“Answer me,” Cole ordered, stepping down on the next step, now even with the two idiots.
No one said a word.
Bold Jerk slowly stood up, holding his junk, and even though his group was obviously outmanned, his unflinching gaze found mine and he sneered, “Screw you, homo bitch.”
“Wrong answer,” I whispered.
Colemovedand tossed the idiot over his shoulders and stomped down the stairs while Bold Jerk yelled and hollered in protest. No one stopped him. They all parted, pressing up against the railing as Cole made his way through the gathering crowd.
Brent was still eyeing Blond Jock, and he asked way too calmly, “Would you like to comment, too?”
Blond Jocks eyes widened even more as he watched his friend disappear from sight. He glanced from me – I was shaking my head frantically behind Brent’s back – and back to Brent.
He lowered his gaze and shook his head.
Brent patted his head condescendingly. “Good. Maybe you’re smarter than your friend.” He stepped back up to me and kissed my cheek, murmuring, “I’ll be back in a bit.” Then, he turned and raced off after Cole.
We all watched in silence.
“Think he’ll live?” I asked into the quiet.
“They won’t hurt him…too bad,” Stash answered and grinned. It wasn’t his normal smile. This was something else entirely. I shivered.
“Can you let me down now?” I poked Zane wrist that was caging me in.
Zane lowered me, away from the twenty-something’s group, and Stash grabbed my mat, throwing an arm around Ally’s still trembling shoulders. He handed my mat over to me and whispered something in Ally’s ear. I apologized for frightening her. She didn’t say anything and just kept a death grip on her mat as we trudged up the stairs. Stash never let her go.
***
Brent andCole returned an hour later. They didn’t say anything, but hovered all around me like pesky – sexy – bees. I didn’t notice any bloody knuckles, but I never saw Bold Jerk again, even though his friends were still around the park. I didn’t ask.
Ally had finally calmed down after giving me what-for before Brent and Cole returned. She had been upset and since I was a good friend I let her blow off the steam while I handed out a few more apologies. I had last seen her when she smacked mehard on the mouth with fruity tasting lips and strutted away with Stash. I think he had made a new friend.
I spent the majority of my time in the gentle wave pool after being firmly beaten six times at the Taumata Racer. It was relaxing and I was free to sulk in the lapping water. No one likes to lose every time. Brent tried to assure me it was because I was so tiny and they were all so big that their weight pulled them down faster, but I wasn’t so sure about that.
After, hitting the Dolphin Plunge twice we headed back to the cabana. I was starting to feel the sun’s rays and I knew I would start frying sooner rather than later. Cole snagged us some grub and we chowed down after drying off. We ended up lying on an oversized, cushioned lounge chair with our towels thrown over us as a make-shift blanket.
I lay in the middle like normal and dozed off, the day’s activities catching up to me.
I woke up only once when I heard Chloe say worriedly, “They’ve got to be crushing her. How can she even breathe?”
“Leave them alone,” Zane grumbled.
“Fine, but is she starts turning blue, it’s your fault.”
Zane grunted.
I fell back asleep with the now familiar comfort of their warm weight sprawled all over me.
***
“Where arewe going?” I practically bounced between them on the cab seat we sat on.
We had finished the day at the park around 4:00 and it was well into the night now. Brent and Cole had said to dress any way I wanted when they surprised me, revealing that we were going out tonight. Alone. Without the group.
I had taken in their casual clothes, drifting toward the darker side, and went with my ballet skirt, ripped black hose,garters, converse, and a black bodice that pinned up the front. My eyes were glittering silver with dark eyeliner and I had applied strawberry gloss to my lips. I was dressed for a rockin’ night out on the town. Like I said, Saturdays are the best.
Brent grinned down at me, placing a hand on my jumping knee. “You’ll see.”
