“Basketball today?” Steve asked.
“I’m not sure if I’ll come. I’ll let you know later.”
“Why, man? Now that Elias is back, we’re eight again.”
“I’ll text you. Bye.” They split up and Ody walked toward the parking lot.
He spotted his car in the distance. The moment he approached, three figures came into view. Kash sat on the hood while the other two leaned against the sides, blocking his way.
Ody swallowed hard and kept walking. Kash’s faint smile was almost mocking.
“What do you want?” he asked, stopping at a safe distance.
“What, no good morning?” Kash grinned, but Ody’s face stayed cold. “How’s the little tough guy? Better?”
Ody’s jaw clenched. “After what you did to him, you should know.”
“Oh, come on. We went easy on him. Did you see him, or did he call you?”
Ody stared, offering nothing.
“Wait, hold on.” Kash tilted his head. “Don’t tell meyou’rethe one who picked him up.” He laughed at his own guess.
“Why?” Ody’s voice carried both anger and hurt. “Why did you have to beat him like that?”
“He started it. When he made me bleed in the yard.”
“He only did it because you jumped me in the restroom.” His tone grew harsher.
“See? So you’re the reason he got such a beating.”
A flicker of guilt crossed Ody’s face. Kash caught it, a slow smirk tugging at his lips. “Yeah. You think so too. I can see it.”
Students were approaching, so the three quickly moved off the car and pretended they were just chatting.
“Didn’t see him today. He didn’t come?”
“You think he could?” Ody said through clenched teeth.
“Damn.” Kash laughed. “We messed him up that bad?” He fist-bumped his friends.
Ody stared in disbelief. “You guys aren’t even human.” He shook his head. “And the girl? Did you have to hit her too?”
Kash’s smile vanished. “Stella’s none of your business. She was my girl. I’ll do whatever I want with her.”
“You know that if she files a report, you’re done.”
Kash stepped closer, voice suddenly low. “A what?”
Ody held his ground.
“You sure you wanna go there?” he said, not breaking eye contact.
Behind him, Ody saw the other two crouch near his tires, knives out. “No!” He shoved Kash aside and tried to stop them, but Kash yanked him back, pulling them close.
“If you don’t, keep quiet. Got it?”
Ody’s gaze dropped to Brandon and Pablo.
