Page 22 of De Vil

"Yes, Coach." She walks away and when I turn around to find Tia, she's gone. Fuck.

* * *

The Kappa house is in full swing. The party is going hard and people are drinking everywhere. Technically, I could break up the party, but I pull the ball cap over my forehead a little lower and stalk inside. There's a beer pong game going on in the kitchen and dancing happening in the living room.

I don't see Tia or Jazz anywhere until I make my way to the back of the house. Tia is in the middle of a bunch of basketball players, and she's dancing. Provocatively. Fuck me. I watch her sway her body erotically to the music. Jazz is in the corner, away from everyone looking miserable.

I walk over to Jazz and stand beside her. "What's going on, Jazz?"

She jumps a mile in the sky, and I laugh. "Don't worry, I'm not here to get you in trouble."

Her gaze falls on my face, and she looks like she's debating with herself. "The guys were making fun of me since I actually came, so Tia, she um, she distracted them."

That I can clearly see. "Why were they making fun of you?"

"Well um, I'm not exactly aTianow am I?" She motions down her body and that makes me upset. And a little sad. Taking her into my arms, I hug her and I hear her sniffle.

Damn it. Why are people so cruel? I don’t know Jazz, but I do know Tia, and Jazz is important to her. “It’s alright, one day you are going to look back at this and flip all these bastards off. No one here deserves you.”

"Where the fuck is she?" The voice booms over the music, and everyone freezes. Jazz tenses and I turn us so she's not in the line of sight. I step back and raise an eyebrow.

"My step-uncle-in-law," she whispers. I nod. Chris Groveton is her uncle. Good to know.

"Jasmine!" the man bellows, and I turn around to see Tia coming over to us. "What the hell do you think you're doing?"

She blanches and steps behind Tia. "Dean, I think the best course of action would be to get these two out of here, and then you can yell at them."

"Coach Landrey, why are..." He stops speaking and looks over my shoulder at Tia. "Ah, one of your players is here. Got it. Yes, let's get the hell out of this place."

"Yup, let's get these girls out of here."

The basketball team literally screams at us. "Hey, we were being entertained."

Dean Groveton looks like he's about to explode, so I stand in front of everyone. "I think we have had enough fun for one night. I don't think I need to go tell your coach what you might have been doing, now do I?"

The suggestion is there; I could literally kill anyone's chance of staying in this school if I utter one word about this impromptu party. One that should not be happening right now.

"You got it, Coach."

"Excellent. Have a good night, boys."

I hear them yelling obscenities, but the dean and I are not having it. We walk out with the girls in tow.

"I cannot believe you went to a party, Jasmine." Hell, from his tone alone, I'd be ready to wet my pants. I'm just as mad. I'm trying to keep it reeled in because Tia is having a hard time standing up straight.

"Dean Groveton, do you have Jasmine? I'm going to take Tia home."

He turns to me with those wild eyes of his, and I feel sorry for Jasmine. Maybe I should take her home with me. I don't suggest it though. "Yes. Good night, Coach Landrey."

"Good night." I wait with Tia as she wobbles beside me. Once they are in his car, I take Tia to my truck. Helping her up, I buckle her seatbelt and hand her an empty bag. I have a feeling she's going to be throwing up on the ride home.

I was right. Five minutes in and she's hurling up her liquor. "How much did you drink tonight, Tia?"

"Only one glass of some kind of punch. I am…” She upchucks again and moans. “Spiked it with…” Again, she loses her stomach, and I tighten my hands on the wheel.

“You shouldn't be this sick from that."

"It was laced with ecstasy I think. I overheard the guys saying they were going to drug some of the girls with it tonight. They were trying to get Jazz to take it. I drank it instead." Her words are choppy and agonizing. Alright, so I can't be mad at her for saving her friend.

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