Dead Girl Walking ― Aaron Minyard

41. bishops knife trick

and i'm yours
'til the earth starts to crumble
and the heavens roll away
― fall out boy

♦

AN EARLY NIGHT MEANT AN EARLY MORNING, so Mara wasted time by heading to the campus gym and running until her legs were numb. She wasn't too surprised to find Matt already there when she arrived, but she was glad for the convenience.

When she asked if she could ride with him and the girls to practice from now on, he didn't ask why. He just nodded and spotted her at the bench

They went to pick the girls up from the airport at ten-thirty, heading straight to the court after.

The girls didn't ask why Mara wasn't with Andrew's lot, and she didn't offer an explanation.

Nicky, Kevin, and Aaron were in the lounge when Mara and the upperclassmen arrived. Nicky offered her a tense smile, Kevin a nod (she took note of a bruise on his face that hadn't been there the last time she saw him, and he avoided her questioning gaze), but Aaron gave no indication he noticed her arrival. Mara wasn't surprised—she'd seen Andrew in the parking lot, and even at a distance, the sight of him had filled her with bone-deep dread.

She sat down on the arm of the upperclassmen's couch, as far from the others as the seating arrangement allowed. Renee sat down next to her, offering the same small smile she'd given Mara at the airport before asking the other upperclassmen what they wanted to get for lunch.

Neil arrived before Andrew, Abby, or Wymack made an appearance. Mara watched the girls watch him, silent until Neil sat down on the couch, his expression tense and full of pain.

Finally, Dan's temper snapped. "That mother fuck—"

Renee put a hand on Dan's shoulder, stopping her mid-expletive. She smiled when Neil looked at her and said, "We were just debating what to order for lunch. Abby said she'd call it in and pick it up for us so we don't have to wait on delivery. Any suggestions?"

"I'm fine with anything," Neil said.

Allison raked him with a skeptical look. "Can you even chew?"

"Yes," Neil said. "Where is Andrew?"

"Saw him on our way in," Matt said. "He and Coach are talking at the far end of the parking lot. Getting to know each other all over again, I guess. Here's hoping it goes better than their last first meeting."

"I'm still talking to you," Allison said.

Neil dodged again. "Have you seen Seth's banner yet?"

It took a moment for the words to sink in, and then Allison was out of her chair and striding toward the court in six-inch heels. Dan looked after her for a moment like she'd go after her, but she changed her mind with a short shake of her head.

"Sandwiches or Chinese?" she asked Neil.

"Either one is fine."

"I'm with Allison on the chewing thing." Nicky gestured at his own face, indicating the bruises staining Neil's cheeks and jaw. "Noodles and rice are softer than subs. Let's go with Chinese."

Matt got up and went to relay the decision to Abby. He was on his way back when the outer door thumped closed. Across the room, Dan sat up a little straighter and shot Renee a meaningful look. Renee laced her fingers together in her lap. It wasn't the eager response Dan was looking for, judging by her disappointed frown, but Dan didn't have time to push it before Andrew stepped through the lounge door alone.

Matt looked up, and Andrew didn't even hesitate as he punched Matt hard enough to knock him off his feet. It should have been impossible to topple him; Matt had more than a foot on Andrew and could out-press any of them at the gym. Andrew had the advantage of surprise, though, and didn't stop when Matt fell. He smashed his fist into Matt's face as soon as Matt hit the ground.