I had meant to see Ry that night, but then night turned to week - and I was pushing two weeks since our last run-in. The kid was never around and almost always busy (Brianna would fill me in on his impossible schedule, of course). I probably would have been too if I'd spent as much time doing homework as the other Spenser kids did.
The good part about it was that Reid had decided to leave me alone - hadn't even looked my way since the 'truce'. And I'd had a feeling that laying low on the radar was best at keeping it that way, even if it meant sneaking around to see Ry.
Something was definitely up, and the monotony of my life was dying to figure out what it was. The boredom that stretched throughout the days literally depended on it.
It wasn't until I showered and dressed myself in something appropriate that I decided I'd move in on Ry. Tonight. I'd have my work cut out for me - avoid Brianna's gaze, find someone who could direct me to Ry's room - and in honor of keeping that humorous bad-girl image I'd decked myself out in all black: black tee and my tightest black jeans with wallet chain hanging from my ass pocket to boot.
OK, so the spy getup wasn't really necessary. It only added some excitement to an otherwise very dull existence here at Spenser.
And not many people realized that tight clothes are easy to run in, if need be.
"Hey," Brianna walked back in the room, hair wrapped up in a towel from her shower. She looked me over with appreciative eyes. "Going out?"
"Mmphm?" I mumbled and shrugged, throwing myself on my bed. "Maybe. Not sure yet."
"C'mon," she gave me a look that told me she wasn't stupid. "You look festive. Meeting up with someone? Tell me who. Is it Ry?"
"No," I bit my lip and felt my gaze falter. She smirked.
"I don't care, Cassandra," she huffed. "I only hope you'll stay away from Reid Garwin. Lily told me about what happened in Criminal Law."
"He's a jackass," I scowled. "And I've avoided him since." Or he's avoided me, rather.
"Well, I hope it stays that way. He enjoys his popularity here a little too much and I don't want to see him play his stupid little mind-games with you."
"Oh come on," I eyed her warily. "I've dealt with worse than the Blonde Wonder."
"He's not just an asshole," she spoke with disgust. "He's a manipulator and a charmer. I've seen decent girls turn into nightly rounds because of him."
"That would never happen," I spoke louder than I meant to. "I have someone back home." I bit my lip again. Did I have someone back home? I mean, there was Chuck... but we had sort of a special arrangement, and he was more like a best friend than anything.
"Really?" Brianna's eyes lit up. "So you're not-" She hesitated.
"Not what?"
"Not into, like-" she hesitated again, "Ry or anything?"
"No," I laughed. "I just needed to ask him about something that happened two weeks ago when we ran into Reid-"
"Oh no," Brianna moaned. "Reid and Ry hate each other. Ry hates the Sons of Ipswich more than anyone, and Reid can sense it."
"Wait," I stopped her. "The Sons of Ipswich?" I gave her the hairy eyeball.
"The only sons of the descendents of the oldest families in Ipswich," Brianna muttered robotically and rolled her eyes. "Which basically means they're loaded. And completely arrogant."
"Hmph," I huffed. "Well they seem it. Except for one of them - Caleb. He's not as bad as the others."
"No, Caleb isn't as bad," Brianna nodded in agreement. "But you just can't trust them. And Reid is the most volatile of them all."
"That explains a lot," I huffed. "I think he enjoys conflict."
"It's not the only thing he enjoys," Brianna made a disgusted face. "I just don't see what girls like about him. He's a total bad boy."
"He just thinks he is," I waved her off. "He wouldn't last a second in a cell." I muttered that last bit, and Brianna didn't reply. Mentioning my incarceration probably makes her uncomfortable. I felt like hitting my head (d'oh!) for a true Homer-Simpson moment.
"Why are you here?" Brianna muttered. I looked up at her with dead-pan eyes.
"What do you mean?" My voice cracked and I swallowed hard.
"I mean," she shook her head. "You're from the other side of the country. And you've got a record - I'm not trying to say that's a deal breaker, but for Spenser - it sort of is." I had to give it to her, she was right. Dead on. It was impossible for someone with a record to get into Spenser. Except, of course, for me.
"My mom's an alumni," I managed to find my voice again. "Spenser was the only boarding school to let me in. And I really needed to get away from home."
