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THE FOLLOWING morning, the full crew of nine Pentagram College students met at their usual spot in the library. Nothing structured, but Vix texted out a call to action. She needed to process, and that meant she needed to talk.
“So,” she began, “it looks like we’re in deep shit. I don’t know what we were supposed to do considering Crystal College started it, but our reaction was apparently the wrong one.”
“No way,” Gails said. Blood had pooled in his eye beside the fresh gash on his temple. “The only way was to retaliate. It was self-defense. Crystal College should get a handle on their students.”
Blanchard scooted his chair in closer to the table. A ripe shiner, courtesy Finn, made the left side of his face look like a glossy plum. “Nah, fighting wasn’t the right answer. We should have left instead of make a barrier and fire back. I think that’s obvious.”
Opera rubbed her palm on her forehead. “What are you guys talking about?”
Vix cut a glance at the girl which she hoped Opera could read. “No more pills for you.”
“Whatever,” she said, crossed her arms and hung her head back, probably still waiting for the overdose aftereffects to wear off.
“Well,” Vix donned her most obnoxious voice, “Somebody had the sweaty shits and fell asleep on the toilet last night, and it wasn’t me so, no more drugs. Period.”
“Moving on,” Ijemma blurted. “What are we going to do about Dean Checks? She could still go to the cops about Opera.”
Crap. How could Vix have forgotten the only freaking objective they had at the social?
Huy cleared his throat. “Not a problem. I took care of it.”
“What?” A rush of excitement zipped through her.
He pointed at Morgan. “Yeah, she nudged Checks just long enough to let me in. I found a memory she’d lost and gave it back to her.”
What the shit?
Takon snorted, actually snorted, a laugh. “A memory?”
Huy nodded, smiling. Proud of himself. “There was something in there, like a ceremony, and she vowed to protect both schools. As soon as I found it, I popped it back in. Like a missing puzzle piece, ya know?”
“God damn!” Vix couldn’t help herself and everyone immediately shushed her. “You puzzle popping, bastard. I love it!”
Mateo landed solid hits to Huy’s back, laughing, until he finally drew him in for a bear hug.
“Guys, hold on,” Gails waved through the air. “That problem is over, but we still need to commit to doing better. Studying harder. Actually practicing—”
“We were studying and practicing.” Blanchard.
“—and getting our acts together.”
As much as Vix wanted to get real pissed at Jackson’s snide comment, she realized he wasn’t wrong. Their crew of four was doing everything right, while her crew was the jackoffs.
“Okay,” she said. “Let’s make a pact, right here and now: going forward, we all focus and buckle down. When we come back from break, we’ll be a team.”
Sticking her hand out to the center of the table, everyone else piled their hands on top, stacking their agreement.
“Come on, Opera.”
Reluctantly, the girl flopped her thin, wrinkled hand onto the top of the stack.
“To the Pent crew,” she said. Looking each member of this group in the eye, Vix smiled. She couldn’t remember the last time she was excited about life and ready for a new challenge. The last time she was part of a group who supported her. A team. A posse. A family.
Who the fuck was this new Vix?
She couldn’t wait to find out.
