Page 39 of Liars

“I’m not trying to scare you. I just think you need to be careful in that house. There’s a reason why no one dares to mess with the Raven Crew. They’re untouchable—practically gods at this school. They rule the students, the staff, the teachers, and the streets.” She rolled her eyes. “Oh, especially on the football field. Kreed’s the quarterback, Mason’s a wide receiver, Maddox’s a linebacker, and Nash is a running back. Together, they’re unstoppable. They rarely lose.”

I stared at my burger, my appetite waning. The greasy scent, which had been mouthwatering minutes ago, now made my stomach twist. “So, what? Everyone looks the other way while they do whatever they want?”

“Pretty much,” Poppy said, popping a fry into her mouth. “People either worship them or steer clear. It was worse before their older brother went off to college. Four Corvos in one school. It was hell.”

I leaned back, my mind spinning. “Where do you stand? Are you an adoring groupie, or do you avoid them at all costs?”

She swallowed, tapping a fry idly against her plate. “My relationship with them is…complicated. I knew them before they stepped into the role of massive assholes.”

My brows lifted as I squeezed an extra dab of ketchup onto the side of my fries. “You were friends?”

She gave a half shrug. “Until they outcasted me.”

“Why would they do that?”

A flicker of something—hurt, anger, maybe even regret—crossed her face before she masked it with indifference. “I don’t like rules. Especially from those who try to control me. They changed, which is normally a natural thing when getting older, but I didn’t like the direction they were headed. And I called them out on it.”

I exhaled slowly. “This is some heavy shit for day one.”

The idea of Kreed being connected to something dangerous made me uneasy, but I refused to be intimidated. If he thought he could push me around because of his reputation, he was in for a surprise.

Forcing a small smile, I grabbed a fry and flicked it at Poppy. “Thanks for the warning.”

Poppy grinned. “Don’t thank me. I never had to live with them.” She paused, then held out her hand. “Here, give me your phone.”

I handed it over, watching as she swiftly entered her contact info and saved it. “Call or text me anytime. And I mean anytime. I’m not much of a sleeper.”

“Me neither. Not lately.”

Poppy shot me a knowing look. “Something else we have in common.”

She took care of the bill, and as we left Stacks, we had about five minutes to cut across campus and get to class. We were halfway across the field when Poppy suddenly cursed under her breath, her steps faltering.

My stomach tightened. “What?”

She didn’t need to answer. I followed her gaze, my pulse spiking when I spotted Nash and Mason heading straight for us, their cocky smirks already in place.

“Ah, look. Pops made a friend,” Nash said to Mason, elbowing him.

Poppy rolled her eyes. “Blow me, Nash.”

Mason’s smirk widened, and his light-green eyes gleamed with amusement. “Wasn’t it last Friday you were blowing Nash behind the bleachers?”

Poppy didn’t miss a beat. “Jealous?”

Mason tilted his head, his eyes flashing at me. “Maybe if you looked like my little kitten.”

My jaw tightened. “I’m not yours.”

Mason’s grin was lazy, full of challenge. “You will be.”

My lips curled into a smirk. “Better move fast. Your brother already tried to kiss me.” Pitting them against each other seemed like a dirty move and precisely what I was going for. It could also be dangerous, playing with lies, toying with their relationship, but if they were going to screw with me, I’d damn well fuck with them.

Mason’s smirk faltered just for a second. I saw it. That flicker of doubt. “Now that’s funny.”

I lifted a shoulder in a half shrug. “You don’t believe me?” Truthfully, it wasn’t a complete lie. I thought back to that moment outside in the dark with Kreed and the night Maddox fell on top of me drunk. Either one of them could have kissed me.

Mason’s eyes darkened, but whatever uncertainty he felt was quickly buried. His smirk returned, sharper this time. “Well, we do like to share.”

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