Chapter 14 #2
“Did you know he's an addict? Cocaine was found in his room this morning. It seems the police were called in without Trevelen’s knowledge. What a shame Joey couldn’t talk his way out of it before law enforcement arrived.”
Harley swears under his breath and leans away from me quickly as Avery arrives with Rory close behind her.
Harley shoots him a dark look full of loathing, but he doesn’t say anything and Avery doesn’t notice.
She doesn't have the same haunted look Ash does.
Instead, she stares at the police officers reading Joey his rights with calculating eyes.
Joey doesn't struggle or make any sort of scene; he just nods along amicably. I suppose he knows his dad will bail him out the second his ass hits the bench at the station, so why bother putting up a fight?
Avery looks over at me as if she’s really seeing me for the first time. She's trying to read me, get some insight into my involvement. I wonder how much Harley put in the text message to her.
“If this was your doing, you’d better hope he never finds out,” she says, and I shrug.
I know they're all looking at me again, but this time I feel powerful. I've made my own move on the board, and now I have to wait and see what Joey does next.
Mr. Trevelen finally notices the huge crowd and orders us all to disperse.
Avery tugs Harley away. He's hesitant to go, like he'd rather watch Joey be dragged away until the image is burned into his corneas.
My eyes trace the tattoo that curves along his jaw: Honor before Blood.
The necklace is in my pocket. I think about giving it to him now, but there are too many people watching. It feels wrong to keep it.
I wait until the crowd has thinned out and Joey looks over to catch my eye.
He doesn't look upset or surprised; he tips his head at me and grins.
It's his maniac grin, the one that lets me know he will never be a good or kind person.
I tip my own head back just a little and let him see the challenge I'm setting him. Let him come for me.
By dinner, the entire school knows about Joey’s arrest and subsequent suspension from Hannaford. Suspension, despite drug use being against the student code and, supposedly, grounds for immediate and incontestable expulsion.
I fill my tray with all the meats and vegetables I can—I’m starving and a little worried about possible scurvy after my week of surviving on protein bars—and then I find a seat at the table.
No one spares me a second glance, which I’m smug about.
I get to listen to the rumors already circulating about what Joey did to land himself in handcuffs.
My personal favorites are solicitation, money laundering from street fighting, and involvement in his family’s business.
Avery and the guys are also at the table, and Harley is staring my way.
He’s not trying to be discreet, just openly glaring at me as he chews his meal.
Avery is chatting with Blaise and, though their tones are light, I can see the strain in her shoulders.
Ash is scowling at his plate. No amount of Avery’s cajoling will get him to talk.
I’m busy observing them, so I miss Harlow arriving at the dining hall. She doesn’t miss me.
“Move, idiot,” she snaps at the guy sitting across from me.
He startles and glances between us both.
I get my first real look at the damage I did to her face as he scrambles up and away from us, leaving his tray behind.
Both of her eyes are black and swollen, her nose has been taped and braced, and her cheeks are mottled with bruises.
None of her pretty features are visible anymore.
She looks horrific, like she’s been the victim of a violent crime, and the smile I give her is all teeth.
“Is there something you want, Roqueford? I’m busy.”
A hush falls over the dining hall. Even the teachers further down the table have stopped to watch our confrontation. I wonder if they’ve been warned away from me as well.
“You’re dead. The minute Joey gets back, he’s going to fucking kill you, Mounty scum.” She spits at me—literally spits, I feel it land on my cheek and fight the urge to wipe it away.
I laugh at her, and she flinches back at the icy sound. “Why would he bother with me? He’s already extracted his revenge on me for turning him down.”
Recovering, she practically hisses back at me. “He’s not stupid. Obviously, it was you who snitched on him.”
Her knuckles are white as she grips the chair. I let my eyes roam over her face again. I really am proud of what I did to her. There are only the strong and the weak in this world, and it doesn’t matter what Joey and his fucked-up flunkies do to me. I’ll always be stronger than them.
“How about you prove it?” I whisper and smile at her again. She curses at me and turns on her heel to storm out. The room seems to hold its breath for a second, and then the conversations resume, quietly at first and then with some gusto.
I enjoy my dinner and don’t waste another second thinking about Joey Beaumont.
He’s out of my hair for a few weeks.