Page 52 of Crew Princess
Headlights flashed behind us before turning off.
Cross cleared his throat. “They’re here.”
“Finally!” Zellman huffed, going over to Jordan and ducking to put his arm around his shoulder. They started heading up the bank.
Cross touched the inside of my wrist, nodding to Aspen, who had quickly turned to look back out over the river. Her back was to the truck, her arms crossed over her chest.
I nodded and lingered as he hurried to go get under Jordan’s other arm.
“Do you—do you need anything? Food or…?”
“What?” She twisted back to me, her mouth in a fierce frown. She cocked her head to the side. “Wait. You think I’m homeless?”
I had no idea. I said as much. “I, uh…are you?” I exhaled a ragged breath. “I mean, if you are, I’m not trying to judge. Where do you go to school?”
She stepped backward, her face pinched as if I’d committed the biggest offense possible.
I swore under my breath. “If you’re not, I’m sorry. And if you are, I don’t care. We owe you—I owe you. You can come with us, stay at my place. My brother would be a bleeding heart for you. Trust me.”
She was quiet for a moment, not looking at me, and then she said tightly, “I’m good. And I wasn’t lying about anything. I just wanted to help.”
I was the worst person there was.
I wanted to make things right, better with her, but I could also read the signs that she was done with me. She wanted her space, so I nodded and started to turn around. “Okay. Thank you for everything. I mean it.”
She didn’t respond, but I saw her nod slowly as she turned her back to me, again facing out toward the river.
With a heavy heart, I trudged over to climb up to where Race’s SUV was waiting for us. Taz was in the back, and as the door opened, she had a blanket ready for me. Heat blasted me, along with the smells of family.
“Who’s that down there?” Race asked.
Zellman snorted. “Some wei—”
I cut him off, firmly, “Someone we owe. She helped us.”
“That’s good.” Race eased the SUV back onto the road, but instead of turning south, he headed north. We’d have to go all the way around Frisco before going east and then south toward Roussou.
We traveled a bit, warming up, before Race spoke. “You guys should know the shit show that happened back there.”
Cross looked over. “What shit show?”
Taz leaned over the seat, draping her arm between her boyfriend and brother. “The cops. Word already got out. They didn’t arrest any Fallen Crest Academy students, or the public students from FC.”
“What?”
“They rounded everyone up and asked them which school they attended,” Race said. “All the Roussou students were arrested.”
“What?!” Jordan jerked up, then grimaced and fell back.
Zellman shot forward. “You serious?”
Race nodded. “Yeah. And there’s video of it. The same account that got Jordan’s attack got the round-up. That’s what they’re calling it.”
“What about the Frisco students who go to Roussou now?”
“Same. The ones who were transferred to Roussou were arrested. Ones who went to Academy or FC Public were all let go.”
“How can they get away with it? Is that even legal?”
