Page 73 of Breaking Rules
Chapter Twenty-One
MONTANA
Elvira, Reagan, and I were hanging on the front lawn before school. The weather for October had been mild, a little humid, and definitely better than the cold winters of New York. Students mingled with their friends as the three of us found a spot near one of the shade trees that dotted the area around the school. Since yesterday, I’d been trying to wrap my head around Nina and her appearance at Train’s beach house. Up until then, I’d assumed she was all talk with her threats. Even though she hadn’t done anything, I was creeped out by knowing that she could’ve been spying on us. I did like to put on a show. I didn’t like people who spied on that show.
“So, what are we going to do about Nina?” Reagan asked, leaning against the tree.
I flicked my chin at Drew, who I’d just noticed was talking to a group of guys by the cement benches in front of the school. “Maybe we can ask Drew.”
Reagan darted over to Drew and pulled him back to our circle. “Tell us what you were doing outside Train’s beach house yesterday.” Reagan was feistier than me. Her tone could have quieted a forest of animals.
Fear coated Drew’s freckled face. “How do you know that?”
“Answer us.” I sounded as if I was ready to bite off his head, and I was.
“Drew.” Elvira said his name in a motherly tone. “We just want to make sure that Nina doesn’t get you into trouble. Because, you know, stalking can get you in trouble with the law.”
His Adam’s apple bobbed. “If you must know, I wanted to ask a girl to the debutante ball. She has a house next to Train’s. Nina went with me for moral support.”
I hadn’t seen Nina with any friends other than her little interaction with Ferris that first week of school. Speaking of Ferris, I had fired him the previous week. I wasn’t comfortable around him. I didn’t think he would do anything bad to me, but he was nosy about Train and about me. My mom had always said to follow my intuition. I hadn’t taken on another tutor, either. If I needed help, I would ask Train. He would help me work through my math problems.
“Who’s the girl?” Reagan asked.
A hand settled on my lower back. His ocean scent gave him away before I could react. Train kissed me on the ear. “Morning, baby.”
I lifted up on my toes and gave him a chaste kiss on his lips. “Hi. We were just asking Drew why he was at your house yesterday.”
Train skirted around Elvira and me to stand next to Drew. “I’m all ears, dude.”
Drew looked even more frightened with Train beside him. “I was visiting a girl.”
“Who? Melanie Schneider? Is that the cheerleader you want to take to the ball?”
Drew nodded.
Elvira and I exchanged a surprised look. I was shocked that Train knew Drew wanted to ask a girl out. If he’d been talking to Drew, then he could’ve been talking to Nina. Maybe he had after I left last night. A shiver rolled through my spine. I shouldn’t have been jealous. I knew he wasn’t into her anymore. He would freeze into an ice sculpture whenever she was near. Regardless, doubt niggled in the back of my brain.
“Melanie?” Reagan parroted with a hitch in her voice as though Melanie would never go out with Drew.
“She lives two houses down from my beach house,” Train said.
Elvira sighed loudly. “I guess we were worried for nothing.”
I didn’t know if I agreed with her. Still, if Drew had been there to ask a girl out, then I would relax too.
“Drew, did Melanie say yes?” I asked.
He gripped the straps of his backpack. “She said she would think about it. Can I go now?”
We’d all been so engrossed with Drew that no one saw Nina coming. She slid closer to Train, wearing a miniskirt and a tight-fitting blouse. “Leave my cousin alone.”
Train went ramrod straight.
I shot daggers at Nina. If she so much as touched Train, I would use my fists. I’d never punched anyone before, but I was willing to today.
Train casually loped to my side. “Come on, baby,” he said to me.
“Train, I thought we could talk.” Nina’s drawn-in eyebrows belied the sweetness in her tone.
