Her cheeks pinked, and she ducked her head in a slightly embarrassed way. Moving back to her counter, she secured her wrap, hugging herself.

“You weren’t around, and Race wasn’t hanging out with the guys. He wasn’t hanging out with the Ryersons, so he got snatched up by her crowd.” She waved to the pool. “They’re all out there.”

I nodded. It made sense, what happened in my absence. Taz was now friends—or frenemies—with Sunday Barnes and her group. She’d been alone too, in a way. She’d usually be with me, and often it had been the three of us—her, me, Cross.

Cross probably congregated with Jordan and Zellman last semester, leaving Taz by herself.

If Race got claimed by Tabatha’s group, that meant… I cocked my head to the side.

“Race showed interest in you, didn’t he?”

He’d been the one to bring her in, not Tabatha.

She looked down again, and her entire neck went beet red.

“I was so nervous. Tabatha had been throwing herself at him.” She ran her hands down the front of her legs. Even now, it made her sweat. She laughed nervously. “I thought she was going to filet me alive.”

Normally she would’ve. “Tabatha was nice to you?”

“Yeah. She’s been super nice, actually. Sunday and Monica were starting to be bitches to me, more than normal, and Tab was the one to stop them.”

Tab. Not Tabatha.

Tabatha Sweets had been after Cross for years too. She was smart. Hearing how it had all played out with his sister, a part of me wondered if she was biding her time, if maybe she was okay with missing out on Race if Taz was brought into the fold. Did she think she’d have better access to Cross? On a more personal level?

“Does Tabatha hang out here often?”

What was more personal than his home?

Taz’s mouth tightened, and she shrugged. “Sometimes.”

She grabbed a glass and started to walk past me.

“Hold.” I shot a leg out from the counter, blocking her. “How often?”

I watched as her fingers tightened their grip on the cup. “I don’t know.”

“Taz.” A low warning.

Another jerking shrug motion. “Maybe once or…three times a week.”

“Fuck,” I murmured.

“What?” She looked up at me now, holding that glass like it was shield. “She’s a friend, Bren.”

“She’s using you.”

There was no heat in my words. I wasn’t pushing her to believe me, but the way I said it broke her.

She looked down. “Don’t do this.”

“You know she’s using you.”

Her head snapped back up. “I was alone! Do you get that?! I’m always alone except when you’re around, and that’s only some of the time. You’ve been gone for months. I had no one.”

I could’ve said, “You have your brother,” but I knew she didn’t. I could’ve said she had the cheerleading squad, but she didn’t, even when she was on it. We were back to the conversation we’d had at the beginning of the year. The crew had taken her brother, and that was even more obvious when I was absent.

I felt bad. I did.

“You could’ve gone crew.” I knew that was stupid, though. That wasn’t Taz.

“Right.” She barked out an incredulous laugh. “Are you kidding me? Because I’m the fighting type. Yeah, I’m the girl who reaches for a knife or wades into a fight when guys are swinging fists. Are you kidding me?” She glared. “I’m not tough like that. You’re one of two girls in a crew. You know I wouldn’t be able to hack it. Even if I tried, something would happen. I wouldn’t be able to back someone up, and that would be bad.” She quieted. I heard the pain there. “No, Bren. I can’t hack it, and you know that.”

“I think it’s something you can aspire toward?” I was teasing her, and she knew it.

She laughed again, sounding much more relaxed this time. “God, I’ve missed you.”

Whatever anxiety or irritation I’d had after hearing about Tabatha faded. Taz had me with those four words, and I slid off the counter, my arms out. She stepped into them, her arms coming around my back.

“It was so boring without you in school.”

I laughed, still leaning against the counter. “Right. With the Roussou royalty circling you and Race Ryerson trying to date you, I’m sure it was super lame. So boring not having to worry about your friend fighting or stabbing principals.”

“Well, you know what I mean. It was dull.” She looked out to the pool again. “Somewhat.” She turned back to me. “Crews are different. Crew life is…exciting, exhilarating, dangerous.” She nodded toward her friends. “They’re like that, but in a different way.”

I pressed my lips together. My opinion of Normals—Taz and now Race being the exceptions—was a bit low. There was a lot of backstabbing and manipulation. We had politics, but we had loyalty in crews.

“Have fun with that,” I told her.

“Bren…” She laughed and stepped to the side, hip-checking me. “Tabatha wants to hang out with you, but she’s scared to death.”

I smiled. “Really?”

“They’re all terrified of the crews, but what’d she call you the other night?” She tapped her forehead. “Oh yeah. She said you were like a wolf. Your crew is aptly named. You’re beautiful to look at, but lethal. She’s right. It’s a good metaphor for you.”

I frowned. “Are you talking about me, or all crews?”

She thought about that. “You. Well, I mean, the conversation was about all crews, but she was really only talking about you.”

And Cross.

“She’s got a thing for your brother. You know that.” I tried to gentle my tone, but it had to be addressed.

“Bren.” She let out a soft puff of air. “You’re judging.”

I didn’t care. People like Tabatha Sweets needed to be watched, your back never turned toward them.

But she wasn’t going to hear me now. I could tell. I’d push it later.

I held my hands up. “Okay. Backing off, but if she hurts you, I’m going after her.”

She hugged me again. “I’m glad you’re back.”

Another melting moment here. She might’ve not been Jordan or Zellman, but I’d back her like she was.

This girl was crew to me.

Taz pulled away a second later, frowning up at me. “Cross wouldn’t tell me anything, but is everything sorted? I mean, with the stabbing…”

“Yeah, and that’s why I’m here—” I caught the guarded flash in her eyes and amended. “It’s one of the reasons I wanted to see you. I have to figure out my community service hours. Cross mentioned your charity thing might be approved.”

Her eyes went wide, and a smile crept over her face. “Yes! Oh my gosh.” She jumped back, clapping softly. “Yes, yes! I’d love that. I threw that out to Cross, but I didn’t think he’d actually tell you, but yes. Ms. Bagirianni is the head of our committee. She’d be approved in a heartbeat by the judge. She’s the one who mentioned it.”

Shiiiiiit. I forgot about The Badger.

Despite all the cursing in my head, I knew I was stuck. They’d given me a list of places I could volunteer, but none held my interest. At least I’d be with Taz for this one, but The Badger?

Two guesses as to who’d end up being my counselor. A sinking feeling washed through me.

Taz was still talking, not knowing I’d slipped into the Fucks of all Fucks Fairyland. When I tuned back in, she was saying, “…call her, but I know it’ll all work out. We have our first meeting Monday after school.” She paused, an expectant look on her face. She had her phone out too. “Should I?”

“What?” I looked from her to the phone, and back again.

“Should I call her?”

“Why would you call her?” I was playing.

“Bren!”

“I’m kidding.”

“Oh!” She laughed, then flicked her eyes upward. “But for real, do you want me to call her? I can do it now.”

I wanted to say no, give myself more time to find another option, but I had to be realistic. I’d already wasted four months. I needed to get this done, and it’d take me a long time to fulfill the thousand hours, plus twenty counseling sessions.

My cheeks hurt because my smile was so forced. “Sure.”

“Great! I’m on it. This will be so much fun.”

I was going to regret this. I felt it in my bones. Way too much The Badger.