Page 60 of Crew
We turned to him.
He held his hands up like he was surrendering. "My stupid cousin aside, maybe Principal Neeon went to a summer seminar? Bullying is a big deal now. He could've gotten that twisted so he thinks crews are the bullies. Or they're treating you like you're gangs."
Cross snorted. "We're not gangs. There's no blood in and blood out bullshit. The most illegal crap we do is drinking. We protect our own above anything else--that's the only similarity. That's what a crew does." His gaze went to a table were a few jocks were sitting. I recognized one as the football player who'd been talking to Jordan in class before. "If anyone's going to bully, it's them."
"You're stereotyping." Race grinned.
Cross shrugged. "I stand by what I said. We're not the bullies." He nodded to me. "Can you imagine the target that'd be on our backs if we were?" Then his smile fell away. "But Alex is starting to shoot his mouth off. He could be a problem for all crews if he doesn't rein it in."
"You don't think he can handle being their leader?" I looked at Race, but spoke to Cross, "You think maybe he could talk to Drake?"
"About what?" Race asked. "I'm not crew. He won't talk to me about that, not unless I join theirs."
Cross narrowed his eyes, tilting his head toward me. "Jordan will push you on this. Do you want to talk to Drake? The guy's right." He nodded at Race. "Drake won't talk to him unless he's in the crew."
I wanted to growl. Cross had gentled his tone because he knew this was the only course of action. If Alex kept popping off, I might have to reach out.
I didn't want that. I didn't want to deal with Drake again.
But I nodded. "If I have to, I will."
Race nudged my arm with the back of his hand. "I could go with you."
I didn't respond, but shared a look with Cross. He knew I wouldn't want him there. If I wanted anyone with me, it'd be Cross. But it was a moot point. Drake wouldn't talk if Race was there. If anyone should go, it should be my brother. Channing could scare Drake into talking, but that meant I'd have to spend more time than I already was with the new brother-extraordinaire persona.
Thumbs down to that.
I lifted a shoulder in response to Race's suggestion.
After that we got down to business--we actually studied. For all the trouble we caused, we weren't bad students. Usually. Or Cross wasn't. And judging by Race's notes, he seemed like a good student too. And it wasn't that I was a bad student, just not super motivated. Twenty minutes in, they were both reading, and I was watching the other students--the good ones according to the school's staff and administration. I wasn't a part of the normal universe, but from where I sat, I had a feeling they were just like us. Maybe worse in some ways too.
Cross was right. My gaze switched to the jock table. I remembered walking to a basketball game and seeing some of those guys stuff two freshman into lockers.
If my crew had done that, there would've been a reason. And it wouldn't have been those two guys that got stuffed. They'd been the nerd types. I had a hard time imagining either of them doing anything that would cause us to go after them.
"You okay?" Cross had been watching me.
Race lifted his head too.
At Cross' question, Sunday and Monica looked over. I saw the envy flash in their eyes and sighed.
No. I'd never trade places.
If that's what it meant to be normal or a good student, I didn't want it. They didn't have the loyalty I got every day.
When Cross asked if I was okay, he meant it. He wasn't asking so he could mock me later--something I'd heard Sunday do plenty of times.
I nodded to Cross. "We should hang out with your sister more often."
His head moved back an inch. "Where'd that come from?"
Race looked over to where my attention had been focused.
"She asked for my help," I told him. "I think I might actually do it."
I watched Sunday and Monica again. They bent their heads together, whispering.
Cross narrowed his eyes. "Are you serious? The Badger thing?"
