Trystan laughs. "Yeah, I could see him doing that. My dad's done it."
"He has? How do you know?"
"I saw the marks on her neck when the chick was leaving."
"And you're sure that's what it was from?"
"Trust me, from the smile on her face that's what it was from. And it's something she wanted. She was one of those serious chicks who want you to think they're all prim and proper, but in the bedroom they're into all that kinky shit."
So Brock, and likely Braden, have both left girls with marks on their necks. And Kristen showed up with them right before her death.
"Novak also told the cops Braden raped a girl," Trystan says. "He didn't say who. He claimed she didn't want anyone to know, but the truth is it never happened. He just made it up to make Braden look bad."
"You're positive your brother never did any of this stuff?"
"I can't prove it, but why would he? If he did that shit, he'd be done with football. They'd kick him off the team and he'd lose any chance to play at college."
"Is football really that important to him?"
Trystan laughs. "Seriously? Have you met him?"
"I know it's important but it's just a game. It's not like he's good enough to play pro."
"Maybe not, but he could play at college. That might be the only way he gets in."
"His grades are really that bad?"
"Hisrealgrades? Yeah."
I get up and take my plate to the sink.
"Are you still gonna date him?" Trystan asks as I rinse my plate. "Knowing what he's done?"
"What you said about him doesn't change anything. I like Jackson. I'm not going to stop seeing him. I don't need your approval, or Braden's, or your dad's."
Trystan walks past me to the trash can and tosses out his candy wrapper. "My dad's only okay with it because he wants a part in Roman's movie. He's just as much of a traitor as you are."
"I'm not a traitor." I go up to Trystan. "And I'm not dating Jackson to get back at your brother. You can believe that or not. I don't really care."
Ana walks in, smelling like cigarettes. I didn't know she smoked. I never smelled it on her before.
"You're smoking again?" Trystan asks Ana.
"Just one," she mutters.
"Dad hates that shit. If he smells it on you he'll—"
"I know," she says as she washes her hands. "I need to go to the store. I'll stop and change clothes on my way back." She looks at us. "Do either of you need anything?"
"More of those chips," Trystan says, nodding to the almost empty bag. "And more of Rumor's candy bars."
"You already ate them all?" Ana asks me.
"Trystan ate one, and I'm guessing he's going to eat more so get extra."
Ana smiles at Trystan. "She's bringing you to the dark side?"
"I was already there. But yeah, get some extra. My diet's going to shit right now. I'll clean it up later."
