Confess: A High School Bully Romance - Madison Falls High Book 3

by K. Walker

  “I’m done. Shit! What’s in that? Piss?”

  “Get the fuck outta here with your nasty ass!” Deven scolded and kicked at him as he stumbled away.

  The noise was deafening as everyone began cheering for the burly kid. He was on number ten and was swaying from side to side. Only one other opponent remained, and they eyed each other like bulls, taking one drink after another, until the other paused, and burped.

  He rubbed his hand down his face and slicked his curly hair back like he was trying to wipe away his intoxication. I folded my arms and stared at him, wondering how much more he could take.

  “One more,” he slurred and leaned against the table, even as the burly kid took another shot glass. There were fifteen on the table – the glasses didn’t get refilled, just so we could keep track of how many each person received.

  “He’s done,” Sophia said from beside me.

  “Agreed,” I laughed as he took the glass, and before he could drink it, he turned and hurled.

  The crowd hopped backward, giving him room as he spilled his guts on the sand.

  “That’s gross,” one girl commented as she walked off. “Such an asshole.”

  Deven stepped into the middle of the crowd and held up the burly kid’s hand. “And we have a winner! Prize to come later.”

  The kid beamed as he staggered into the crowd, his palms curled into fists that stretched towards the night’s sky.

  “Okay, now we’re into the female round,” he announced and turned around with his arms spread. “Which among you dares to challenge last year’s winner?”

  Nicole stepped towards Deven, a smirk on her face, and folded her arms. Her dark hair was in a ponytail, and she took a wrestler’s stance like she actually meant to fight. She had drunk ten shots last year.

  “That’s right. She’s back, and she’s ready to kick ass!” Deven continued. “Anyone?” Alexi joined her, and she sneered at her wickedly. “We have a competitor. Anyone else? Come on, ladies, don’t be shy. Overnight stay at the Hilton is up for grabs.”

  “What?” Sophia laughed next to me. “That’s the prize?”

  “Not usually. Guess he’s upping the stakes to reel in some participants,” I told her, just before a wave formed in the crowd and several girls joined the ring. There were seven in all at the end.

  “These girls must be crazy. What are they drinking?”

  “Scotch, mostly,” Cody replied as he and Liz came closer to us. “Usually, they don’t get past five or six.”

  “Yep,” I agreed. “But we’ll see. These girls look fierce.”

  “I think this is it. Ladies? Ready?” Deven asked and looked down the line of anxious girls at the table. They nodded. “Gentlemen, pour the glasses.”

  And they were off. It didn’t take long for the first three glasses to disappear. The problem began at number four when two of the girls gave up and quit. Natalie was already on five, but going slower.

  Alexi was holding her own as she took up the fifth glass as well. It was fucking intense watching them. I felt Sophia’s hands tightening around my arm as she watched.

  Six glasses in and there were only three of them left. The unmistakable blue light from a police cruiser stopped everything. It was a couple of feet away on the parking strip, but close enough for me to assume they were heading towards us.

  “Shit!” someone muttered, and the crowd immediately thinned.

  “I thought you said you took care of this,” Cody said and nudged my arm.

  “Pack it up!” Deven ordered the people around the table. “Can’t have them finding this.”

  “I’ll go see what the problem is,” I said and unwound Sophia’s arm from mine.

  Two cops stepped out of the car and walked towards us, and I walked quickly to meet them. They were not the ones I had spoken with, but I would have to talk to them again about having their asshat friends breaking up a high school party.

  “Good evening, officers,” I said in my most charming voice. “How can I help you?”

  They gripped their belts like they were trained to do – to keep close to their guns, just in case. “What’s going on here?”

  I glanced behind me, mostly to make sure the coast was clear. “Nothing much. Just the Madison Falls football team, having our annual bonfire party. Is that a problem?”

  “I know you,” the taller officer said as he came closer to me. I didn’t know him. “Minor, right? I know your old man.”