"Oh," Brianna breathed. "Wow. That's pretty cool."
I shrugged. I wasn't going to explain to her how I needed to get away from someone in particular - Hank. I wasn't going to tell her that my mom had no idea that her second husband gave me hell for years. I wasn't going to mention the look on my mom's face when I told her I'd be better off starting somewhere fresh, far away from home - to ease the demons.
"A fresh start, you know?" That was all I said. Then I jumped off the bed and threw on my trusty Converse sneakers. "I have to find Ry. But I'll be back soon."
"Be careful," Brianna looked at me sternly. "Boys' dorms are on the second floor, and his room is 303."
"Thanks," I looked at her appreciatively before stealthily closing the door behind me. Now, to actually see anything in this gloomy hallway...
I traveled lightly and quietly, keeping an ear out for anyone who might be checking the halls. When I got to the stairs, I took them two at a time. I found the boys' floor even darker than the girls'. From some corner, I heard whispering. It got more and more audible as I walked.
"We never found the body..."
I froze. It was Caleb's voice, I was sure of it. And the distressed gasp belonged to a girl.
"With Reid's Ascension, it makes sense that all this is happening," Caleb whispered.
"But you said he was dead," the girl's voice shook.
"We assumed, Sarah," Caleb sounded distressed. I was trying not to breathe. "When Putnam barn burned down-"
Caleb stopped whispering and I froze. Footsteps were coming from down the hall. This would be my only chance to book it, and I moved in the opposite direction of both Caleb and the footsteps. I could hardly see where I was going, when I noticed an open door ahead. The light, I realized. The light would help me see numbers on the doors.
I stopped at the crack in the door and saw the glint of metal numbers - 287. The numbers on the door diagonally from this room was 290. I was going in the right direction. But how the hell was I going to know the right door when I found it? It was so damn dark and I felt like dropping the whole idea...
"Dean," I heard a voice whisper in my ear and I yelped in fear. I heard him shush me and grab my shoulder. It was Reid, of course. I could see the outline of his golden hair and his scent was recognizable. He was leading me somewhere, and I tried to brush him off.
"Not now, Reid," I whispered harshly. "I'm looking for someone."
"You won't make it very far without me," he snorted. "Just trust me."
I didn't have the patience to tell him exactly how much I didn't trust him, but I followed him regardless. He was leading me to a room...
"My room," he muttered.
"Not the room I'm looking for," I spoke boredly. "But thanks anyway." I went to turn away but his hand caught my wrist and pulled me in.
"Will you just get in here?" He sounded annoyed. "You're gonna get us all pinched."
I meant to throw some scathing remark at him, but I'd seen someone walking the halls with a glow around them. It was a lamp, and it was the Provost who held it. I would have been seen for sure, had not Reid pulled me in from my frozen stupor. He shut the door as quietly and briskly as a criminal. I looked around his room - trust-fund baby all the way, with a huge plasma flat-screen TV mounted on the wall and a sound system that probably wasn't even allowed on campus. His roommate wasn't there, but his side looked just as...expensive.
I folded my arms and looked at Reid. He was dialing a number on his cellphone and spoke quietly to whoever was on the other line. He wasn't facing me, and I took a second to look at him. He dressed as darkly as I did, with a black zippered hoodie and those same fingerless gloves. I had to admit, he looked good. I looked down at myself and realized that together, we could have been mistaken for burglars.
I heard him snap the phone shut and turn to face me. He leaned against the desk chair and folded his arms. I almost smirked when I realized that our stances were identical - predatory.
"Did you need my assistance?" Reid's mouth wasn't grim, but it wasn't smiling either. In fact, I didn't know what to make of it. Was he serious about trucing it earlier? Would he help me?
No, he hates Ry - remember?
"If you think it's safe to go back out there, then no," I made a movement toward the door. "I'm good from here."
"He's not in his room," Reid sounded of boredom and forced surrender. I could have sworn I saw him roll his eyes. "If you're looking for Winstead, I mean."
"Do you know where he is?" I spoke with masked agitation. I saw that smirk come out then.
"Library, maybe?" He advanced toward me slowly. "Study date? Important student council meeting?"
