Chapter 80
CHAPTER EIGHTY
ASTRID
The first thing I noticed when I stepped into Redwood Academy was that … it was one of those days where something immediately felt off. And I didn’t mean like there had been a big party last night and everyone was tired.
No, something was going to explode today.
Everyone was too quiet, and that meant someone was bound to stir up some drama.
I stuffed some books into my locker and scanned the hallway.
No sign of Rush. Arch was scowling at his locker after refusing to talk to me all last night.
Cairo was holding his computer, brow furrowed at the screen.
Frasier was leaning against the wall, flipping a pen between his fingers and watching me.
And Calix? He had his hands in his pockets as he headed toward me.
But he wasn’t alone.
Mira, that stupid little ho, was right behind him, dressed in a skintight dress and loud, clanky heels. Heat rose in my chest, and I tightened my fists. She jogged to catch up with him, and when she wrapped a hand around his arm, his smile immediately dropped.
Frasier stepped in front of me, blocking my view. “Breathe.”
“I am breathing, but she’s not going to be in a second.”
“I don’t want to share you with him, but you should know by now that Calix isn’t into dollar-store knockoffs,” Frasier said, wrapping his arm around my shoulders and finally stepping out of the way to show me that Calix was heading back toward us. “See?”
I furrowed my brow as Calix approached. “Where’s Mira?”
Calix sidestepped and nodded toward Mira, who was glaring at us with hot tears pouring down her cheeks, along with her runny mascara. My eyes widened, but a giddy feeling bubbled in my stomach. I didn’t want anyone to get hurt, but she deserved it.
“What’d you say to her?” I asked.
Calix smirked. “You don’t wanna know.”
Frasier smirked and threw an arm over his shoulders. “Oh, yes, the fuck we do.”
My phone buzzed in my hand, and I glanced down at the caller ID—Diya.
I left the boys to be the drama queens they were and walked to the window, phone to my ear. “Hey. Is everything okay? I didn’t see your car in the lot this morning. I thought you were staying home today again.”
“Can you come over tonight? I need to talk to you.”
“Of course,” I said, chest tightening. I had left her all yesterday to fuck around with The Crew, and I couldn’t let them corrupt me anymore. Diya came first, and plus … I couldn’t let her get too suspicious. “Is everything okay?”
“For now.”
I scrunched my brows. “Is it about … you know?”
“I don’t wanna talk about it right now,” she said with a sigh. “I’ll see you after school.”
Before I could get another word in, she hung up. I stared at my phone for a long moment and blew out a low breath. She was going through so much, and I didn’t know how to help her. And honestly? I had been a shitty friend.
If she found out about Calix, it’d only make this all worse.
The bell rang throughout the halls, and people headed toward their first period class.
Frasier grabbed my hand and steered me through the crowd. “Something’s going to happen today.”
“You feel it too, huh?” I asked, intertwining my fingers with his.
“Rush isn’t here. You think that’s a coincidence?”
“Doesn’t he miss, like, half of the school year usually?” I asked.
Frasier chuckled. “He’d be pissed if he knew you didn’t notice him that much. He’s usually here every day, more than Goody Two-shoes over there on his computer,” Frasier said, nodding to Cairo.
My lips curled into a smirk. “Well, don’t tell him.”
“Oh, I’m going to.”
I gently shoved his shoulder and let out a soft giggle. “Stop it.”
“There’s another race tonight.”
“Tonight? Why am I just finding out about this now? I told Diya I’d go over to her place later to talk,” I said, my lips curling into a frown. “But I want to see Rush race again. It was fun last time.”
“No, you don’t,” Frasier said. “Remember the guy who tried to start that fight last time? He’ll be there. And Rush isn’t going to play nice this time. He’ll want you to stay out of the way so he doesn’t have to worry about you.”
“But—”
I didn’t even have time to finish another word before the sound of shouting rang out near the gym. A crowd started forming, kids running to the edge of the hallway to get a look. Two teachers broke into a sprint. Then I saw him …
A student was being pulled out of class. Handcuffed. Escorted by two officers.
“What the hell …” I started.
“They’re here about the races,” Cairo said behind me, suddenly appearing with his phone still in hand. “They’re looking for someone.”
A second student was dragged out next. Another kid we’d seen hanging around the last race. I felt the blood drain from my face.
“Where’s Rush?” I asked, heart hammering.
No one answered.
Then my phone buzzed.
Rush: Don’t go to the race tonight.
I stared at the message until the screen dimmed.
And the dread in my chest exploded into something heavier. Something worse.
Something that told me, this wasn’t just about cars anymore.