A Murder Of Crows [boyxboy]

A Murder Of Crows {2}

                "Checking our dorm first doesn't mean shit. They don't know it's us," Kieran said.

                "Everyone knows you and our lovely student council president don't exactly get along," Val pointed out. "Of course he'd suspect you first. He knows what kind of person you are."

                Kieran flicked her a look. "And what kind of person am I?"

                "The kind who would beat kids in a shady back alley and steal their money," I said.

                "Did you want a demonstration?" Kieran said, his glare now fixed on me.

                "I was stating facts, not picking a fight," I said. "The Crows want a reason to come after you. Now they've found one."

                "They can't prove it's me," Kieran said dismissively.

                Val shrugged. "I'm just telling you what I found. A little more caution won't hurt us."

                "Yea, caution like not talking about this in the middle of the dining hall?" I suggested.

                "No one's close enough to hear us," Val said, reaching for my spoon again. She pouted when I grabbed it and held it under the table. "Not nice, Jpeg."

                "Everyone be on your guards, but don't be obvious about it," Kieran said. "We'll shake them off our trail and keep going as we have been. They can suspect me all they want; suspicion isn't proof."

                "And you've got the best of the best covering your tracks," Val said, slinging an arm around my shoulders.

                "If you were the best of the best, we wouldn't need him," Mia said, jerking her thumb in my direction.

                "I can't tell if she was insulting you, me, or both of us," I said to Val.

                "Probably both of us," Val said, letting her arm slide from my shoulders. She didn't seem put down by the insult, though. She dug into her lunch, her information delivered and the rest weighing on Kieran's shoulders.

                So I copied her example and started eating. Kieran was talking to Mia in a low voice, probably about what to do so they didn't get caught.

                As long as I was safe, they could do whatever the hell they wanted. We had a deal that even if someone got caught, they never gave away the names of anyone else. It was the golden rule driving this whole thing.

                "Are you worried?" Val asked me.

                "Why would I be worried?" I nodded towards Kieran. "No blood on my hands."

                Val's lips quirked into a smile as she eyed me. "Always a mystery, Jpeg. No guilt for any of it."

                "You're one to talk," I said. I turned my gaze away from her and started eating again, wondering just how I'd screwed up badly enough to get myself stuck with these people.

                Lunch ended and we headed back to class. By the time classes were over, I was ready to sit in my room alone, finish my homework, and relax the rest of the night.

                I locked the door to my room, contemplated barricading the door, and finally decided Val would still find a way in. She was determined, I'd give her that.

                I sat at my desk, looking around my room. Crowe Academy had several different dorms, some made for single rooms, some for double rooms, and some for people to live with up to four in a room. The single rooms were more expensive, but I liked the privacy.