I rolled my eyes and made another step toward the door, which Reid efficiently blocked.
"Listen," his voice sounded resigned. "Drop the nerd and come with me."
"There's something I had to ask him," I started as I remembered Brianna's words - don't trust Reid Garwin.
"There's a party out past old Putnam barn," he spoke as if I'd never had.
"I thought it burned down?" I said before I could stop myself, remembering Caleb's haunting words. 'We never found the body'...
I shivered involuntarily and pulled my arms around myself.
"Here," Reid took another zipper hoodie from his bed and threw it at me. Very gentlemanly, I thought. I didn't feel like putting it on, but I was cold and there really wasn't time to go back to the dorm to get my own jacket...
"Just put it on," he spoke annoyed. "And give it back to me later." I put the stupid thing on and tried not to notice how deliciously boyish it smelled. I tried to turn that part of my human nature - that responded to Reid - off.
"Now what were you saying about that party?" I started, trying to sound vaguely interested. I really wanted to know more about Putnam barn and what Caleb had to do with a dead body.
Long shot, I thought.
"It's off campus," his blue eyes almost sent a chill down my spine. "I doubt your Ry would be there."
My Ry. I tried not to chuckle and shrugged instead.
"Well, thanks for your help anyway," I sounded nonchalant, even to myself. "But I should really start making my move before Higgins comes back."
"You sure do spend a lot of time with Winstead," Reid's voice sounded indignant. "What's up with that?" His eyes didn't hint to much and his posture screamed 'who cares', but his voice gave him away.
"I'm converting him over to the dark side," I said sarcastically, rolling my eyes. He moved closer to me until it became uncomfortable. Unbearably so. I could feel his breath tickle my face and it was - minty. And the better I could see him, the more I saw how sort of beautiful he was. I gulped and hoped my heart wasn't audible.
"I'd be happy to take his place," Reid barely muttered. He was looking at my lips again and I bit down on my lower one, hard. Bad habit.
You're already there, I thought to myself. If you have anything to do with Caleb and a maybe-dead body - you're not only bad, you're evil. And I shouldn't be here alone with you, in dimmed light. With no obvious weapons on hand.
His fingers barely brushed my cheek and it startled me out of my trance. My breath hitched and I felt my chest rise and swell with inhalation. I dared to look him in the eyes and found it unbearably intense.
Oh God, I thought. He's going to try and make me a nightly round.
I was practically chewing my lip now. Just get out of here, I chanted in my head. Move your legs, dammit!
My body wasn't responding the way I'd hoped.
I felt my eyelids droop in a sign of submission. Since when? Please. To this boy? I was sure he was going to kiss me, but I felt his hand drop instead and when I looked fully at his face I saw that he looked indifferent from before. Speculative, maybe. But definitely indifferent.
I jumped at the sound of someone pounding on the door. Reid instantly flew to it and I backed away to the nearest wall.
"Jesus, Caleb," Reid growled.
"We're leaving," Caleb announced before he caught a glimpse of my form. I straightened my back and steadied myself for a questioning eye. Reid turned to look at me and I saw that same sparkle of mischief from earlier.
"You coming?" He asked, and I saw Caleb look at us with confusion. He had a girl beside him, a blonde one - pretty, of course.
I shook my head hard. No way am I going with you and your cult that kills people, I thought. Reid turned to look at Caleb and smirked.
"She's coming," Reid acknowledged as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. I glared at him and walked up to them - realizing that the rest were all outside. Pogue, Tyler and another pretty girl with dark hair and cinnamon skin.
"This is Sarah," he introduced before I could get my words out. Calculated, I thought. Smooth one, Reid. I gave her a tight smile and found it almost impossible to believe that she was talking about dead bodies with Caleb moments ago.
"And I'm Kate," the darker one stuck her hand out at me, which I took. "And I've heard a lot about you already."
"The girl with the record," I acknowledged almost grudgingly - but couldn't help smiling at the thought.
"The girl who put Reid in his place," Tyler corrected.
"The reason I lost two-hundred bucks," Pogue sounded wounded, and I held my laugh back.