  “Yeah, that’s me. So, is there any way you can ignore us? We’re just having a little fun.”

  I felt the presence of someone behind me, and I turned to check – it was Brody and Cody.

  “What’s going on?” Brody asked.

  The second officer, his jaws clenched, stepped forward and glued his eyes onto something behind me.

  He tapped his fellow officer and his chin nodded at Brody. I turned, wondering what the hell was going on. His eyes were just as surprised as mine.

  “You Brody Colt?” the second officer asked his hand tighter on the gun at his waist.

  “Yeah, so?” Brody asked. “I wasn’t doing anything.”

  “I didn’t ask, but you need to come with us.”

  “What? Why?” Brody’s voice was raised as he started to back up.

  “You don’t want to do that, son,” the taller officer said. “Now, we have some questions for you. We can either do that here at your party, and have all of your friends watch, and record it, where you’ll likely make the morning social media news, or you can come quietly with us.”

  “Am I under arrest or something?” Brody asked nervously.

  “No,” the first officer replied. “We just have some questions. It’s up to you, but we can talk here or downtown.”

  I looked at a shivering Brody and I wanted to smack him over the head. I knew this had to do with Lin, and I clenched my jaw and turned back to the officers. “Does he have to ride in your car, or can we follow you there?”

  “Son, you don’t have to come,” the first officer said to me.

  “Like hell I won’t,” I said and walked off. “We’ll follow you.”

  I noticed the curious stares as we walked back to the party. “What’s going on?” someone asked. “Are they leaving?” asked another.

  “Go back to the party,” I said loudly. “It’s just a misunderstanding.”

  “Right on!” a heavy male voice behind me celebrated.

  I saw Sophia, Liz, and Alexi as they hurried over to us.

  “What’s going on?” they wanted to know.

  I looked over at Brody. “They were just checking in, but listen, Brody and I’ll be right back. We have to go restock on some drinks. You all were killing it out there.” Sophia’s eyes narrowed like she didn’t believe me. “I’ll be right back, babe,” I said and kissed her forehead, right before we walked off, leaving them wondering what the hell was going on.

  Chapter 6

  Chad

  “What the fuck did you do?” I patted Brody in the chest when we were in the car.

  “Nothing! I swear, man,” he shouted back. “I don’t know what this is about.”

  “You better not know,” I said angrily. “I’ve bailed out your ass too many times now.”

  “You think I want you to be covering for me all the time? Chad, I’m not five anymore. This isn’t kindergarten, and you don’t have to keep playing white knight like I’m your girl or shit,” he said and raked his hand through his hair.

  He turned to look out the window, and I could see he was shaking. “Okay, I believe you— this time. Still doesn’t say why the cops want to talk to you.”

  “Beats me,” Brody said nervously.

  We were quiet for the rest of the ride over to the police station. It was like déjà vu – last time had been over a year ago after Robby died, and I had to go in after taking it out on Wes’ face.

  The officers waited for us as we got out of the car, and one of them whistled. “Nice ride, kid.”

 
“Yeah, just tell us why he’s here.”

  He chuckled. “You’re his lawyer or something?”

  “Or something,” I replied impatiently.

  They eyed each other before pulling the double glass doors back and showing us inside.

  “Follow me,” the taller one said and made a beeline for the back of the station. It was a large common room area with desks on both sides, and paper pushers glancing up at us as we passed. He opened a door in the back and showed us inside.

  “What’s this about, man? I have a party to get back to,” Brody said angrily.

  “Have a seat,” he offered and pulled out one of the metal chairs on the other side of the long table in the room. I looked around the room, but there was nothing to see except for the camera on the wall in the corner and the one-way mirror facing us.

  “I prefer to stand,” I told them.

  “Look, kid, you’re in here only out of courtesy. We can always ask you to leave,” the tall officer said in a gruff voice.

  “Just fucking sit, man,” Brody said and pulled out the chair. “Now what?”

  I sat, too, clenching my jaw and my fists when I did.

