" Cutting class,” I muttered. “That idiot.”
Ben did a double-take when he spotted me, then slowly shook his head. As I drew near, he whispered something under his breath. His moron buddies exploded in laughter.
I’ll kill him. Then murder him afterward.
“What the hell are you doing?” Not the most diplomatic of greetings, but my temper was long gone. “Is your first class Parking Lot Maintenance?”
Ben waved a hand at me. “You see what I mean?”
Wallet Chain chuckled as he toked a cigarette. “That’s not very nice, sweetheart.”
“You’ll never land a man like that,” added Ski Cap. “This ain’t Beantown.”
“Ben?” Seething. “May I speak to you privately?”
Ben rolled his eyes. “Give me a sec, guys. I’ve been naughty.”
I waited until the stoners were out of earshot.
“Great crew you’ve assembled.” Dripping with sarcasm.
“Leave them out of this,” Ben warned. “What, I can’t even have friends, now that I’ve been kicked from the Ivory Tower?”
“Maybe go to class. You might find a better peer group in there.”
Ben snorted. “I’m pretty sure you have class right now, too.”
Touche. "

― Kathy Reichs , Exposure (Virals, #4)