"I hope Reid has been behaving himself around you," Caleb sounded very adult-like and I caught Reid giving him a glaring eye.
"He saved me from getting caught tonight," I shrugged, looking at Reid. "I have reason to be grateful."
"Provost," Reid explained to Tyler, who looked confused. "And she was going to show just how grateful she was by coming out with us. Right, Dean?"
I met eyes with Kate, who smiled encouragingly. I wondered if she knew about the dead - or not dead - body. I shrugged, succumbing to - of all things a juvenile delinquient could succumb to - peer pressure. Kate's smile got friendlier.
"What part of California are you from?" Kate asked.
"San Jose."
"Porn capital of the world," Pogue acknowledged. "Sweet deal." Kate hit him in the gut.
"What brought you all the way to Spenser?" Tyler asked curiously as we walked toward - the front entrance, this time?
"Uh," I looked around confused, wondering if we'd get caught. I saw Caleb working on the door and it opened effortlessly. My body relaxed and I felt Reid's eyes on me. "My mom's an alumni, so they didn't hesitate to take me in. Anywhere else was impossible."
"You'd willingly send yourself to boarding school?" Reid's eyes narrowed in humourous speculation. We were outside now and falling behind the rest of the group. I tried to keep up but it felt almost impossible. I couldn't get away from being alone with Reid.
"Desperate times," I began. "You know how the saying goes." I shivered at the thought and felt Reid's eyes on me. He didn't mention it again.
I watched as Kate and Sarah slowed down to fall back with us and felt someone's - Kate's - arm link with mine.
"Let her breathe, Reid," Kate teased. "Go catch up with the boys. Cassandra rides with us."
I felt Reid's left hand brush my right one as we stood side by side and I looked up at him. His eyes were on me but then he quickly averted them to his friends ahead. He walked backward then, looking at me, before he bowed once again dramatically and I couldn't hold my giggle at his tomfoolery. He was amusing, if nothing else.
I hopped into the backseat of Sarah's car, vaguely realizing that escaping felt damn near easy with this crowd. For such an uptight prep school, anyway.
It was just us three girls then and I felt suddenly nervous. Girls usually didn't like me. And if they were as important to Spenser Academy as the Sons of Ipswich, then they had even more reason to dislike me - I was somewhat of an outcast, a mystery and a delinquent with no real important background.
"Reid likes her," Sarah said, and I looked at her as she glanced at Kate.
"Oh, definitely," Kate waved as if it were so friggin' obvious.
"Who?" I asked in confusion.
"You, silly," Kate turned to roll her eyes at me.
"No surprise there, either," Sarah continued. "I remember when I was the new girl."
"Technically, you still are," Kate reasoned. "Cassandra's just a shiny kind of new."
"True," Sarah shrugged.
"I'm only sitting right here, guys," I grumbled.
"It'd be funny to see Reid with a girlfriend," Sarah elbowed Kate playfully.
"Let's not get ahead of ourselves!" Kate's eyes widened humorously. "He likes her, sure. But you know him..."
"They even dress the same," Sarah and Kate broke out into giggles.
"It's his sweater," I growled before motioning to take it off. "And I hope you're both joking. I have no intention of letting Reid like me...like that." I tried awkwardly to get the damn sweater off. What did they think? That because Reid decides he likes a girl that he'd just - wave his hands - and have her?
"He's not that bad, Cassandra," Kate spoke softer. "He gets a bad rep, but he's not evil or anything."
"He has feelings, too," Sarah chuckled.
I snorted in response.
"Look," I spoke, throwing the sweater next to me. "I could be friends with him. I'm sure he's no worse a person than me. But I'm not...into him...like that." My voice wavered. Was I into him? I pictured cornflower hair and ocean-blue eyes. Sarah eyed me in the rear-view and grinned.
"You're tough, I get it," Kate threw her hands in the air. "And we're just joking around, girl. I've known Reid for a very long time and I know how he is..."
"Difficult," Sarah mentally counted. "Pompous, egotistical..."
"So when Tyler told us about what happened-"
"And how you all but had his head on a stick..." Their voices got louder in amusement and I couldn't help but smile.
"She has dimples!" Kate noticed as she turned toward the backseat. "How cute." She dragged the 'cute' out longer than necessary.
