Braden saunters over, shoving his chair back as he sets his tray on the table. I'm directly behind him and when he sits down, he makes sure to slam his chair into mine before scooting it forward.
"Asshole," I mutter.
"You hear Novak's out?" Braden says, loud enough for me to hear. "Guess Legion doesn't allow murderers on the team anymore."
"Anymore," Kade says with a laugh. "Good one."
"For how long?" Barron asks.
"Until they drop the charges." Braden laughs. "So yeah, he's done. Looks like we'll be going to State this year." He jumps up and high fives the guys as they grunt like idiots. I was starting to get along with them. I even thought some of them could be friends. But now? I see they're all just milder versions of Braden.
"What is SHE doing here?" one of the girls at my table says, bringing my attention back to them.
Peyton turns to me. "You can leave now."
"I can't eat here?"
She huffs. "Seriously? You think we want to sit with the girl who killed our best friend?"
The other girls look like they want to say something to me but are too afraid. They probably think I'll punch them like I punched Kristen.
"I didn't kill her," I say. "And neither did Jackson." I grab my tray and shove up from my chair. I go to the side doors that lead outside and realize they're locked. "Shit," I say, noticing everyone staring at me.
"They had to lock the doors," Braden yells at me. "To keep out the killers."
He laughs, and then his friends do. It wasn't even funny. They're such followers.
I walk over to him and slam my tray down on the table, spilling my drink everywhere. I look out at everyone in the cafeteria.
"You know why he jokes about it?" I yell. "Because he wants to take the attention off himself!"
"What the fuck?" Braden reaches for me but I step away, walking between the tables to the middle of the room.
"How many people here think Braden killed Andrea?" I ask, loud enough for everyone to hear.
The room is silent.
"I know at least some of you think he killed her. And yet you treat him like a god. You do whatever he says." I point to Braden. "Why is he any different than Jackson? They've both been accused and yet one is a hero and one is a villain."
Braden jumps up from his seat and storms over to me, shoving my arm. "Get the fuck out of here!"
"You see what I mean?" I say, ignoring Braden. "He can't handle people talking bad about him so he doesn't let them. He silences them, just like he's done to all of you."
"Get out!" Braden yells, shoving me so hard I slam into a table and fall to the ground.
I hear some girls gasp.
"Braden!" Dante says, appearing beside him. "Leave her alone."
Braden laughs. "Give it up, man. She's never gonna sleep with you."
"That's not why I'm doing this," he mutters. He looks at me. "You okay?"
"Yeah," I say, getting up, my elbow and back throbbing in pain from hitting the table. I walk out of the cafeteria, my head held high, shoulders back, not looking at a single one of those fuckers. They can all go to hell. I'd rather be an outcast nobody talks to than be friends with those people.
I go outside and around back to the gardens that are next to the bookstore. I haven't been to the bookstore since the day I went there with Maria. Kristen was there. And now she's dead.
"Mind if I join you?" a voice says.
