know the answer.
âGirls from the Heights donât usually come to the street races.â
âAbel is one of my best friends, and he was in trouble. Itâs not like I had a choice.â A second too late, I realize the way it sounds. âNot that thereâs anything wrong with where you race.â
âYou had a choice. Most people wonât have your back if it means putting their own ass on the line. Trust me.â
âI donât have many real friends.â The words tumble out. Perfect. She probably thinks I sit alone at a huge table in the cafeteria every day.
âMe neither.â
The bell rings, and Mrs. Hellstrom issues last-minute instructions as chair legs scrape and students bolt out the door. I close the photocopied packet of other peopleâs private thoughts and stuff it in my backpack.
Cruz tucks her pen in the pocket of the painted-on jeans that manage to look cool on her, instead of like sheâs trying too hard.
I follow her out of the classroom, expecting her to ditch me. Instead, she falls into step beside me. âSo whatâs the deal between you and Marco?â
Is it that obvious?
âThereâs no deal.â
âHe doesnât stick his neck out for just anyone.â
âHis sister is in my group at the rec center. He probably wanted to make sure her tutor didnât get kidnapped.â Itâs pretty much the same answer I gave Lex, and from the look on Cruzâs face, she isnât buying it, either.
Cruz owns the hallway. Guys stare and girls move aside. A jock wearing a Monroe Soccer T-shirt and a Tag Heuer watch thatâs worth at least nine hundred dollars checks out Cruz instead of paying attention to the cheerleader batting her lashes at him.
The jock grins at Cruz, and she gives him the finger. âGuys from the Heights are assholes.â
All of a sudden, it feels like Iâm standing on the wrong side of enemy lines. But the truth is, lots of guys from the Heights are arrogant, selfish, and entitled. Noah was an exception. âYouâre right. Most of them are.â
âYou donât have to agree with me to avoid an awkward moment. I can deal with awkward. Itâs bullshit I canât handle.â
âIâm not that nice anymore.â
She sizes me up and watches the activity in the hallway at the same time. She would make a good cop. âNow that weâve established this is a bullshit-free zone, thereâs really nothing going on with you and Marco?â
âHeâs not my type, and Iâm probably not his, either.â I sound like my six-year-old cousin when he canât have something and he says, Then I donât want it anyway. âIâm not going to jump in bed with him just because heâs hot.â
âMost girls do.â It sounds like sheâs stating a fact. âBut you think heâs hot?â
âThatâs not what I meant.â Especially now that I know Lex wasnât exaggerating about his reputation.
âItâs what you said.â
âIâm not going to be Marco Leoneâs flavor of the week, and I donât want a relationship with anyone.â
She flashes a smug smile when I say the word relationship .
âNot that I think Marco is relationship material.â
Cruzâs smile fades. âYou would be surprised.â
Â
CHAPTER 13
ONE-EYED CAT
When Lex drops me off at the rec center after school, the three shirtless basketball players are already standing against the wall. Theyâre wearing different nylon basketball shorts and leather high-tops, but otherwise they look exactly the same.
âHey, princess. Youâre back.â
âCome on over here and say hi.â
One of them flicks his tongue at me. âWe missed you.â
Gross.
They blow me kisses and I ignore them, taking the steps two at a time.
Inside, Sofia sits perched on Miss Lorraineâs chair behind the counter. Miss
Iris Johansen
Jennifer Kacey
Lori Copeland
Joan Hiatt Harlow
Rita Hestand
Matthew Frank
Bryan Mealer
Christina Brooke
Hobb Robin
Mari Beck