Page 45 of Crew
"Don't push it." I didn't hold back a small grin, letting him see it.
He nodded, giving a wave to the rest of the guys. "Jordan. Cross. Zellman."
"Alex." Jordan stepped toward me as word spread the fight everyone expected wasn't going to happen.
The crowd started to disperse. People began heading in.
Not us.
Jordan, Zellman, and Cross waited until enough people had moved away that we had privacy.
"What just happened?" Jordan asked.
"Ryerson took ownership," Cross said. "He came to offer his debt to Bren."
"For real?"
Cross nodded, his arm coming to rest around my shoulders. He patted the top of my arm. "She made him bend down and sniff his own shit. Almost literally. He's going to face Channing."
Jordan burst out laughing. "That's awesome. Shit. He's going to face Channing? He thinks we're scary; he'll have to strap on a diaper when he goes to that meeting." Jordan looked to me. "Alex will chicken out. I guarantee he'll push that meeting off as long as he can."
"You think he won't go?" I asked.
"He has to now. If he doesn't, he's a coward. No crew is a coward. That's one decree we all agree on, but I bet you he'll wait as long as possible." He shook his head, whistling. "We'll see what happens."
The second bell was about to ring, and the parking lot showed it. The only people still outside were Alex's crew, who were on their way in, our crew, and--I looked over again--Race. He lingered by the door, but when our eyes met, he nodded and headed inside too.
I'd taken two steps inside when a teacher said, "Bren Monroe, go to the office for skipping yesterday."
I stopped and let out a full-blown groan.
One day. I couldn't last one full day without getting in trouble. I swear.
"Bren Monroe is in my office."
Nikki Bagirianni, the school counselor, spoke more to herself than me as she looked up at Principal Neeon holding my arm. She put down the phone she'd just picked up at her secretary's desk, her office door open behind her.
"She skipped the second half of classes yesterday." Principal Neeon let go of my arm.
Why he had to hold it, I didn't know, but I shot him a look like he'd hurt me. I even rubbed where he'd held me.
"I told you I was sick yesterday."
Neeon leaned forward, his arms crossed over his chest. "Then have your brother send a note next time." He nodded to the counselor. "She's all yours for now."
For now. Meaning there was more to come.
Exciting.
Ms. Bagirianni --or Nikki as she usually had people call her--was known as The Badger by most of us. We were crew. If we didn't find ourselves in the counselor's office or Neeon's office, we were doing something wrong.
"Right." She straightened her silk shirt and smoothed her hands over her hair. It was up in a bun, and her motion pulled out some of the strands. She smiled at me, patting those loose strands back into place. "Yes. Bren Monroe. It's Tuesday. That seems right to me. The new year has officially begun."
Her hair still stuck out.
She nodded toward the open door behind her. "My office?"
Like I had a say in the matter.
