. “Ha. Ha. You’re just so witty.”
“Look at you, thinking you’re so much better than me. Newsflash, sweetheart, you live in the same shit neighborhood that I do.”
“What’s your point?”
He grins. “Well, the only difference between you and me is that everyone knows I’m poor. I don’t believe they know about you, though.”
If he’s trying to get under my skin, it’s working. “What do you want?” I ask, grimacing at the way he looks me up and down. “Okay, gross. What are you, fifteen?”
“And all man, baby.”
I don’t know whether to laugh or vomit. “That’s never going to happen. I’ll ruin my own reputation before I let your grimy hands come anywhere near me.”
He looks defeated before changing his demands. “In that case, I want something else. Something to entice me to keep your little secret.”
“Oh yeah? And what’s that?”
“Money. I think ten grand should be enough.”
“Ten thousand dollars?” I laugh dryly. “Look around, Trey. Does it look like I have that kind of money?”
Taking in the sight of my house, he shrugs. “Maybe not, but your boyfriend does.”
“Brady isn’t my boyfriend.”
“Not him.” He shakes his head. “The angry one. Tall, broody, blond hair.”
Grayson. “He’s not my boyfriend either.”
His eyes rake over me one more time. “Well, I’d be happy to go back to my original proposition.”
Delaney pulls up, and I thank the heavens above, but as I go to move around him, he continues to block my way. I put a hand on his chest and push him back.
“Look, let me make myself very clear. I don’t have money for you, and I’m not a fucking prostitute.”
He steps forward, getting in my face. “Well, you better figure it out, princess. Wouldn’t want to lose your perfect reputation, now would you?”
With that and a wink that makes me feel sick to my stomach, he backs up. I get in Delaney’s car and welcome the warmth.
“Thank you so much. Brady is sick this morning,” I tell her.
She smiles, but eyes Trey suspiciously. “Is everything okay?”
I nod. “Yeah. He’s just the annoying little shit from next door.”
Ending the conversation, I reach over and turn up the volume on the radio. The two of us sing along obnoxiously, with dance moves and all. My voice cracks as I try to hit the high note, making Delaney cringe from the sound.
“Seriously, it’s a good thing you can dance. You’re no better at singing now than you were as a child,” she teases.
“Hey!” I pout. “I resent that.”
“Resent away, darling.” She pulls into the parking lot and the two of us get out. “All right. I’ll see you in first period.”
She goes to walk away, when I reach out and grab her wrist. “Wait. Come with me to my locker.”
“You mean with all your jock friends? I don’t know. They’re not exactly my crowd.”
“Okay, one, you don’t have a crowd—no offense. And two, you’ll be fine. I promise.”
I don’t give her a second to fight me on it as I loop my arms with her and walk into the school. Being as we’re a little late, everyone is already near my locker. It takes a little tug for me to get her to continue down the hallway, but she eventually sighs and gives in.
“Hey, Sav,” Jace greets me.
“Hi. Guys, this is Delaney. Laney, this is Carter, Jace, Wyatt, Hayden, and you already know Grayson.” I grumble the end of it, and then turn to the girls. “And that’s Emma, Paige, Becca, and Kinsley.”
Emma beams one of her friendly smiles at her. “You’re in our first period class, aren’t you?”
Delaney nods. “Yeah, though I don’t think we’ve ever talked, really.”
Carter, being the pig he is, smirks and looks her up and down. “I can’t understand why.”
“Haven’t you reached the limit for the number of girls you’ve fucked this school year? And it’s only November,” Grayson asks while laughing.
“My sex life has no limit, young Hayworth,” he quips.