Emily started laughing by the bar. She saluted her martini glass in the air. "Way to go, Cassie. Way to start the New Year by being honest."
Cassandra hissed at her, "Shut up, Emily. Like you haven't done the same thing. Logan's probably slept with all of us, Miranda included."
Miranda's eyes got wide and Peter jolted away from her like he'd been burned. She turned to him and pressed her hands to her mouth. "I haven't, baby. I haven't. I swear."
He studied her with narrowed eyes. "You've always wanted Logan to be in the group. You've talked about it for years."
Her hand shot out and she pointed at them. Her foot stomped down. "Only because they should've been in our group. They were supposed to pick our school. We have the better school. Just because they have a better football team, that's the only reason they picked public. They were supposed to be in our group, but instead everyone wants to go to the public parties. Everyone thinks Fallen Crest Public High is so great, all because of them! They were supposed to be at our school. Fallen Crest Academy is the better school. That other school is beneath us, it should be beneath us. They should be kissing our feet. That's the only reason why I've talked about them. I swear, baby!"
Logan bent over laughing. He slapped a hand on his leg. "Man, you guys are so easy. It's been, what? Ten minutes?" He continued laughing as he shook his head. "My job here is done. Have a great night, ya'll."
Adam frowned. "What are you saying? You didn't sleep with Cassandra?"
"Oh no. I did, at the party actually. I was just with Tanya later. Emily was one time and I think," He frowned at Amelia who stood beside Mark. "…Halloween last year?"
She gaped at him, but jerked her head in a nod.
"He's joking," Mark burst out, but he turned sharply on her.
She closed her mouth and slowly turned her head from side to side.
"Amelia!"
Her shoulders lifted up and she held her palms outward. "You didn't want exclusivity, Mark. What do you expect? He's hot."
"You're a slut."
Everyone turned to Miranda who was glaring at Logan. Her hands held her glass tightly. Her arms were still shaking, but not from fear this time. She repeated, "You're a slut."
Logan smirked and glanced at Peter. "I don't hide it."
Her eyes went wide again and she whirled to her boyfriend, who looked away at the same time.
Emily exclaimed, "This was a great idea, Miranda. We should invite Strattan every time."
At this, all eyes went to me. I realized that it looked like I was cowering behind Mason and Logan so I shouldered past them and straightened my back. My chin rose and I stared Miranda down. "You sent me text after text tonight and you called me. You were begging me to come. So I came. If you want to blame me for this, fine. I told you to stay away from Mason and Logan, but you didn't."
"I didn't invite them."
I rolled my eyes. "We all know you wanted them here so here they are. You got what you wanted. I bet you don't want it anymore. You can't control them and you can't control me."
Her eyes narrowed. "Who said I wanted to control you?"
"You've been trying since you warned me Cassandra was jealous of me."
Cassandra gasped. "Miranda!"
Miranda moved back against Peter, who raised a hand to her shoulder. He started to rub up and down her arm in a soothing motion. She sent me a withering look. "You can leave, Samantha. Good luck at school tomorrow."
"Sam," Adam spoke up.
I met his gaze and saw the loathing there. "Don't bother, Adam." I tugged on Logan's arm. "Let's go." And both of us started for the door, but when we realized Mason wasn't following, we turned back.
He watched us with lidded eyes.
Logan frowned. "What are you doing?"
Mason gave him a tight grin. It didn't reach to his eyes. "We have a problem now." He turned towards the group. "She's one of ours and you declared open season on her."
"I didn't." Miranda seemed to melt back into Peter's arms.
He gave her a hard look. "You did."
Logan went to his side. His mouth curved upwards, mocking them. "I did this for sport tonight. You really want me to go after you, pissed if you've done something to Sam?"
Mason shot him a look. "Because it's all you, right?"
Logan grinned at him. "I told you. My fun first."
He rolled his eyes and walked to me. As he drew abreast, he took my arm, and tugged me behind him. "Logan, they got the message."
"I hope they do." Logan's eyes held a much deeper message as he scanned the group.
My legs were shaking so much. As we drew closer to Mason's Escalade, he swept me in his arms and I hung on. I wouldn't have made it otherwise. He deposited me in the seat and went to his own. Logan paused in his open door. He frowned over at me. "Are you okay?"
"I'll be fine, just shaken up."
All amusement had vanished. Both of them watched me with grave eyes. Then Logan sighed. "What do we do?"
Mason continued to watch me as he spoke to him, "We wait and see what happens."
"And if they do something to her? We can't be there during school hours. This is why we didn't go to their school. We didn't want to deal with them."
"I know."