Chapter 6 #2
She shook her head. “These girls will sometimes show up at parties, used for quick fucks, but then they’re kicked to the curb. They were deemed too pathetic to be brought in. They’re called groupies.”
“Is there no way I can just hide in the background?” I could feel a slight panic washing over me. “I mean, no offense, but I don’t want to be a part of a gang. Can I not be a… a normie? ” I scrunched up my nose, trying to think of a nickname for who I would rather be.
At this, Meredith actually threw her head back and laughed hard.
“What’s so funny?” An annoying habit of mine was when I could hear someone genuinely laughing, I would automatically start laughing, too, even if I had no idea what had gotten them going. I started, and I internally cringed at myself. “What?” I asked.
Meredith wiped under her eyes and shook her head at me.
“Oh, princess… you’re too cute. They’re going to fall all over you.
” She smirked just as our teacher flashed her another warning stare.
“You aren’t going to be brought in as a gang member, princess.
Like I said, you look too much like an outsider, despite the fact you’re from here.
And no way would you end up as a groupie.
No, if anything, you’ll be made someone’s girl. ”
“I’m not interested in dating,” I said and moved over to one of the spare round tables as I waited for our cookies to bake.
Meredith joined me, and we both pulled out our notebooks.
“My life is a little too… chaotic right now to deal with all of this. I didn’t come here to get involved with anyone or any drama.
I just want to do my school work and survive senior year. ”
“Aren’t we all?” she mused, twirling her pencil between her long, slender fingers.
“Unfortunately, sometimes other things get in the way of our careful planning that we have no control over…” Her voice sounded sad all of a sudden, and I found myself only more intrigued by this girl.
She lifted the corner of her mouth again.
“Either way, this next week will be interesting for you. I’m sure you’ll be approached by the groups.
You just need to decide for yourself where you think you belong. ”
As much as I wanted to remain unknown here, unseen, it sounded like the choice wasn’t up to me.
If there were groups who were interested, they’re going to make it known.
My only hope was if I could bore them, turn them off, or make it clear I’m just another student who wanted to get through high school and not be a bother to anyone.
If it came down to it, it sounded like Vendetta was the one to support.
Of the three, they seemed to be less involved in the illegal crap I wanted to avoid.
I wanted to ask Meredith who she was with, but I felt like we weren’t there yet, socially.
She clearly wanted me to decide for myself, and I appreciated that.
She could very well nudge me into the direction of her own crowd, if she wanted. But I could tell she won’t.
“Any advice?” I asked her, rewriting some of the notes I’d made in English.
“About life? Cuz I’m not the best person to come to,” she said, sounding highly entertained but quickly sobered, getting all serious on me.
“Know that Company won’t be able to protect you, especially since they go to Public.
They’ll probably notice you at parties or school events, though.
But steer clear of them. Like I said… they’re dangerous and stupid.
” She instantly grew incredibly somber as she held my gaze, her blue eyes like stone sapphires.
“The Jackals and Vendetta, however, whoever you pick between those two, you’ll make an enemy of the other.
The Jackals and the Beasts are tied. Vendetta…
Well, they have their own supporters. They’re just more discreet about it. ”
I wondered what she possibly meant by supporters ? I doubt it was the Faceless, as the Beasts were tied with them, which meant so were the Jackals. Who else was around that could be working with Vendetta? I couldn’t think of another group that had any sort of strength to challenge the other three.
“So, either gang or crew?” I raised a brow at her, deducing for myself that she must be part of Vendetta.
She grinned and nodded.
I pursed my lips, thinking over everything she said.
“Thank you for filling me in.” I didn’t know what else to say.
I didn’t like that I apparently had to pick a side to survive here.
Maybe I could be a silent supporter of one or the other?
Honestly, the thought of joining Hunter and his goons made my stomach roll.
And if they were a legit gang, like running drugs and shit, then I was staying the hell out of that business.
But if I chose to support Vendetta, silently backing them like other students, maybe everyone else would leave me in peace?
I just needed to figure out who was a part of it.
