Page 99 of Crew Princess
I didn’t really have much in me, surprisingly. “You can say whatever you want.”
Her mouth opened. “What?”
I started to move past, pausing right beside her, my words quiet and just for her ears. “You don’t have anything on us. Not anymore. And about Allen…” Now I looked at her. She turned, and I saw the beginning of fear in her gaze. “Have a great life with that one.”
That was it. A good luck and goodbye.
Prom was in two days. Maybe it was because I’d been hiding from so much this year, maybe it was because I felt I was standing still as everyone went past me, maybe it was because I now had to talk about my crew publicly, maybe it was because today was just another threat against us, and I knew it wouldn’t be the last, and I knew we would survive no matter what. Maybe it was all of those things, or maybe it was just because I wasfeelingagain, but whatever the reason, I felt hope.
I felt a new beginning coming. And while I used to look to the future with panic, wondering who it would take from me, I didn’t this time.
As the bell rang, I walked through the library and saw Jordan walk out, his arm around Tabatha. Zellman was already in the hallway, already bickering with Sunday, and waiting at my locker was Cross.
I was almost looking forward to what the future held.
Or maybe I was just growing up.
Whatever it was, I smiled at Cross as I drew near, and he looked behind him. “I don’t see someone you want to beat up. That must be for me.” His eyes warmed. He reached up, brushing his hand over my cheek and drew me in, his forehead resting against mine.
He said it softly and simply, “I love you.”
Oh yeah. Life was good right now.
“I love you too.”
“Oh, gawd! You two. Stop with the public displays of cheesy shit.” Zellman was groaning. “We can only take so much before we start seeing Bren’s face when we jerk off to the nudie magazines.”
Everyone stopped.
No one said a word.
Then:
“Gross!”
“Ew!”
“Oh my God! Are you serious?”
I felt sick.
Cross looked sick.
Even Jordan was eyeing his best friend. “Dude. That’s disgusting.”
“What?” Zellman scanned the group. “No one else does that? Really?”
Cross stepped toward him. “Do you and I need to have a talk?”
Zellman swallowed. “It’s a compliment. Bren’s hot.”
Sunday didn’t say a word. She cocked her arm, and the back of her hand came swinging.Smack!Right into Zellman’s head.
“Ow!” He ducked a second swing, glaring at her. “Woman. Stop.”
“That’s gross. You think of your crewmate when you jerk off?” she asked.
“What? Like you don’t?” He shrugged. “Come off it. Like you’ve never imagined Cross when you’re playing with yourself?”
