Tuesday Evening, Continued
Gin looked around the room again before speaking. “We need to talk about the burglaries.”
“Did Harper tell you about ours last weekend? It was brilliant,” Alex said. “I wonder if we could get all of us together for once instead of just doing it in ones or twos. Maybe steal something big.”
“I still can’t believe you chose Harper instead of me for last Saturday,” Sarah said.
Hmm, maybe Gin hadn’t talked to everyone yet. Paisley’s blue eyes were very round, which I assumed meant she was feeling serious, and her mouth in a straight line, just like Benji’s. Four is a majority, so maybe that was Gin’s thought process. Or maybe he just didn’t want to deal with Sarah when he didn’t have to.
“We need to stop.”
Everyone turned toward Gin. The smile slid off of Alex’s face. Sarah’s eyes widened.
“Why? It’s going great. I even know our next target,” Alex said. “Guy in my weight-training class is heading to Hawaii in a few weeks.”
“This isn’t a game anymore,” Gin said. “It’s getting too real. We could wreck our lives. I’m walking away, and I’m not alone.”
“Really? Who else is chickening out with you?”
I recognized the sarcastic smile that took over Alex’s face as he glanced around the room. It was the same look he gave the new kid who transferred in and said he would take over the starting point-guard spot for sure since he’d started on a better team at his former school. It was the look that said Alex knew he was the chosen one. Even if he had to sabotage others to get his way.
“It’s not just me. Benji, Paisley, and Harper agree with me.” Gin’s voice was steady. He maintained eye contact with Alex as if he was making sure Alex wasn’t going to attack him. Like Alex was a rabid dog. Well, he’s always a dog, I told myself.
“Et tu, Harper?” Alex said as he turned to look at me. His voice turned a bit flirty and it felt like fingers scratching along my back. “Didn’t we have fun last Saturday?”
I half-smiled, even though I told myself I should remain as calm and focused as Gin. “It’s over, buddy. It’s not worth it.” I rubbed behind Murphy’s ears and he put his chin in my lap again, although his tail flicked like he was picking up the tension in the room.
“Chicken.”
“Cocky bas—”
Sarah’s voice cut me off. “Let’s discuss this!” She sounded shrill. “I can’t believe you’ve been talking about this behind my back.”
“Why do you sound so panicked, basket case?” I asked, the words coming out before I realized I’d spoken out loud. “This isn’t brain surgery.”
“I’d rather finish my junior year having fun.” Paisley’s voice was high-pitched as she entered the conversation. She looked at the floor when everyone swiveled her direction.
“Marisa Foret was devastated,” I said. Her crying face from early crossed my mind with a kernel of guilt.
“Who’s that?” Alex asked.
“You’re shitting me, right? Marisa Foret? We broke into her house last weekend. You stole her stupid Veg CD. What are you going to do with a CD? Do you even have a stereo that plays them?”
Alex’s mouth quirked up in a self-satisfied smile. “What she’d say? You didn’t do anything to give us away, did you?”
Marisa’s red eyes and shaky posture crossed my mind again. “No, I didn’t give anything away. But we shouldn’t have done it. She didn’t agree to it.”
“That’s not what you were saying Saturday night.” He made it sound dirty, like we’d been doing more than just stealing worthless junk.
“Yeah, I loved running for my life when you broke that window on purpose.” Afterward it had been exhilarating, like I’d just finished a perfect five-mile run with rainbows lighting my way. But what if he’d done that to Gin? What if he’d made a wrong turn and was caught by the police? Or Paisley. She wasn’t a fast runner and couldn’t jump over a fence, even if the perfect vintage outfit was on the other side.
“We’re out,” Benji said, and my attention snapped back to the conversation.
“Yes,” Paisley seconded. Benji smiled at Paisley, who gave him a nervous grin in return. She leaned against me even more and his hand went to the back of her head.
Alex turned to stare at Benji.
“Seriously?” Alex asked, and Benji gave a small nod as he kept his eyes on his cousin, although he looked like he wanted to look away.
“Me and Harper are out, too,” Gin said. I nodded my solidarity with a straight face, letting the group know I couldn’t be budged.
Everyone turned toward Sarah. She was playing with strands of her brown hair, pulling them apart and then twisting them together. Her brown eyes were staring at the floor.
“Thoughts, Sarah?” Alex said.
She shrugged. “If everyone is out, I guess I am, too. Although I don’t see why we’re stopping. I’m sad I didn’t get the chance for one more score, especially since Harper went last weekend. But if Benji and Paisley aren’t brave enough to continue, I guess we’re done.”
“It’s not a question of bravery,” I said. I gave her a sarcastic smile.
“Whatever.”
“We’re keeping this quiet. No one talks,” Gin said. He looked around the group, making eye contact with everyone. “This includes everything we did before, all of the break-ins, including last weekend.”
“Yeah, yeah, it ends now,” Alex said. “I get it, Mister Boy Scout.”
Alex stood, and held his hand out to Sarah. “Come on. Let’s find some more exciting people to hang out with.”
Sarah paused and looked at all of us in turn. Her lip curled as she looked at Benji and Paisley. “You should be grateful you get to hang out with us, and instead you side with these goody two-shoes. Good thing I’m with the fun side of the family tree.”
Sarah left with Alex, and the four of us remaining looked at each other.
“That went better than I thought it would. I thought Alex would make a bigger deal out of it,” Gin said. He nudged me with his shoulder. I bumped him back.
“I thought he’d insult us more,” Benji added.
Paisley looked at me. “Do you think Sarah’s done with us? Will we still be friends?
“You know what they say.” I looked at Paisley. “If you love someone, set them free. If they don’t come back, text them when you’re drunk.”
Paisley laughed, but it sounded halfhearted. Not her usual bubbly sounds. “Maybe this is the end,” she said in a wistful voice. “All friendships end eventually, right?”
“They’ll come around in a few days,” Gin said. He sounded confident, although a thought took root in my mind. Did I care if they came back?
Maybe I should think of something nice to do for Marisa, too. I didn’t have any albums by the Veg, but maybe I could give her some songs I like on a flash drive. Something better than the craptastic tunes Alex had stolen. Something with a bit of soul and side of angst. She’d like that.