I had to admit, I was fairly shocked at how easy it was to get along with Kate and Sarah. Kate was sort of loud where Sarah was a bit more reserved. But both girls weren't anything like I'd expected. Not bitchy or flashy or unaccepting in the least. It almost made me question whether or not I'd actually heard what I'd heard in the hall...
Almost.
"So," I looked for a typical girly conversation starter. "Any cute guys at this party?"
"Mmmm," Kate sighed at some mental image. "Erik Danci is one fine specimen."
"I think Nick Conrad is sort of hot..." Sarah murmured as she pulled into a huge - and I mean huge - clearing.
"Just point out the cute single ones as they come," I told them as we hopped out of the car and into a very conspicuous rave. It brought back memories of running wild with my old crowd, the friends I had to avoid back in San Jose if I ever wanted to clean my act up. It was always running - from one house to another - and partying. And killing the demons with other...distractions.
Distractions very much like this rave.
And you shouldn't be here, I thought to myself. If you get in trouble, mom will hate you. She'll never trust you again.
"Ladies," a male voice boomed from behind us and I found a guy with great hair smiling at us.
"Aaron," Kate spoke, and I swore it sounded more of annoyance than of greeting. "And Nick." She sounded a little more pleasant at his name.
"And who's your very beautiful friend?" Aaron took my hand before I could dodge it and held on tightly - I couldn't get out of his grip. His other hand held a beer. He brought my palm to his lips and kissed it. The look in his eye was so openly dirty that I worried he'd lick his way up my arm. I rolled my eyes.
"I'm Cassandra," I introduced myself dryly to this clearly one-track-minded vulture.
"Cassandra," he spoke, grinning. It was a wonder how he could make my name sound so - dirty.
"She's with us, Aaron," Kate grabbed my arm in a friendly tug-of-war and gave him a teasing - but stern - look.
"Mind if I steal her for a minute?" Aaron grinned at both girls while tugging at my arm. "I just want to introduce her to some people." I looked back at the two girls as they crossed their arms in disapproval.
"I'll meet up with you guys in a little bit," I smiled encouragingly. Kate nodded, and Sarah smiled a bit. I turned to walk with Aaron still tugging me along. I slipped my hand from his grip and he smiled a lopsided smile.
"Where you from, pretty lady?" It was Nick questioning me.
"California," I smiled at him. Someone passed him a red cup, and he passed it to me. I looked into the black mixture. There was no way that was going near my lips.
"She's that girl," Aaron gave Nick a suggestive look. "You know, the one-"
"The one who was in juvie for a year," I finished for him. "The one who got into quite a bit of trouble in her youth."
"You've still got some youth in you," Nick nudged me. "Let's make the best of it." He winked and it was only then that I recognized both boys were very, very drunk.
"I've had my fill," I wavered. "But thanks for the offer." I felt Aaron reach for my arm again and I dodged it.
"Get lost, Nick." He gave Nick a very suggestive look. I turned to look at him and saw his staring match with Aaron. He was faltering. I was more than clued in to what exactly Aaron wanted from me - and I decided to have a little fun with it. Something I used to do all the time in the past with guys like him...
"Where's he going?" I nodded my head in the direction of Nick's stumbling departure.
"Givin' us some breathing room," Aaron leaned closely into my face - giving me much, much less breathing room - and I blanched at the smell of beer on his breath.
"I thought you were going to introduce me to your friends...?" I played dumb. He was too drunk to see past the facade anyway.
"I've got everyone you need to know right here." He threw an arm around my shoulder and - I'mtotallyfuckingserious - grabbed his crotch.
What a dirtball.
"Oooh," I placed a hand on his chest and nearly broke into laughter. I never was good at keeping a straight face.. "So that's the game we're playing tonight, huh?" He stumbled backward a little and smiled stupidly.
"What games you got in mind, doll?" His eyes were hooded and his voice was husky. I smiled at the thought of my sweet victory.
"See," I leaned in even closer, till my lips just brushed his as I spoke. "I was thinking that you and I" - spoken very suggestively - "could go for a little stroll in the woods. For some privacy." I winked at him. He swayed before moaning at the feel of my hand on his pants belt-loop.
