Page 16 of Crew Princess
“Oh.” Race deflated. “That was my fault. I was supposed to pass the word and forgot. It happened fast and at the last minute. I’d come up here in search of Bren when word got to us that some of the Crusties were caught in Roussou. They were trying to burn our school down.”
“What?!” Cross and I exclaimed.
Cross clarified, “Academy Crusties?”
Race nodded. “Yeah, and yeah. They were caught, and they’re at the Fallen Crest police station now.”
“Who caught them?”
Race glanced at me, and I knew. That look said it all. I’d gotten it every day of my life.
I stepped back. “Channing did?”
“One of his crew.”
I gave Race a look.
He rolled his eyes. “What? They’re still his crew, and you know it. Anyway, some of the Friscians are wondering if they were the ones who burned their school down too.”
“Fuck,” came low from Cross.
“I know.”
A new thought came to me. A sinking thought. “Whodid those explosions?”
“Who do you think?” Race motioned around. “Who sent us up here instead of coming themselves?”
Jordan. Zellman.
Now their absence was explained.
And fuck.
Race ran his hand through his hair, much like his cousin had moments ago. “Z was almost eager to do it, said he hadn’t had a lot of action for a while.” Race grinned. “Too much peace, huh? Is that a thing around here?”
Cross snorted and shifted back on his feet. “So we’re in a town war now?”
“I don’t think so. I don’t know. It was the snob school who tried to do the school thing, not Public. We can exile all Academy Crusties from the weekend events and handle them.”
Cross nodded at Race, approving. “Look at you. Talking like a crew member.”
Race stopped, his face reddening in the moonlight. “Yeah, well. I like certain people in Roussou.”
After his parents’ affair came to light and the divorce was settled, Race’s mother bought a home in Fallen Crest. His dad moved to Roussou, into Alex and Drake’s childhood home to be with their mom. Their dad had moved out, and I wasn’t sure what had happened with him, but judging from Drake and Race just now, things were tense.
We had to go. I shouldn’t ask, but… “How are you doing? With all the family stuff?”
Race’s head dropped down. “I don’t know. We’re dealing. My mom’s still letting me attend Roussou. That’s all I care about.”
“If things get heated, you could be a target.”
“I know.” Race looked at Cross. “I’m driving back and forth right now—”
“You can have my room,” Cross told him.
I was having a moment. Right here. Because while Race’s family had been in disarray since the beginning of the year, Cross’ family had been intact. Right now, both their lives were upended by family matters, and I, for once, was doing okay. I was living in Channing’s house. And yeah, he hated that Cross was there with me, but he hadn’t put in the extra effort to cause a rift between us. He hadn’t banned Cross from staying with us, just grumbled under his breath every time he saw us.
We tried not to let him see us.