  The officers looked at each other, and then the shorter of the two sat at the edge of the table. “You know a guy named Wesley Collingwood? Goes, or went to Madison Falls High.”

  “You’ve got to be kidding me!” I blurted out. “This is about Wes?”

  The officer held his hand out. “Please, refrain from making any further outbursts. And no, this isn’t really about Wesley. But I take it you both know him.”

  “Yeah, we know him. So? That’s a crime now?”

  “You’re very jittery for someone with nothing to hide,” the officer on the desk said to Brody.

  “What can I say? This isn’t a comfortable room,” Brody spat.

  “Alright, I feel you,” the taller cop said and leaned over the desk, resting on his knuckles as he did. “But tell me, Brody, what do you know about Lin Yung?”

  I fucking knew it!

  Brody glanced over at me. “Nothing. Who’s that?”

  The officer smirked. “Don’t shit me, kid. I know you know who Lin is. You want to know how I know? Your school mate did quite the talking when he was picked up. Lin’s name came up, and so did yours. You want to tell me how you’re connected?”

  “We’re not connected,” Brody said right away. “I’ve heard of him, on the streets, but that’s it.”

  “That’s it, huh? So, how come Lin had something else to say?” the officer asked, and my fists tightened. This was a freaking nightmare. I had done so much to get him out of trouble and we were still sitting in a fucking station being questioned for the same shit.

  “What did he say?” I asked.

  “Not much, except, you’re his seller.” He said, pointing at Brody.

  “That fucker!” Brody said as he sprang from his chair. “He’s lying.”

  “Relax!” the officer said casually. “Sit!” He waited for Brody to sit back down. “Thing is, we don’t give a rat’s ass about you, Brody. Who we want is Lin and his connections – the bigger fish, so to speak.”

  “What are you saying that we can just go?” I asked and started to stand, “because I know you’re not asking him to go undercover and do all your fucking jobs for you.”

  The officer smiled. “You could leave here now, but then we’ll get a warrant for Brody’s arrest.”

  “For what? I didn’t do anything,” Brody protested.

  “Pretty sure we can get a judge to sign a warrant based on the fact that you’re allegedly involved in a drug ring.”

  “Fuck, no way!” Brody said and raked his hair back.

  “Okay, so what happens now?” I asked.

  “Nothing much. Look, Brody can walk out of this a free man, or he can do so in cuffs and spend the next five years locked up.”

  “What do you want?” Brody asked through clenched teeth.

  “We’ve been after Lin a long time, well, the DEA has been. He’s been tough to catch, but now we have an in.”

  “You’re playing us?” I asked and narrowed my eyes at him.

  “Yeah, we are.” He said and rocked his head before he stood. “What I want Brody to do is work with us – wear a wire, get Lin to say or do something so we can get him on tape, or in the act of a large buy. You know anything about any supplies coming in?”

  “Jeez! You want me to be a snitch?”

  The officer tapped his chest and they looked at each other and laughed. “Me? I don’t want you to be anything, except free.”

  Brody looked across at me. I looked at them. “Does he have to give you an answer now?”

  “No, take your time,” the officer said.

  “What’s your name, by the way? I never caught it,” I said and tried to see his badge.

  “Willis,” he replied, and the tall, dark, and handsome one behind me is Taylor.

  “So, we can go?” I asked.

  They looked at each other. “Sure. But we need to hear something in the next few days, so really think about it, okay, boys?”

  “Can you even do this? Hustling teenagers?” I asked, pushing our luck a little further.

  “Not hustling, saving. You’re just doing your civic duty as citizens of the great US of A,” he grinned and indicated the door. “We’ll be waiting for that call, boys. Don’t disappoint us.”

  We left in a hurry before they found a reason to keep Brody there longer. He was sweating bullets by the time he sat in the car. “Fuck! Fuck! I can’t wear any wire, man! If Lin sees that shit, I’m dead.”