"What are we waiting for?" It came out sounding more like 'mmwwwwaitinfor?' I smiled deviously and couldn't hold back a chuckle. What a turd. Did guys out here really not know better? I'd done this tons of times - mastered it with Deirdre and Rachelle, of course - but with Aaron, it was too easy.
I guided him deep into the woods, making sure every now and then that I could still see the firelight from the bonfire. It wouldn't matter for Aaron, in the end - it was all down to how exhibited he was. I chuckled silently.
I stopped him and he spun around with his lips crashing down on mine. He was quite a sloppy kisser, though it could be that he was just a sloppy drunk. I felt his tongue desperately trying to pry my lips open.
"Aaron," I pushed him away playfully and gave him a scolded look. Then I wiped my mouth. "The game, love. Remember?"
"Mmmphm," he muttered, his eyes drooping and his body losing balance.
"Take off your clothes, Aaron." His eyes shot open then, and he laughed mischievously. "Hurry, I won't offer again." I needed him to be desperate, to obey like the little man ho that he was. He started stripping and I pressed my hand to my mouth, to stop the giggle from escaping. "Everything, Aaron. I want you in nothing but socks." I gave him a quick wink and he made a face that was supposed to be sexy.
"What about you, doll?" He slurred.
"Your treat first, you know," I spoke huskily. "And I'll strip just as soon as you're in your birthday suit." I tried not to laugh.
He made it out of his clothes in record time and I told him to close his eyes and lie down. I took a second to appreciate the view and almost giggled. I wondered if he would have agreed to this had he been sober. The body was alright, but I'd seen bigger - much bigger - than what Aaron was packing.
"Count to fifteen," I demanded. "I won't need much longer than that."
Like I said - a master of the arts, I was.
He started counting and I caught him scratching himself. He must've been really, really drunk.
But I wasn't stripping - I was collecting. Clothes, his clothes. I left nothing behind but the socks on his feet.
Hurry, I thought to myself as I suddenly dashed toward the golden light. I heard him sit up and yell.
"Bitch!"
He's probably not even on his feet yet, I mused to myself.
I made it to the end of the forest and walked out casually. No one even really noticed my appearance, or the fact that I had a pile of laundry in my hands.
"Cassandra!" I looked toward the source of the call and found Kate standing next to Pogue and Sarah. I made my way over to them, suppressing a grin.
"Where'd you go?" Sarah asked nonchalantly, eyeing the pile of clothes under my arm. "We were worried Aaron Abbott kidnapped you and buried your body in the woods." I giggled madly; there was only one body in the woods tonight, and it was as naked as the day it was born.
I felt Reid's presence behind me and sure enough, he was there. His eyes narrowed as he pulled a leaf from my hair.
"You look like you duked it out with a wood nymph," he spoke casually and I couldn't control the laugh that came out. It was too easy to picture Aaron sprouting leaves and dancing around the forest. Kate was suddenly laughing too, in a what's-going-on sort of way. Reid looked at me funny.
"What?" I questioned through giggles.
"Hmm," Reid tapped his mouth. "Why are you holding a pile of clothes?" It came out as more of a statement than a question and I threw the clothes down with a quick laugh under my breath.
"They're Aaron's," I spoke finally before dropping the garments to the ground in a satisfied huff. Kate - smart girl that she is - put two-and-two together and realized what I'd done. She covered her mouth for the laugh that had her bending at the waist.
"What?" Reid looked from me to Kate to Sarah with a weary eye. "What did you do with Aaron Abbott."
"I didnt do anything with him," I narrowed my eyes at him. "He was getting fresh and I couldn't resist a little harmless fun... and man, I haven't done that in a while." Kate was still laughing and suddenly she was laughing harder, pointing at the edge of the woods. That's when I saw Aaron wearing nothing but his socks.
One was on his foot, and the other was... well, on something else.
"Oh my God!" Sarah laughed and I pursed my lips as I met his eyes. He gave me the finger and made his way back to his truck - with lightning speed. "You're incredible."
"Please tell me how you did that," Kate spoke with excitement that was normal for her. "No, no - teach me."
