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Chapter 33
~Jade’s POV~
I kept thinking about Xavier that morning—how he hadn’t said a word about being with Xade or what he felt seeing his brother and kissing the day he dropped off.
I’d almost asked in the car, my heart hamring in my chest, but the mont I opened my mouth, he told we had arrived.
I had looked out the window to see Mum’s house and sighed. Just like that, my chance was gone.
I thanked him quietly, highlighted the car, and waited while he drove off without a word or a glance. I couldn’t tell if it was relief or frustration that settled over .
When I got ho, of course, my mother was there. Her eyes lingered on the driveway in a way that made uncomfortable, and her comnt about "the new hottie who dropped you off" didn’t help.
"Mum, not now. He is just a friend. I had a stressful day," I lied, hoping she bought it.
Clearly, she noticed the cars were different. "I wish I had rich hotties like them," she stated with a wink.
How did she know they were hot? I tried not to explain anything and slipped past her, escaping before she could pry further.
I thought I had shaken off the awkwardness, but then... ouch! A sudden pinch on my arm made jolt.
I looked up and froze. Xavier was staring straight at in class with that cold look of ’you’ve jst been caught.’ My stomach sank. I blinked and glanced to the side, catching Isadora giving an apologetic smile.
She mouthed sothing I couldn’t read fast enough before Xavier’s voice cut through the silence in class.
"Since you have enough ti to daydream in my class, Ms. Snow, I bet you’d be able to answer these questions."
My chest tightened, and my mind froze. The questions were advanced—way beyond what I had prepared for.
I tried to answer, stumbled over the first, blanked on the next, and failed miserably. By the end, I had detention waiting for after school. My cheeks burned as I collected my things, wishing the floor would swallow whole.
A few of my classmates whispered behind my back.
"How can she concentrate in class when her nudes went viral?"
"Such a whore. I bet Professor Xavier must be disappointed."
"Hush, you do not want to be another scapegoat like Troy."
I ignored them and headed to my next class.
By the ti it was lunch break, my phone wouldn’t stop buzzing. I didn’t even need to check the na. I already knew it was Isadora.
I sighed and finally unlocked the screen. ssages flooded in, one after another.
Isadora: Jade, I’m so sorry.
Isadora: Please don’t ignore . I swear I didn’t an to hurt you.
Isadora: I saw the news, and I thought you already knew. When I realized you didn’t, I panicked. I just... I didn’t want you to feel bad. Or worse, think your mates would look at you differently.
Isadora: I was trying to distract you. I know it was stupid. Please forgive . I never ant for any of this to happen.
I stared at the screen, my chest feeling oddly tight. My fingers hovered over the keyboard, but I didn’t type anything yet.
Javelin’s voice slid into my mind. "She didn’t plan to hurt you, Jade. She just handled it badly. She was trying to protect you in her own way."
I exhaled slowly. "She still should’ve told ," I muttered under my breath.
"Maybe. But she was scared for you," Javelin replied. "You know how people get when they think they’re helping."
Before I could answer, another ssage popped up.
Isadora: I’m really, really sorry. Please don’t hate . I can’t bear to have my bestie hate . It’s been you and against the world.
I chuckled a bit at the use of the weeping emoji, then closed my eyes for a second, then finally typed back.
: Forgiven.
Almost imdiately, my phone buzzed again.
Isadora: Thank you. I swear I’ll make it up to you.
I locked my phone and slipped it back into my bag. Even though the post had been taken down, the whispers hadn’t. I could feel them everywhere, in the hallways, in the classrooms, in the way so people looked at like they were trying to piece together a story that wasn’t theirs to tell.
I didn’t want to deal with the cafeteria. So I took my lunch and went to the garden instead. The sa place where Xade had t yesterday.
I sat down, set my food beside , and stared at it without really seeing it.
My traitorous mind went straight back to Xade. To his lips, the first kiss. Then the second one, deeper, more urgent, like he couldn’t stop himself.
My stomach fluttered, and warmth curled low in my body. I shifted uncomfortably and scowled at myself. "Stop it, Jade," I whispered. "This is not the ti."
"And yet here you are, thinking about it anyway," Javelin teased.
I reached for my fork just as my phone buzzed again.
Trainer.
I still hadn’t changed the na since Ms Rowan gave his contact. I hesitated, then answered. "Hello?"
"Where are you?" Xander asked without responding to my greeting.
"In the garden," I enunciated quickly. "The sa place as yesterday."
"Okay. I need to et you."
My heart skipped in a way I didn’t appreciate. "Okay?"
Just before he hung up, his voice ca again, much lighter and amused than before. "So you couldn’t get enough of yesterday, huh? You went there to refresh your mory?"
My face burned with embarrassnt. "Xander!"
The line went dead before I could blurt out my frustration. I snapped my phone on my thigh, glaring at it while Javelin laughed rcilessly in my head.
"Oh, co on, you’re blushing like a schoolgirl," she teased. "It’s obvious what you were thinking."
I curled my fingers around the edge of the bench. "Shut up," I muttered.
"Really? You think it’s wrong to notice him? To feel... that?" Javelin purred. "It’s normal, Jade. Bodies react, hearts race, thoughts wander. You’re not a bad girl for having naughty thoughts about soone, especially your mate."
I crossed my arms, still glaring at the empty air. "Seriously, Jav, I don’t need a running comntary on my brain."
"Oh, you do. Admit it," she shot back. "Every ti you think of him, your cheeks flare, your stomach flips, and don’t even try to lie, you can feel that warmth, can’t you?"
I groaned and buried my face in my hands. "You’re impossible."
"Impossibly right," she said smugly. "It’s natural, Jade. You like and want him. Nothing to be ashad of."
I peeked through my fingers, my heart thudding. "It’s... complicated."
"Complicated is fine," Javelin reasoned. "It doesn’t make it wrong."
I sighed, dropping my hands. "To be honest, I liked the kiss, but... Xander and I had almost had the sa too. I—I don’t even know how I’m supposed to choose among them."
"One problem at a ti," she said gently.
Footsteps approached before I could reply. I looked up to see Xander standing there.
And wow.
He was dressed in all black leather, confidence written into every step, looking unfairly breathtaking. My breath hitched before I could stop it.
"Why..." I swallowed, clearing my throat while trying—and failing—to sound casual, "why did you want to see ?"
He stopped in front of , all seriousness now. "Two reasons."
My stomach tightened. "Two?"
He nodded. "First, the culprit behind the incident was traced to a student nad Adrian in the senior class."
I stared at him. "What?"
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