“My mother. She fell in love.”
“With Da Silva?”
I nod, holding back a giggle at the way his nose crinkles. “I know, right? Horrible taste.”
He laughs at that. “Come on, I’ll walk you to class.”
We have first period together, so I don’t argue with him, even though we’re both late. “Thank you for being nice, despite who my mother married over the summer.”
“It’s not your fault.”
“Still.” I stop as we make it to the door of our first class. “Thank you.”
“What are you doing after school?”
The question takes me aback for a minute, but I regain my wits. “Nothing.”
“Wrong. You’re coming with me to Richard’s.”
“Richard’s? Who’s that?”
He laughs at me like I’m totally ridiculous. “Oh boy, Raelynn. You have a lot to learn about this town.”
I laugh but don’t argue. I’ve only lived here for three months and haven’t really been out of the house. “How do we get to this Richard’s?”
“We walk.”
I instantly know my mother won’t allow it, no matter how close it is. “How far is it?”
“Just a couple of blocks. It’s a hangout place. Tammy will be there, along with my older brother, Nash, and his friends and some other people from school. It’s the place to be on a Friday afternoon.”
“I um . . .” I hate how weak my voice sounds. “I don’t want to be anywhere she is. And I um . . .” Well, if he doesn’t hate me yet, he will now. “A car picks me up from school. If I’m not there, I’ll be in trouble.”
His dark eyebrow arches in amusement. “A car?”
“Yes.”
“Okay. So can they drive you there? I can give you the address. Remember what I said about not letting them break you. You showing up there today, that will be really cool.”
I have no idea why, but I trust him. “Okay.” I bite my bottom lip. “You could come with me.”
He instantly recoils. “In the fancy car?”
“Someone has to tell the driver where to go.”
His eyes search mine, and we make a silent agreement.
I’ll go to this hangout with his horrible friends if he rides in a car that makes him uncomfortable.
“Deal.”
We go into class, not avoiding the wrath of the older male teacher but also not getting detention.
My mind isn’t in class though. It’s on this afternoon and wondering how I’m going to make it through.
* * *
“Are you kidding me?”
I try not to roll my eyes at Tammy as she stands next to me, giving me a lecture about inviting the new girl to Richard’s. “What?”
“What? How could you invite the slut?”
“Don’t call her that.” I hate that word. It’s gross. And Tammy knows that. I wouldn’t let anyone call her that, and I won’t let her call anyone else that.
She pouts, but I don’t care. “You cannot be serious? You know who she is, right? A Sanders? Flaunting her money like we’re nothing.”
“She’s not like that.” Granted, I’ve only known her for a week and only just talked to her today for the first time, but still, I know she isn’t. She doesn’t seem proud of her family’s wealth. She even seemed sheepish when she invited me to climb into the shiny black town car that was waiting outside our crappy, rundown school this afternoon.
I tried not to make her feel weird, but the ride was odd. I’d never been in such a new, fancy car before.
“What are you, like, wanting to date her now?” she huffs, and my eyes move to Raelynn as she stands in line at the front of our hangout. Richard’s is a pizza place with arcade games and a pool table and pretty much the coolest thing in town. She insisted on grabbing us some food and drinks, so I let her, sensing she wasn’t comfortable with my group of friends and wanting a break.
“No. I just think she’s had a rough day. You know, since some horrible girls wrote on her locker.”
Tammy folds her arms over her chest defensively. “Law, she had it coming. You know she’s screwing her stepdad.”
“I don’t know that.” I’ve heard the rumors. There are always rumors in a small town. Rumors that her mother lost all her money and had to move here. Rumors that Raelynn is pregnant with Da Silva’s baby, but he married her mother so they can raise the baby. Rumors that Da Silva is sleeping with the mother and the daughter.
It’s all sick and undoubtably all untrue.
“Whatever. Look at her, she’s slutty.”
I roll my eyes at that, looking over at Raelynn. She has long blond hair that I’m not sure is naturally wavy or if she curls it. Her face has no makeup like most of the girls I know. Her eyes are a pretty light blue, and she’s thin but not a stick figure. She’s wearing jeans and a sleeveless lacy purple top.
She screams sophistication and elegance, but she also has a wide-eyed innocence that’s far from a promiscuous vibe. And like I told her earlier today, I wouldn’t care if she did. “She’s not. And you need to stop because it’s gross.”
“Whatever, Law.” She leaves, going back to her group. But before I can move to Raelynn, who’s still standing in line, I’m blocked by my older brother, Nash, and his friend Elias.
“What the hell is your little girlfriend’s problem now?” Nash is grinning, and I sigh, annoyed by both him and Tammy.
“She isn’t my girlfriend. And she’s mad I brought the new girl here.”
Nash and Elias look behind them to where I’m looking, and then both look back at me wide-eyed. Elias lets out a whistle. “You brought little miss rich bitch here?”
“She’s not a bitch,” I bristle, sick of this town. I have been for a while now.
Nash ruffles my hair playfully. “Aw, does my little brother have a crush on the rich girl?”
“Stop.” I swat him away. “That’s not all she is, and no. We’re friends. Tammy and her friends were terrible to her today. I thought I could cheer her up.”
Nash and Elias share a look and laugh at my expense. Nash then grabs me in a headlock, tucking me under his big arm and pissing me off. “Be careful, little brother.”
I finally shove free and try to smooth my hair out. “I’m pretty sure I’ll be okay.”
He looks serious now, too serious for Nash. “I mean it, okay?” He keeps his voice low, looking over at Raelynn. “Girls like that . . . They only want us for the story. It’s all about their fling with the bad boy from the wrong side of the tracks.”
There’s pain in his eyes when he says that, and Elias looks angry for him, so he must know what my brother is talking about. “Look, I don’t know what some rich girl did to you, but I’m fine. We’re friends. I just don’t like seeing her sad. That’s all.”
“Right.” He looks at Raelynn and then back at me. “Just be careful. That girl has chaos written all over her.”
He shoves my shoulder with his hand and then winks before he and Elias leave together. I stare over at Raelynn, not seeing a hint of chaos. They’re ridiculous.