Page 63 of Crew Princess
My thoughts exactly.
“You play sports?” she added.
“Uh…” Cross turned to me. “What are you doing here? What’s going on?”
“Mr. Shaw!” the principal barked.
“Chill, Kenneth. He’s got first period here. Study hall.”
“Kenneth?” Cross mouthed at me, a grin teased at his lips. “We can’t use the cafeteria. Someone in the administration said it was too much like social hour. You know, with all the talking and snacks. You sent us to the library since there’s no empty classrooms. Remember?”
Becca pointed between us. “Wait. Are these two in a…”
Kennethrolled his eyes ever so slightly. “They are a couple, yes.”
Becca stopped talking, but her mouth remained open. Her eyes pinged between us. As if coming to a decision, she folded her hands together and took a step backward.
I could read Cross’ thoughts:What the fuck? I wondered the same thing.
“Is the back room ready for us?” Kenneth asked the librarian, who had perched at the counter, waiting.
She grabbed her keys and moved around, stepping through our little circle. “I’ll unlock the doors.”
Becca started to follow, but the principal waited, his beady eyes on Cross and me.
I didn’t move. Neither did Cross.
Then Cross sighed. “Really? We can’t even talk? She’s not going anywhere.”
Kenneth chewed the inside of his cheek, seeming to think it over. “Fine.” He sighed, surrendering. “But make it quick. Miss Monroe is finishing off the rest of her hours with this project. It’s important, and I don’t want anything to mess this up.”
His threat was clear. He didn’t wantusto mess anything up, our crew.
He stalked off, and Cross moved next to me, still watching our principal weave through the tables of students. “What the hell is going on?”
I filled him in as quickly as I could and with as much I could say. Mr. Bro was going to come barking for me to follow him any second.
“Kenneth?” That was Cross’ first question.
I grinned. “Yeah. Isn’t it awesome? I didn’t know his first name.”
Cross smirked. “Okay, butKennethaside, you’re worried about this show?”
I gave him a look. “Aren’t you?”
He shrugged, leaning against the front desk. “I don’t know. I mean, why would we? It’s nothing to do with us, right? It’s about your brother’s friends. Right?”
“I don’t think so.”
“What do you mean?”
I stepped in closer. “They already did that show on the Kade people. Why come back? And why do I have this feeling itdoeshave to do with the crews?”
Cross straightened up. I had all his attention now. “You think this is a thing against us?”
“I don’t know if it’s us specifically, but the crews. Yeah. I mean, we know they were starting to make moves against the crew system last semester.”
“Yeah, but…” Cross cut himself off, thinking, his jaw clenching. Then he cursed under his breath. “You’re right. They haven’t been able to get rid of the system. What’s a last ditch-effort someone might take?”