"Your boyfriend wouldn't appreciate that," I looked at Pogue, whose shoulders were shaking with laughter.
I couldn't help but notice that Reid wasn't laughing.
"Guys," I turned to see Tyler and Caleb walking back from some unknown destination. "What'd we miss?"
"Pretty much the funniest thing that's ever happened at Spenser," Kate answered.
"Dean stole Aaron Abott's clothes," Reid said dryly, though I could sense that he wanted to laugh just from saying the words.
"He came from out of nowhere wearing nothing but socks," Sarah giggled madly with Kate. "And one of them was strategically placed."
Every bystander was laughing and pointing at Aaron's unexpected streaking. Reid was the only one not lauging.
Party pooper, I thought.
"How'd you manage that one?" Caleb was smiling despite himself.
"That's a good question," Reid looked at me accusingly, with a quirked brow. I crossed my arms.
"Not telling," I told Caleb, though I was looking at Reid.
It suddenly struck me as odd that Reid could be so hot and cold with me. If he liked me like that, he should have attempted normalcy in my presence at least. It made me think of Brianna's words - don't trust Reid Garwin. He plays mind games. He's a manipulator and a charmer...
Not exactly a charmer, I thought. And yet you're still intrigued. Ha.
"Cassandra?"
I turned around and found Ry - of all people to show up at a rave! - standing next to a few kids I hadn't met.
"Ry!"
I turned my head to look at Kate, who was standing closest to me.
"I'll be right back, OK? I have to talk to him about something," I nodded to where Ry was standing.
"Ryan Winstead?" She made a contemplative face. "You know him?"
"She knows him very well," I heard Reid answer snidely. I rolled my eyes.
"I'll tell you about it later," I gave her a look that hopefully told her to ignore any implication Reid gave about it. I made my way over to where Ry was. He made a few steps toward me and away from the group of kids he was standing next to.
"Hey," he smiled, though it was mixed with confusion.
"Hey yourself," I lifted my brow. "Did you know you're harder to find than Jimmy Hoffa's body?"
"It goes with the job description," Ry shrugged and I saw his eyes quickly glance back towards the Sons.
"Class president," I teased. "I'm sure that's only half the repertoire."
"Don't sass me," he placed a hand on my upper back and motioned for us to walk. "Why are you hanging out with Reid Garwin and company?"
"That," I huffed, "is your fault." He made a very boyish confused face.
"How is it my fault?" His inky black eyes looked at me seriously.
"I went looking for you earlier and ran into him," I nodded toward where Reid was. "He introduced me to the girlfriends of said Sons and I got suckered into coming here."
"You were looking for me?"
"For days," I clipped as I looked up at him. He was quite the giant, although his frame was rather slim. I was a tall girl and I still had to crane my neck to see him. "I've been trying to talk to you about that thing with Reid-"
"You should leave Reid alone," Ry cut me off. "You have no idea the things I've heard him say."
I averted my gaze and turned my neck back toward the Sons, Kate and Sarah. The girls were talking to Pogue and Tyler, and Caleb was discussing something with Reid. And just as I'd thought I'd seen Caleb give him that 'look' - the reprimanding look - I saw Reid turn his head and look at me. I had no idea what Caleb was saying, and I couldn't delve into Reid's body language. His gaze didn't falter and I quickly turned my head around.
"What kind of things?"
"You don't want to know," Ry's voice was rather uncomfortable-sounding. "Just don't go finding out for yourself and take my advice. He's trouble."
"You're the second person to tell me that today," I mumbled. Then something hit me. "Hey, do you know anything about Putnam barn burning down?"
"That happened back in September," he looked down at me closely. "Some transfer kid named Chase supposedly burned down with it. Why do you ask?" I chewed my lip frantically.
"I heard someone mention it, that's all," my voice cracked. "Does Caleb have anything to do with it?"
Shit. I hadn't meant to say that out loud.
"Actually, yes," Ry nodded and I felt my head pound. "Chase and Caleb were both in the barn that night. Rumor is they duked it out in there and probably caused the fire. Caleb says the smoke was too thick to see through and he barely made it out, and he couldn't find Chase at all."
