Redwood High

“Jake.” I limped into his open arms, relief coursing through my veins. “I’m so sorry,” I whispered into his ear and pulled him to sit on the bed with me.

“I was hoping to get in on that,” he said with a smile, raising a pen as his eyes came to rest on the cast around my leg.

I returned his smile. “I saved you a spot.”

I felt a tingle as he simply signed his name.

“What, no heart?” I asked.

“I think you’ve got more than enough hearts already,” he replied, referring to the many hearts the other guys had drawn, including Aaron.

“What if yours is the one I want?” I asked, boldly looking into his eyes as I felt the butterflies rise in my stomach. It didn’t take long for me to notice the shift of emotion in his eyes, from playful to naked lust.

Suddenly his mouth was descending toward mine, and I couldn’t wait any longer. I met him halfway with a hand on his shoulder.

The kiss was everything I had fantasized about and more. It was mind-blowing, overpowering my senses. One palm slid into my hair, and the other caressed my face as we reveled in the taste of each other.

Wanting more, I leaned into him and released a breathy moan when his hand dropped to cup my breast. My hands tightened on his shoulder just when I felt a vibration against my thigh.

Quickly we jumped apart, too flustered to say a word.

He pulled out his phone and read the message he had received.

“Be my date,” he suddenly said and continued when I simply stared at him in confusion.

“Mason’s parents are out of town, and he wants to throw a party for you, welcome home from the hospital party. Be my date?” He asked, and this time, I nodded with a huge smile, feeling a blush rise to my cheeks.

I didn’t know what Jake and I were yet, but at least he didn’t dismiss it as a one-time thing. We talked into the night like we had been doing every other day.

The following evening, I was dressed in the beautiful red, shimmery gown and silver heels Tiffany had picked out for me. She was the closest thing I had to female friendship, and when she had offered to help me get ready for the party, I had quickly grabbed at the opportunity. I didn’t want to look like a tomboy on my first date with Jake.

“So, you and Jake, huh? I love it,” Tiffany said in excitement as she styled my hair into voluminous curls.

I grinned, the idea of Jake and me as an item doing wonderful, albeit nervous things to me.

“What about you and Liam? Are you two still fighting?” I had missed a lot while in the hospital, but judging from the huge smile that appeared on her face, it seemed like things between them had gotten better.

“Oh, he finally agreed to be a candidate for homecoming king,” she said airily. “My Liam can’t deny me anything.” She smiled with the confidence and assurance of someone that knew she was well-loved. “There, we’re done.”

When I looked in the mirror, I was beyond wowed.

There was a brief knock on the door to my room, and it opened to reveal my Mom. “Oh my, bebé, you look absolutely wonderful. My beautiful daughter.” She walked up to stand behind me while Tiffany smiled as she watched us.

“You’ve done a wonderful job here, Tiff.”

I rolled my eyes. Sure, she could shorten Tiffany’s name but not mine.

Soon, we heard the familiar sound of Jake’s truck, which had been my ride to school twice when my Mom couldn’t drop me off, and we all went downstairs. Of course, my Mom embarrassed me a little by taking pictures of me with Jake, but she soon released us. I felt she was too over the top. And I wasn’t new to her being extra, but sometimes you just have to love your parents when they display such an attitude. I could see the glitter in her eyes as she took those shots.

It was a typical high school party, and Mason’s parents’ monstrosity of a house made it even more fun. The boys and I goofed around while Tiffany dragged around an unwilling Liam to campaign for votes.

I was on my second dance with Jake, a slow romantic one by the pool with the boys and other students outside the house when all hell broke loose.

Leila’s friend, Gina, suddenly came at me screaming, despite the hold her friends had on her. “It’s because of you she’s dead, you bitch,” she yelled just as the boys stood up, and Jake pulled me behind him. “Your killer boyfriend killed her because she pushed you.”

She could insult me or do whatever she wanted to me. Still, I wasn’t going to let her accuse Jake of doing something that had almost destroyed him once.

I pushed away from Jake and stood before Gina, ready to defend Jake’s honor when suddenly she yanked me toward her and pushed me right into the pool.