I keep getting as far as the alley and the sense of familiarity I had of the person who’d attacked me, and then nothing. If I try to force it my head hurts, so I pull back. But I know it’s gonna happen sooner or later.
As for him going to see that thing in the hospital, whether she was involved or not I don’t want him gong to her for any reason. I have no idea what the hell he was thinking, and if he’d gone you better believe I’d be chatting with someone else this morning. He’d lost his damn mind.
I know where he was coming from with his explanation, but uh-uh, hell no. If she really didn’t have any memory, then it was less than she deserved for being an evil twit.
“You look better Sian, you’re not in any pain are you?”
“Nah Tammy, the pills help a lot, but Jace has me doing these stretches that really work so I’m all good.”
Valerie seemed a little uncomfortable as the odd one out, so I thought I’d put forth the extra effort to make her feel welcomed. I’d seen her around and we’d said hi, but I had no idea that her guy and Jace were such good pals. And the way Jace went on and out about Track, I figured she was going to be a part of our crew.
It wasn’t hard finding something to talk about when I caught sight of her bag. “Is that the Himalayan Birkin?” I was starting to hyperventilate.
“Yeah Track got it for my last birthday.”
“You’re shitting me, no seriously?” I looked over to where the guys were in their usual male huddle. Who is this kid that he could drop over a hundred gran on a bag for his girl?
This place is just too beyond. My boyfriend drives a car that cost half a mil, and his friends buy luxury bags, I’m so out of my depth.
Of course the conversation turned to fashion and I knew that I was going to like Val for herself and not just because she was Track’s, when she complimented Belle.
Belle preened like a peacock and before you know it we were making plans to go to Val’s over the weekend for a make-up session.
I found it strange that no one was talking about Mandy, but I wasn’t about to be the one to bring it up. I did notice that some of the other kids were getting closer though with her gone.
Instead of just a hello they were lingering long enough to ask how I was doing. Jace had me in his crosshairs like he was expecting an attack of some sort, and by the time he walked me to class before first bell he was sweating.
“I don’t think this is such a good idea. Why the fuck did I bring you here? What kind of asshole…?”
“Jace calm down, it’s high school not a walk to the guillotine.” I rolled my eyes with my head turned so he couldn’t see. He gets kinda touchy about my eye rolls sometimes.
“Don’t roll your damn eyes at me woman this is serious. Come, I’m taking you to class with me.” I was laughing too hard to stop him from dragging me away from my classroom door, but I had enough strength to dig my foot in.
“I can’t go to your class nut.”
“I don’t know, it’s too soon; isn’t it too soon? You have your pills in case you have pain later?” I patted the pocket of my bag where the drugs were resting.
I was lucky that most of the wounds were superficial and the one that had done the most damage was in a place that could’ve gone either way, but had missed its mark.
When he drew me into his chest and kissed my forehead it didn’t even matter if it were too soon or not, nothing else matters when he gets like this, because I know he’ll never let anything happen to me.
I lifted onto my tiptoes and wrapped my arms around his neck so he could kiss me. I all but melted into him as his big strong arms came around me. My forever. As long as I had this to look forward to for the rest of my life, I’m straight.
JACE
I didn’t know it was going to be this hard taking her back to school the first day. There was a combination of shit going on in my head. First, I didn’t know who, or if, one of these fuckers had been the one to attack her on Mandy’s command, and two, I didn’t want her out of my fucking sight, ever.
I hoofed it to her class after each of mine to walk her to the next no matter that she had her girls, and now Val, at her back.
Track was acting strange as fuck but what’s new? I was too focused on her to pay too much attention to his crazy, besides he’d tell me whatever the fuck was bothering him when he was good and ready.
Lunch came and I was finally able to breathe. I think I had PTSD or some shit, because I freaked whenever anyone got too near her, like what the fuck?
“Jace, some shit’s about to go down….” I’d barely lifted my head at Track’s weird statement when I saw the two cops that were working her case walk in.
I held her hand tighter, not sure why the fuck they were here, but the joke was on me. “Jace Saunders, we need you to come with us please.” What the fuck?
Track stood and pulled his phone as he walked away, his shoulders tense with anger. Sian actually stood between me and them, until I lifted her little ass out of the way and passed her to her brother. “Watch her. Babe, I’m cool stop stressing. Where we doing this?”
“The principal’s office for now.” I didn’t like the smirk on this one’s face but whatever. They didn’t beat around the bush once we got there. “Where were you the night the Mandy girl was attacked?”