Page 179 of Treason's Temptation
“I didn’t think so.”
“Come on, so we can get to The Yard. I know your fans are waiting.”
“You act like you’re not one of them now.”
Navie snorted. “Please. I’m not a fan. I’m a hostage, big difference.”
She winked like the words didn’t sting, and I let it slide because we were pressed for time. Rayven wanted Blue to meet her friends, and I think she needed it too.
What she didn’t account for was her fans. I had become the accessory while she was the main event, and all the girls ralliedaround praising her fashion sense. Not just on the yard today, draped in buff and crimson, but every red-carpet event that Scandal Leader made sure to highlight.
Blue was at the center of it all because that’s where she deserved to be. I got to play the background, standing guard with Ward, occasionally dapping people up and posing for pictures while Blue danced and sang with Rayven and her friends.
“Who is that for?” I asked as she danced over to me.
“You,” she replied, rimming the Jello shot in her hand.
Raising on her toes, she held it up to my mouth, but I shook my head.
“One of us has to be responsible.”
“When we get home, it’s non-stop work. Have some fun,” she insisted, pushing it into my mouth.
“This shit is nasty,” I groaned, swallowing it like she did me earlier.
“Stop acting like a baby and eat it,” she giggled, while Ward chuckled, shaking his head.
Navie spun around, taking her microphone from Rayven’s back pocket because she’d become the unofficial co-host with Jaleesa.
The Yard was packed, students spilling out across the grass, some perched on the steps of the student union just to get a view. The band had the place shaking, dancers out front keeping the energy sky-high. It felt more like a block party than a rally. It didn’t matter that I hadn’t been back in years; Naylor Southern was always home, and it felt like it, welcoming Navie with open arms. She was on stage, sun catching her just right, mic in hand, that glow pulled every eye in the Yard straight to her.
The host, Jaleesa, held up her mic, shouting over the crowd’s chants. “Alright, Naylor Southern, y’all have been hyped all afternoon, but we’re about to make thisreallyinteresting.”
The crowd cheered louder, stomping on the bleachers set up along the edges.
Navie stepped up, looking right at me with that sly grin. “Alright, alright—time forProtect or Roast!Navie’s got the mic. She’s answering for Treason.”
The Yard roared, students stomping on the steps, waving their hands like they were about to watch me get dragged. Navie covered her mouth, pretending to look innocent.
“See, I already know this is a set-up. Y’all ain’t really trynna’ see me win.”
“Aye, tread lightly. You have to come home with me,” I joked, leaning into the mic.
“That’s fine, my Naylor Southern family has my back. Ain’t that right, y’all?” Navie asked, and the crowd erupted, taking her side.
The crowd cheered and laughed, shouting things like“We got you, Navie!”and“You can stay with me, girl!”
The host leaned in. “First question—who takes longer to get ready?”
Navie dropped her hand from her mouth, shaking her head. “Oh, that’s easy. Him. This man spends more time in the mirror than I do.”
The crowd hollered, and some students clapped each other on the back. Somebody yelled,“Not the mirror!”
I laughed, pointing at her like she’d just lied on my name. “I gotta’ make sure I’m matching her fly. She always steps out looking so good. I gotta keep up.”
“The next question should be who’s the biggest flirt,” she complained.
The host was nearly doubled over laughing as he shouted the next one. “Alright, alright—Who’s more likely to order food than steal from the other’s plate?”
