“And people from Twisted Pine go to these parties?”
“We’re not supposed to, but we do. We show up late when everyone’s too drunk to notice.”
“But the football team’s banned?”
“That’sourrule, not theirs. Last year fights broke out and one of our guys ended up with a broken arm and had to sit out the rest of the season. After that, Principal Edwards banned the team from going to Warrior parties but some of them still go.”
“Why’s Braden so worried about it?”
“Because he doesn’t want to lose one of his teammates because they did something stupid. This year’s team is the best the school’s ever had. They might even go to State.”
“Do the Legion people show up at Twisted Pine parties?”
“Usually not. We can afford to hire security to keep them out.” His phone dings. “They’re here. I gotta go.”
When he’s gone, I get up and go inside.
I text Jackson.
Are you at the Legion party?
Yeah, he texts back.
How’d you know?
Before I can text him the answer, he sends another text.
Who’s crashing it? B or T?
T, I text back.
Who else?
I don’t know. Maybe a few of the players.
I’m on it. Thx.
Shutting down my phone, I notice my heart thumping. I take a moment to breathe.
Maybe I shouldn’t have agreed to this. I don’t think I like being a spy. And I’m starting to think Braden’s not so bad. He was actually being nice to me tonight. And he opened up to me about his mom, which might be a sign he’s accepting me. Or maybe it was a trick to get me to trust him.
For now, I’m sticking with the plan. Take down Braden. Take down Twisted Pine.
* * *
The next morning, around ten, I head to the kitchen and hear Braden talking really loudly, almost yelling.
“Some fucker ratted us out,” he says.
“What happened?” I ask, joining them in the kitchen.
Trystan laughs. “Legion had their bouncer guarding the door.”
“You think this is funny?” Braden shoots him an angry look. “The asshole almost called the cops.”
“On who?” I ask.
“Barron and Kade,” Braden says. “They’re on the team.”
