Page 29 of Wicked Titan

Dropping my bag next to the same chair I have every morning since we started meeting here, I slide onto the seat. It’s not the same as hanging with my old friends, but it is nice to have something familiar with someone.

We’re chatting about our pitiful woodshop projects when Grant’s expression tightens. Looking out the window, I spot the cause. Asher steps out of his car, appearing to own the damn place. Victoria bails from the passenger seat—obviously not happy—slams the door, and yells something at her brother, who ignores her. Elliot walks past Victoria, exchanging a look and probably some words, then she throws her hands in the air before storming off toward school. It’s just across the highway, but the driveway is a good two miles long as it winds around the school grounds before reaching the main campus. A red BMW stops abruptly, and Allison steps out, her typically (and inappropriately) short skirt is hiked up even more.

Damn it. They couldn’t just give me one place. One place without the worry of them invading my day.

I finish my last bit of coffee and grab my bag. It’s almost time for school to start, and their arrival is my cue to leave. “I’m going to head to school.”

Before I can rise, Allison is standing next to our table, flicking her black painted nails against her maroon jacket as she speaks. “Hi, guys.”

I stare at her, waiting to find out what she’s up to before I decide what move to make next.

“Get out of here, Allison,” Grant says, shooing her away.

“Really, Grant?” She gives him a puppy dog pout that I want to slap off her face. “I thought we were friends.”

He looks to me with annoyance as he turns his unamused expression back to her. “We are not friends. What do you want?”

“Have it your way. I was just going to ask if you two lovebirds were coming to the bonfire tonight?”

Grant looks over to me, but I don’t respond.

Allison gives us a grin, “Hope to see both of you there.”

With that, she’s off to the counter, joining Asher and Elliot as they make an order.

“I’ll see you at school.” It irritates me that Grant didn’t correct Allison’s idiotic assumption about us being a couple.

Grant lightly grasps my arm, so I pause to look at him. “It could be fun, you know.”

“I’ll think about it.” I’ve been thinking about it since he asked a few days ago. Apparently, the bonfire is the biggest party of the school year and “everyone” attends. That is the part that is keeping me from going, “everyone” includes the three people watching us. “Bye.”

Hurrying to my car, I look for Victoria. She’s stomping across the street as the walk signal flashes green.

Pulling to a stop next to her, I roll down the window. “Need a ride?”

She gives me a half-smile before pulling the door open and plopping into the passenger seat. “Thank you.”

Usually she drives a separate vehicle than Asher, so I’m assuming something happened, and I’m not about to ask for details. Victoria and I’ve had a mutual quietness over the last few days. We eat lunch together, silently studying or playing on our phones. It’s actually become my favorite part of the day. There’s something to be said about a friend you can have a comfortable silence with, not needing to fill every moment with conversation. And so far, that’s us at lunch and now as we ride to school in a comfortable silence. My guess is she’s dealing with a lot she doesn’t want to. At least that is my assumption because she has been become increasingly closed off. Even if the silence is comfortable, sometimes it can also be deafening. I haven’t pried because I know how much of an invasion that feels like. We all sort through things when we are ready.

As we are walking into school together, she looks over to me. “Are you going to the bonfire?”

“I don’t know yet,” I answer honestly.

“Just promise me you will be careful if you do.”

“Are you going?”

“Probably, it’s better than staying home.” She lets out a defeated breath.

“Maybe I’ll see you there.” The fact that she will be there makes it more appealing until panic flashes across her face.

“Yeah, find me when you get there. And please just be careful, Quinn.” She hurries away before I have a chance to respond.

Walking to first period, I’m still unsure if I’ll show up. It does sound better than sitting home with Candace. I decide to make the decision after I see what mood the minions are in today. If they give me hell at school, there’s no way I’ll show up for a second round tonight, but I still have a sliver of hope that they have moved on.

23

Standing in my oversize closet, I dig through the endless clothes Candace had it stocked with. There’s nothing that seems right for the bonfire. The school day was thankfully dull but that didn’t make my decision. The message from Haley is what made me decide to go. Out of all the crazy things she could have said, she’d invited me over for the weekend. Saying there’s no parties and Mason won’t be around if I wanted to hang out. Not a chance. There aren’t many people I want to be friends with at the bonfire but there are plenty people who I trust more than Haley.