Read The Original Crowd for Free Online Page B

myself.
    “You want out of here?”
    “I—” I faltered. I did, but I didn’t.
    Tray decided for me. “Let’s go.” He grasped my hand and led the way, weaving through the crowd. We were out the door when Veronica Teedz stopped us again, if possible, even more unsteady on her high heels. “I called him, you know, Taryn. Brian’s been miserable and we all know it’s because of you. He wanted to know if you were here.”
    “You called him?” I demanded through clenched teeth.
    “Yeah…I did. He loves you. It was the two of you. You guys were so…you guys are perfect together.”
    “Yeah, except that I’ve changed,” I said tightly, following behind Tray as he pulled me down the steps and down the driveway. Walking side by side, in silence, I hugged myself, suddenly feeling cold.
    Tray didn’t say anything. He just glanced at me once before he resumed walking by my side. When we got to the SUV, I climbed inside after Tray unlocked the doors, huddling against the window.
    As we drove past the house, I saw Grayley standing outside, frantically searching the parking lot.
    “Stop,” I said, rolling my window down as Tray paused in front of the house.
    Grayley saw us and approached the car looking relieved. “Holy fuck, Tar!” He groaned, shaking his head. “Holy hell for fuck’s sake.”
    “Sorry,” I said weakly. “I’m…sorry. I didn’t realize that was going to happen.”
    Grayley was eyeing Tray, but he murmured, “Yeah, well, for what it’s worth, I think Gentley forgot that you go for the jugular. He’ll remember next time.”
    “I didn’t know Brian was there.”
    “Yeah.”
    “Is he okay?”
    “He’ll…Brian bounces back. He’s looking for you, you know. He’s convinced you’re still inside.”
    “Oh, God, Grayley, he’s going to do something stupid.”
    “I know.”
    “Can you watch him? For me?”
    Grayley’s grey eyes pinned me down. “And when he asks why I’m around? If he asks if I’m doing it for you? What then? He’ll get the message that you still care.”
    “I…” I was lost—I didn’t know what to say or so. “I don’t know…”
    “Look,” he sighed, running a hand over his buzz-cut, “Geeze told me what you’re up to. That why you’re here?”
    “Yeah. I was looking for you.”
    “Alright.” He nodded, glancing around. “I know what you’re going to ask and the answer is, of course, stupid. Just…get out of here. Brian’s already boiling over, he doesn’t need anything else to cause him to explode.”
    “Thanks, Grayley, I miss you, for what it’s worth. I’ll need the blueprints to Pedlam High; I gotta get in there.”
    “Yeah.” A rueful smile graced his features, his grey eyes solemn. “Now get out of here.”
    “Okay.” I nodded, sitting back holding Grayley’s gaze as Tray pulled forward. When he was out of sight, I rolled the window back up and huddled against the door, my forehead pressed against the glass.
    We drove in silence except when Tray’s phone would go off.
    “Yeah,” I heard him say. Then a moment later, he responded, “Nah. Have fun. Grant knows the way back.”
    His phone rang quite a few times and he had the same conversation.
    Sighing, I turned over and murmured, “A lot of people want you to go back to the party, huh?”
    He glanced sideways at me, but didn’t say anything.
    Then he said quietly, “You get what you wanted back there?”
    “Hmm…I guess. It’ll do.”
    My phone rang, interrupting anything else he might’ve said. I realized, rolling my eyes at my own stupidity, that I was flustered. Flustered because of Tray. How old am I? Thirteen? I flipped my phone open without checking to see who it was first. “What?”
    “Where are you?”
    I realized two things at once. It was Brian and he was furious.
    “I got a ride home.”
    “With Evans?” he demanded harshly.
    I looked at Tray—he’d heard. He could hear the entire conversation. Great.
    “What of it?”
    “God, you’re such a