Page 8 of Cross + Catherine: The Companion

The Advice

Cross POV

Fuck Zeke and his doctor’s appointment.

Cross checked his watch, and then the row of cars in the pick-up line of the Academy. He preferred driving home with Zeke, but that wasn’t going to happen today. Rick—the enforcer who regularly worked Cross’s last nerve—was nowhere to be found.

Dick.

Given all the shit Rick pulled on Cross just to make his life a living hell, he didn’t doubt that making him wait today was a purposeful move. Something else for Cross to add to the growing pile of why he hated that man.

It might have made the wait easier if Catherine was with Cross, but even she was doing something else today. With one of her friends, likely. Usually she had to wait a little while after school, too. He considered pulling out his phone and texting her. Maybe she would come and keep him company.

Instead, Michel Marcello sat down beside Cross on the rock wall. Catherine’s older brother looked over at him.

“Do you ever wear the school jacket?” he asked.

Cross scoffed. “No.”

“Why?”

“It’s fucking ugly.”

“It’s a blazer, man. It looks like a blazer.”

“Listen, if they wanted me to wear the jacket, they’d make it in leather. Black, preferably. With no school emblem on it.”

Michel nodded. “So, basically what you’re wearing right now.”

“Yep.”

“Is that the kind of bullshit you’re feeding my sister, too?”

Cross leaned back, and used his hands to support his weight. Eyeing the older teenager from the side, Cross considered how he wanted to answer that.

“Is this supposed to be one of those chats where you try to scare the hell out of me, or something?”

Michel smirked. “Would it work?”

The guy was a couple of years older than Cross. Maybe two inches taller—for now. Still, size had never mattered much to him, or made a difference when it came to breaking somebody’s face. They all went down the same.

“Nope,” Cross finally replied.

“Didn’t think so.”

“Why’s that?”

Michel shrugged. “That attitude of yours is pretty well known, is all.”

“Good.”

The more his reputation made the rounds, the less problems he would have. Cross considered that a win, really.

“Thought you might come see me, though,” Michel said.

“Why? I’m not interested in anything you’re selling, Michel.”

It was pretty well known around the Academy that Catherine’s brother could get anybody anything they needed by way of drugs. Before Michel, it had been the guy’s cousin, John.