Page 100 of Crew
He opened his locker. "What are you guys talking about?"
"You!" Taz said.
Cross paused. "Me?"
"You didn't tell me what happened to Bren." Taz's tone was accusing. "She's my friend too, Cross."
"Oh." Realization flooded, and his old grin came back. He shrugged, grabbing some of his books. "It's crew business. You know we can't talk about it."
"That's not true. You guys tell me stuff."
"Some stuff," he corrected her, shutting his locker.
As soon as he stepped away, a protected pocket formed around him in the flurry of activity. Students gave him a wide berth, weaving around him, and it only got bigger when I stepped in next to him. We began to walk to our classes, and Taz got jostled as she walked on the outside. Students were darting around her, choosing her side rather than going near Cross.
As I broke off, heading to my class, Taz started arguing with him. I glanced back, automatically grinning, then realized Cross had been watching me. He had tuned his sister out, and I paused in the doorway.
Once again, I felt a stirring inside of me.
I didn't altogether like it, but I couldn't deny that it excited me. It scared me too, and most terrifying--I didn't want it to go away.
Cross' eyes darkened, narrowing until Taz stopped talking and looked at me. The spell, or whatever it was, broke, and I waved.
"See you later."
Cross nodded, the slight blaze I'd seen in his eyes vanishing.
He was back to normal, but as I walked into my first class, I knew I wasn't. I was most definitely not normal, and sliding into my desk, I had a feeling this was just the beginning. There'd be more changes to come.
"Miss Monroe!" Mr. Jenston boomed as he came into the room, holding his briefcase high. He plopped it down onto his desk and jerked his thumb to the door. "Don't even get comfortable. You're wanted in the office."
"What?" I sat forward. "For what?"
"Uh?" He pretended to think about it, his eyes moving to the ceiling. Like Taz, he wasn't looking at me. "I don't know. Maybe because you weren't excused for your absence yesterday? Or maybe it's your delinquent behavior? Take your pick. What sort of trouble did you get into on the way to school today? Did you stab anyone?" He scoffed. "Yet?"
The class quieted.
I heard a girl gasp behind me.
I leaned forward, rising to my feet.
"Take that back." Jordan stood just inside the door, his hands in fists as he glared at our teacher.
Mr. Jenston had been leaning over his desk, staring at his computer screen. Seeing Jordan, panic flashed in his eyes, and he snapped upright.
"Excuse me?" He tried to glower back, but his voice shook a little. He ran a hand down the front of his tie.
"You heard me." Jordan moved forward a step. "Take that back."
All eyes came to me, and I would've liked to feel some triumph at the fear in our teacher's eyes, but I didn't. He looked at my face now, and a shadow crossed over his, but it didn't matter. He couldn't take back his words or the way they were delivered.
I rocked in place, but I kept by my desk. "You disrespected me."
"Look--"
"Do it again," Jordan growled. "Disrespect her one more time."
Beads of sweat formed on our teacher's forehead.