"That's awful," I tried to sound sympathetic but man was it hard, knowing what I knew. Caleb wasn't being honest about that story. He knew something about... about the body. I almost gnawed my lip off.
"Weird things happen around here," Ry shivered and it was then that I realized we weren't walking anymore. Auto pilot much? "Hey, you OK? You look spaced."
"Spooked," I corrected him. And really fucking ready to go home.
But don't you want to find out the truth?
I realized that if I was stuck here I might as well play Nancy Drew, too.
"Do you want me to take you back?" Ry offered, and I realized that I was more than ready to go back. I didn't know if being Reid Garwin's friend was a good idea, seeing as how he was pretty much mixed up in this shit by default.
That's if he wasn't directly involved to begin with.
"Were you about to leave?" I asked him hesitantly.
"I wasn't, but I never really cared for these things," he shrugged. "I only went tonight because I thought I'd see you."
"Oh sure," I narrowed my eyes at him. "Because looking for me at the dorms would make no sense at all."
He shrugged again.
Boys. Who the hell can really understand them?
"I'm gonna go say bye to Kate and Sarah," I motioned. "I'll be back, OK?" I wasn't going to ask him to tag along.
"Sure," he nodded.
I walked back over to where the Sons were and instantly caught Reid's eye.
"You're leaving," he stated. Not a question.
"I shouldn't be here," I reasoned. "This isn't safe for me. Probation, ya know?"
He didn't quite look pissed, but I had a feeling that he was.
"Winstead's taking you." Again, not a question. A statement.
"He offered," I shrugged. "He was about to leave too." I saw him look over my shoulder at Ry and had a feeling there was a staring contest going on. How very fucking mature.
"Reid," I began. "I don't know what your beef is with Ryan but-"
"He's not my biggest fan," Reid sounded sarcastic. His eyes fell on me again and I felt him close the already short distance between us. I craned my neck as he bent his so our eyes were level - he was just as tall as Ry. "And I think I know why."
Static friction, I thought. Whenever you're near me, there's static in the air. And it scares me. It makes me not myself...
I went to say something and he finally closed the distance - and I mean completely. His hands cupped my face and then weaved their way into my hair and I saw him smirk a little as his breath tickled my face and those tasty eyes devoured my lips before I felt his on mine and ohmyfuckingwordI'mkissingReidGarwin!!
I may not have liked the things that came out of Reid Garwin's mouth but at that very intense mind-fuck of a moment I liked the things he did with it.
Reid kissed like no other.
I didn't know whether or not I wanted to concentrate on his hands entangled in my hair - which felt amazing, by the way - or on his lips, which were neither vulgar nor impaired. Most boys liked to stick their tongue in and get as much action as possible but Reid wasn't done with my bottom lip just yet. He started with a simple kiss, his softness on my softness, before parting them and taking my lips in segments. He grazed my top lip gently with his tongue before finding my oh-so-pouty bottom lip (the first time I'd appreciated it's pouty-ness, by the way) and enveloping it with a gentle suck and graze of a bite. I couldn't tell if the vibrating moans were mine or his.
It was the catcall that broke me from my reverie.
I pulled away instantly, feeling my face flood with heat. My body wanted to meet his body against a tree in the woods and do bad things with it, but my mind knew better.
Reid was a manipulator and charmer. Reid was trouble.
"Get a room!"
It was Pogue. I tried not to kill him with my stare but that was damn near impossible. Kate and Sarah were giggling.
Reid wasn't paying them any mind. He had the look of male smugness plastered on his face. His eyes were low and hooded and I saw mischief dance behind them. He never took his gaze off me.
As wide as my eyes were, I couldn't hide the fact that I'd enjoyed it. He knew, I was sure. I kissed him back after all.
I tried to get my voicebox working but nothing would come out. What would I say, anyway? Everything felt stupid. Do I tell him never to do that again? I might want him to do it again.
Don't lie to yourself, Cassandra. You want that again. You want that every night.
Do I tell him he's an idiot? He wasn't, not in the least. He'd mastered the art of kissing. Of seduction.
Of manipulation.
Shit! I'd forgotten all about Ry. With a sick feeling in my stomach, I turned back to look for him.
He was already gone.