  “But did you hear that cop, Brody? You don’t do that; he’s going to fuck up your record with an arrest. You don’t want that, and I can’t help you with that,” I advised, though I was just as pissed. “Maybe you should do it and get rid of Lin once and for all.”

  “But he has nothing on me!” Brody argued as the car pulled into the street. “He’s just using me.”

  “Probably, but what if he starts to dig? You and that cat have history. He already ratted you out. It’s kind of easy, when you think about it, to take him down and then it’s over.”

  “I don’t know,” Brody said and rubbed his hands down his thighs. “These things have a way of not going how they’re planned.”

  “He doesn’t have to know it was you!” I coaxed and patted him on the chest with the back of my hand. “I’ve got you on this. I’ll even be there with you if you want.”

  He looked back at me. “Really?”

  “Yeah!”

  “So, what do I tell Sophia if they bust your ass? Huh?” he chuckled.

  “Whatever, man. Let’s just get back to this party and play it cool. No one knows about this – outside the circle that is. We can’t let this get out, that you’re working with the cops.”

  He sighed. “Yeah. I should have listened to you.”

  “Doesn’t make sense talking like that now. Let’s just get you out of this mess.”

  “Yeah,” he replied as I turned off the main road. “Oh, shit, we need to get beer. We told everyone we were going to restock.”

  “Like they’re going to notice, we didn’t come back with more,” I said. “I’ll ask some of the other guys to make a beer run.”

  I parked in the same spot I was in before and got out. The music was turned up and half-drunk revelers danced around the fire. Some hippies were roasting marshmallows over the fire, and others swayed and gyrated to the hip hop beat. No one seemed to have missed us.

  “Where’s the beer?” Cody asked when he saw us.

  “Uh, I asked Ryan to get some more,” I answered.

  “I thought you two…” he paused and looked at us both. “What the fuck just happened? Where did you go?”

  I looked at Brody, who had guilt written all over him. “That’s for tomorrow,” I told Cody. “For tonight, let’s just have a good time, okay?”

  Cody pointed at me. “You’d better make sure you tell me.”

  “I’
ll tell you everything. You can come by my house. All of you.”

  “You think that’s a good idea? Telling all of them?” Brody asked worriedly.

  “You know we don’t hide shit like that. And the girls should know, too.”

  Brody looked back at Alexi. “Even her?”

  “Don’t ask me,” I chuckled. “She’s your girl.”

  “That’s the problem. I actually like her.”

  “Then you have nothing to worry about,” I said. “Now, where’s the bottle. I need a drink.”

  And we returned to partying with Brody’s situation temporarily forgotten as I held my girl with one arm and a bottle with the next. The partying continued until long after two in the morning, with most of us already drunk by then, or getting there.

  Chapter 7

  Sophia

  “I know something happened Friday night,” I said to him when he picked me up Monday morning. I pulled the belt across my chest as I spoke, and I watched as his knuckles tightened around the wheel. “Where did you go with Brody?”

  He glanced over at me, and I saw a flash of…of anger? He was angry?

  “Nothing happened,” he said and clenched his jaws. “You worry too much.”

  When he looked back at me, his green eyes were sparkling and he was smiling. He reached over and touched my arm.

  “I have a lot of reason to worry,” I said. “I know about Brody and Lin. I saw them at the beach that day I was absent from school.”

  His eyes narrowed when he looked back at me. “Hold on…what do you mean you know about Brody and Lin?”

  “I didn’t want to say anything to get him in trouble, and Brody said he had it under control, but is that why the cops were there? Do they have something on him?”

  “Sophia, you can’t get mixed up in that shit,” he said and looked straight ahead, the car winding quickly between the other vehicles like we were in a video game.

  “Mixed up in what? I just want to know what happened, and you can’t convince me nothing’s going on.” He didn’t reply. He just wiped the corners of his mouth and smoothed the side of his hair back. “Fine. Don’t tell me,” I pouted and fell back against the seat.