Page 12 of Catch Me

Jules and I exchange a look. We don’t know who this guy is, but we know something’s just happened. And it’s not good.

6

We follow the pair into the school. Reid’s steps are hurried, so I have to walk double to keep up with him. Sasha and the mystery boy stop in the football hangout area near the stairs, right by where Reid’s locker is. Sasha hugs her cheerleader girlfriends while her new friend looks around. Apparently, sometime in the week I’ve been gone, Sasha dumped her lacrosse boyfriend. It’s weird she had time to do that considering she was having fun making my life miserable.

Bitch.

A few of the football players eye the guy warily. I can tell they know who he is, too. It feels like Jules and I are the only ones who don’t. When they see Reid, though, they break out into smiles. “Parker. Fuck, man,” a guy on the offensive line says. He comes over and claps him on the back. “Good to see you, dude.”

When the guy lets him go, Reid grabs my hand again, his fingers tight on my own. He side-eyes the newcomer, but answers the guy. “Good to be back, man.”

The other football guys gather around Reid. They all ask how he’s doing and express the fact they’re thrilled he’s back. A few of them even lower their voices to tell him Barnhardt needs some serious help.

“That’s what I’ve been told,” Reid responds with a grin.

“Poor fucker never thought he’d get a chance.”

Sasha saunters into the middle of the group, pushing past two huge guys like they’re nothing. This is so cliché high school, I think, as she moves in. Of course, the cheerleaders and the football team hang out in the exact same area of the school. She puts a hand on her hip, and I squeeze Reid’s hand right back. When she first came into the motel room, I have to admit, I was afraid. But not right now. Not with these guys surrounding me. “Did you have fun last night?” I ask.

Her eyes flash for a second, but no one knows what happened yesterday but us, so she’s not going to take my bait. She doesn’t want the whole school to know she got in trouble for having underage sexual pictures on her phone. What I’d really like to know, though, is why she seems so damn happy? She must’ve only gotten a slap on the wrist at best. The Pontine’s do it again, sweeping everything under the rug.

She beams in the next second, then places her dainty hand on her hip. “I did, actually,” she says, smiling what seems like a genuine smile until you see the hardness in her eyes. She reaches her hand out. “You guys know Oscar, right?”

All gazes shift toward him. I can tell he’s fine with the attention. He beams. His tanned skin and dark eyes dance under the fluorescent lights. His dark hair is gelled, parted to the side with the sides shaved. “What’s up, fellas?”

Reid stiffens. I wish I knew what was going on. I’m completely in the dark. I only know Reid and the guys are practically fuming underneath the surface. Oscar moves forward, hand outstretched to Reid. Reid ignores him, not even bothering his offer of civility a spare glance.

“My dad gave Oscar’s mom a job in town, so they moved here a couple of days ago.”

Oscar hikes his bookbag up his shoulder as if he’s showing it off.

“Wait. You go here now?” Reid asks.

Oscar nods. “My mom couldn’t turn down the generous offer by the Pontine’s.”

Cade is the first one of our group to speak up. “In the middle of the season? Why the hell would you do that? You had a good thing going at Rawley Heights.”

Oscar shrugs noncommittally. “You know. Family shit.”

Sasha places her arm around him, cementing herself to his side. If any of the other girls were charmed by Oscar’s good looks, she just claimed him in front of the entire school. “My dad just had to have Oscar’s mom.”

“I bet he did,” one of the players says under his breath.

“Not like that,” Sasha spits. She tries to regain composure, but I can tell the comment affected her. When I glance at Oscar though, his face is red with anger. He definitely didn’t like that comment.

“Come on,” Reid says, pulling back on my hand to steer me away. The halls are filled now with the steady hum of morning excitement before classes kick in.

“Who’s this?” Oscar asks, catching everyone’s attention. Reid comes to a stop, and I nearly bump into him. “I remember you two being together,” Oscar says, looking back and forth between Sasha and Reid.

“I dumped him,” Sasha says, sneering.

Everyone in this damn group knows that’s a lie. They were all there for the very public argument between the two of them at the homecoming party.

Reid puts his arm around my shoulders. “My girlfriend Briar.”

Oscar looks me up and down, making me feel like I’m under a microscope.

“Brady’s sister,” Sasha whispers, like what Reid and I are doing is risqué.

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