I glanced at Meredith, who had abandoned her notes and, to my surprise, had brought out some yarn and some spool and a half-finished project and went to work.
Our teacher, who I found out was named Mrs. Adamson, because of my schedule, didn’t come over and bother us at all, and stuck to the other girls, which only fueled my assumption that Meredith was a member, or at least, dating a member.
The timer went off, and she jumped up, put on some oven mitts, and pulled the cookies out while I found the cooling racks.
I appreciated her honesty, and though some of her words were a little harsh, I couldn’t understand the meaning behind them.
I may be originally from Harley, but I got out for a time.
I wasn’t here when things started going seriously downhill.
She knew I didn’t want to be here. She also didn’t seem put off that I lived in the northwest, and despite the nickname, she at least had the graciousness to forewarn me.
We split up our cookies between us and wrapped them in saran wrap.
When she saw me pick up my black leather book bag, she smirked and shook her head.
I knew what she was thinking… that I’m a typical private school girl, innocent and pure and with no idea of what was in store for me, despite the fact I explained I was from here. I’ve clearly forgotten a lot of shit.
“Keep your eyes open, princess,” she said to me, seriously. “You seem nice, and it’s not your fault you’ve been away so long that you’ve no idea how things are done here now.”
I was surprisingly not offended by her bluntness. “Thank you for talking to me.”
She smiled. “Make no mistake, honey… I may seem nice, but I’m as rough around the edges as the rest of them.” The bell rang for the next period at that moment. She gave me a wink and a heads up, munching away on one of her cookies.
The last class of the day is Math 30, up on the third floor of the school. I hauled ass up the stairs, but the bell had already rung by the time I sprinted through the door.
My teacher, Mr. Fortin, scowled at me. “I don’t like tardiness,” he said curtly. “Take a seat, Miss Cooper,” he said, either having already heard I’m the new kid or deduced so because I’m the last one into the room.
I glimpsed around and saw that there were only a few empty seats left, so I picked one lined up with the doorway near the back and hurried over.
Unfortunately, all the girls in the room narrowed their eyes and turned away.
I guess I won’t be invited to any sleepovers anytime soon.
Quickly getting out my text and notebook, I listened as Mr. Fortin started talking about Trigonometric Functions & Graphs.
I kept my head bowed over the review sheet as another pair of footsteps entered the room.
Mr. Fortin sighed hard in frustration but didn’t call out this student as he did me.
Instead, he grumbled, and I heard the squeak of the marker as he wrote on the whiteboard.
I kept my head down over my notebook, copying the notes he was making as the tardy student passed, taking the empty desk behind me.
Moments later, there was a shuffling beneath my chair that has me jumping in alarm.
Peeking down, I saw two legs extended out on the floor on either side of my seat, coming from behind me.
Whoever the guy was, he apparently had never heard about boundaries and personal space.
I scowled when his dirty shoe touched my bag, so I kicked his foot.
Two kids on my right gasped when I did it, and I glanced at him.
They were watching in horror as though what I’d just done was an act worthy of treason.
I rolled my eyes and went back to copying down Mr. Fortin’s lesson.
The guy behind me shoved my bag again, and I gritted my teeth and muttered, “Douche-Goof…”
I heard him chuckle and realized he heard me, but I didn’t give a shit.
He kicked my heel this time, and I swung my leg back and managed to clip his leg.
He let out a grunt, and I smirked. Good.
Now he could frig off and leave me alone so I could concentrate on the class.
Just when I thought he was going to leave me alone, I felt his foot kick my bag so that it slid forward, and unable to stop myself, I let out an exasperated grumble.
“Miss Cooper? Is there something you wish to share with the rest of the class?”
The guy behind me finally stopped, most likely because the teacher's eyes were locked on us.
“No, Sir.”
“Are you sure? I understand you are new here, and I don’t know what kind of respect, or lack thereof, students from your Academy show their teachers, but at Harley Institute, I ask for no disruptions! Is that understood, Miss Cooper?”
“Yes, Sir.” I was seething in my seat. I could hear some bitches across the room snigger, but I ignored them.