Girl Code

RAINEY

I’m sprawled out on my back, gazing up at the crystal chandelier hanging from the ceiling. The stereo is blaring “Changes” by Lauv.

The setting sun casts an orange glow through the cracks of my window, helping me to unwind. But my moment of peace is cut short when my phone buzzes on the bedside table.

I grab it and swipe to reveal a text from an unknown number.

Unknown

Hey, sexy.

I squint at the screen, then quickly fire off a response.

Rainey

Who is this and how did you get my number?

My phone buzzes again almost instantly, and I don’t waste any time checking the message.

Unknown

Jace. My aunt is the school’s headmistress, so it’s not hard work to attain your file, babe.

He keeps calling me ~babe~, and it’s driving me nuts. I roll my eyes, pursing my lips as I type out a response with more force than necessary.

Rainey

Fuck off.

A loud thud echoes from my door, and I quickly block the creep’s number and toss my phone aside. I get up and open the door, only to regret it when I see Jeff standing there.

“Can you turn your damn music down? Are you trying to go deaf?”

“What do you want?” I snap.

“Your little friend is making a racket at my gate. Get rid of her, or you won’t like what happens next.”

“Who? Riley? Why didn’t you just let her in?!”

“I’m not letting her in. She’s a bad influence, and your mom doesn’t want her around.”

“Move! I can’t stand you.” I try to push past him, but Riley is already bounding up the stairs. She’s brushing off her leather jacket with a tired sigh.

“Good thing I know how to scale a wall.”

Jeff just stares at her, mouth opening and closing like a fish out of water.

Riley never takes no for an answer.

She looks up at him, a wicked smile playing on her lips. “What? I can pick a lock too.” She pulls a tiny pink pocketknife from her jeans and waves it in front of his face.

I can’t help but grin as Jeff mutters a curse and storms off.

“Hey, bring me back some weed, okay?!” she calls after him, shaking her head. “What a wimp.”

“Riley!” I throw myself into her arms, nearly knocking her over.

She steadies herself, laughing as she hugs me back. “Missed you too, Rain.”

I pull away, grinning from ear to ear. “I thought you weren’t coming… it’s already five o’clock.”

“Nah, I was just giving my kitten a bath. Plus, I had to make dinner for my little brother.”

Riley has a six-year-old brother named Bailey. Her parents might not be married, but unlike mine, they live together like one big happy family.

“Where did you find that kitten?” I ask, leaning against my door frame with my arms crossed.

“Found him in a box on the sidewalk. Someone just left him there. Poor thing is starving. Bailey keeps trying to feed him Skittles.”

I can’t help but laugh.

Then her face turns serious, like she just remembered something important.

“Oh yeah. I have some news you might want to hear.”

I narrow my eyes. “About what?”

“Kendra.”

I grab her hand and pull her into my room, shutting the door behind us. I turn down the stereo and we flop onto my bed.

“What about Kendra?” I ask, curiosity piqued.

“She’s up to something. Yesterday, a group of guys dressed all in black approached me. She was with them, and they were asking about you.”

I raise an eyebrow. “They were looking for me?”

“Yeah. Word on the street is that she’s the niece of some big-time gang leader. I think he sent some of his guys to Freetown yesterday, and they cornered me at the school gate on their way out.

“They wanted to know where you were, but I told them I had no idea.”

I chew on my lower lip, mulling over what she’s just told me.

“She’s still not over what happened,” Riley continues. “I don’t know, but it feels like she’s out for revenge.”

I sigh, running a hand through my hair. I’m not one to back down. I’m not afraid of anyone.

“Yeah, whatever. Just be careful and stay away from her. You know how crazy she can get.”

I stand up and head over to my closet to sort through some clothes, a task I’d been putting off since last weekend.

“Be careful, Rain, okay?” she pleads. “I don’t think this is something we should take lightly. I just have a feeling she’s about to do something really bad.”

I spot Ansel’s hoodie among the clothes, and I pick it up, running my hand over the fabric. My thoughts immediately drift to him.

I didn’t see him at school today. He probably had to work a full shift at the café. I kind of miss him.

Suddenly, the hoodie is yanked out of my hands. Riley darts to the corner of the room, holding it up and inspecting it with a wide grin. “Whoa, who does this belong to?”

I roll my eyes, trying to keep the blush off my face as I turn to her. “Give it back, Riley.”

She sniffs the hoodie, then her smile grows even wider. “This smells amazing.”

I rush over to her, but she giggles and dodges me, darting to the other side of the room.

“Let me guess. Ansel’s?”

“Riley, quit it!” I try to grab her, but she’s too quick, bouncing onto my bed and waving the hoodie around like a flag.

I scowl at her. “Riley.”

“Tell me who it belongs to first.” She’s grinning, looping the sleeves around her neck as she bounces on the bed.

I roll my eyes, leaning to the side in surrender. “It’s…Ansel’s.”

“What was that? Couldn’t hear you!” she teases. “Speak up.”

“It’s Ansel’s, okay? Now give it back.”

She laughs, flopping onto the bed as I snatch the hoodie from her.

“Now you’ve got some explaining to do. How did the oh-so-dreamy Ansel’s hoodie end up in your closet?”

She arches an eyebrow, and I can’t help but smile. There’s no escaping this. Riley won’t let it go until she knows the whole story.

“Well…” I sit down in front of her, and she grabs my pillow, hugging it to her chest as she waits for the juicy details.

“I was at school, and these two girls were picking on me—”

“Hold up…” She holds up her hand. “Who’s messing with my sister? I want names, because they’re gonna pay. I’ll take them down.”

~She would, too. She’s not exactly stable.~

I giggle. “Riley, just listen.”

“Alright, alright. I’m all ears,” she chuckles.

“They purposely squirted ketchup on the gym bench, and I sat in it. Then this girl named Olivia, the one you tripped at the party—”

“Oh, yeah. She face-planted on the tile.”

“She was being nasty, and I was getting so fed up, I was about to let her have it, you know?”

“Oh, I know. And Kendra knows.”

“Then Ansel showed up, and he…wrapped his hoodie around me, to cover up the embarrassing ketchup stain on my shorts.”

Riley’s face lights up.

“But…it wasn’t just a normal wrap. He was so close—like, really close—and he smelled amazing.”

Riley giggles. “Oh my God! That’s so adorable.”

“I even went to his house.”

“No way!”

“Yes way. And I met his family. They’re really nice.”

“Moving fast, I see.” She wiggles her eyebrows, and I grab my pillow and smack her on the shoulder.

“It was just for one night,” I clarify. “Things were rough with Mom, and he offered to let me stay over.”

Riley’s smile fades, and she looks down at her hands. “I’m sorry I’m so far away. I know Mom likes to tell you not to come home.”

“It’s okay.” I shrug. “I’m just glad you’re here now.”

She smiles.

“By the way”—I grin—“Alex kept asking about you.”

I watch as a blush creeps onto her face. “He did?”

“Yeah, he was wondering when you’d be back in town. I told him today.”

My mind drifts back to Ansel’s invitation on Tuesday.

“You know, Ansel invited me to this club in town called Naked tonight~.~ But I’m not sure. I feel like a lot of people from Crosshill will be there, and I can’t stand them.”

“Oh my God. We should totally go!” Riley grins.

I make a face. “What? No way.”

“Please? I ~really~ want to check it out, Rain.” She pouts, and I roll my eyes.

Secretly, I’m hoping to see Ansel. I haven’t seen him all day.

“Fine,” I sigh. “But I’m not staying all night.”

“Awesome!”