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Game of Hearts 044
Jenna Brooks’s POV Liam and I hadn't spoken in two days. I had called him multiple times, but he wasn't answering. I also sent him several texts, but he didn't respond to any of them. When I went to his house, Becky informed me that his entire family had already left for Hawaii. I wouldn't see him until two weeks later. Conrad and Toralei were still together, for some unknown reason. How could she ruin my relationship with Liam just because she wanted revenge on me for kissing her boyfriend? The sound of the arrivals announcement snapped me out of my thoughts. I was at the airport, having just landed in Cronners. I walked out of the airport, rolling my bag along with me. I hailed a cab, got in, and it drove off. As the cab glided through the streets, I looked out the window. It had only been three months, but everything seemed different. I had changed too. My phone buzzed in my pocket, and I took it out. It was a text from Auntie Laurel. "Did you arrive safely? Call me when
Game of Hearts 045
Jenna Brooks’s POV For the next few days, I stayed glued to Mum’s side. It had already been six days since the doctor told us she had a few more days to live. Auntie Laurel had arrived in Cronners yesterday to be there for us. Then she had apologized for not telling me about Mum’s condition. She had said she had kept it from me because Mum didn’t want me to know. It didn’t stop me from hating her though, she literally kept the fact that my Mum was dying, from me.I sat in the ICU, looking at Mum—to savor her, to remember her. But at the same time, I didn’t want to remember her like this. So every time I looked at her, within moments, I looked away again. Sometimes I’d force myself to grab her hands and tell her I loved her and that I was here for her, but most of the time I wasn’t strong enough to do that. So instead, I sat in the chair in a corner, and I looked at her occasionally, but otherwise I looked out the window and tried not to break down.My phone beeped with a text
Game of Hearts 046
Jenna Brooks’s POV I woke up and stretched in bed, feeling all my aching muscles and joints. It was early still, just after seven, but the sky was still dark and snowing outside my window. I sat up and rubbed my eyes as I looked around my room. Empty wrappers, dirty plates and toilet papers were everywhere. It was a complete mess because I hadn’t stepped out of my room and had been eating here since Mom’s funeral, four days ago.I was wearing one of Mom’s favorite floral dress and I’d worn them for four days now. My hair was also greasy. I knew staying in bed for most of the day wasn’t helping my situation but I just wanted to be left alone. As long as I could sleep and stuff my face, I felt numb, and numb was good; numb didn’t hurt.It felt like everyone else had moved on from Mom’s death, everyone except me. Dustin was back in boarding school, he was still too young to understand the gravity of what had happened. Liam had gone back to Houston and Auntie Laurel was still arou
Game of Hearts 047
Jenna Brooks’s POVA Month Later… Mrs. Andrés clutched her attendance book tightly to her chest as she said, "You should all strive for perfect attendance. It will greatly benefit your college applications." Then, her gaze landed on Bethany, the class president. "Take a page out of Beth's book. She hasn't missed a day of school since the semester started. Beth, your perfect attendance will be written in history someday.""Yes, in crayon," I mentally replied. Except, it wasn't so mental because the entire class was now staring at me. Did I really say that out loud?Mrs. Andrés's gaze bore into mine. "My office, now!"As I stood up and followed her, I caught Liam's gaze. Liam and I were no longer together, but he had helped me through these past few weeks. He didn't break up with me; I broke up with him because I was scared.I was afraid of becoming too attached to him. Since I had been most attached to mom when she was alive, I worried that all that attachment would transfer to whoev
Game of Hearts 048
Jenna Brooks’s POV“Yes, Jenna?" Mrs. Andrés finally acknowledged me when she noticed my raised hand."The seat belongs to Olivia. We can't just let a random stranger have it," I explained.Stig gasped dramatically, "Oh my God, Jenna. You're being racist.""What? I'm not! What does that have to do with this?""That's exactly what you're doing, Jenna," he retorted, raising his hand with a clenched fist in a protest-like manner. "It's the twenty-first century, Jenna. People don't think that way anymore. Say no to racism!"The class joined in, chanting, "No to racism!"I couldn't help but raise my eyebrows and drop my jaw in surprise. He had turned my simple statement into a protest?"Quiet!" Mrs. Andrés yelled, successfully calming the class. "Take the seat next to Jenna."Stig walked over to the chair beside me, and I glared at him as he did. If looks could kill, he would be six feet under from the intensity of my glare. I already hated him.*** Second semester came with sel
Game of Hearts 049
Conrad Declan’s POV “Mom, I love Jenna and I want to be with her," I said. Mom stared at me in surprise, glancing at Jenna and then back at me."What's going on?" Mom finally asked.Jenna kept her head down, so I spoke up for myself."I've liked Jenna for a while now, Mom," I said calmly."How long?""Since we were kids, I don't know. I tried to suppress my feelings for her, but I can't anymore."Mom turned to Jenna. "Did you know about this?""Yes, Auntie Laurel," Jenna replied.Mom took a step closer to Jenna and placed a hand on her shoulder. "Do his feelings for you make you feel uncomfortable?""Nope," Jenna replied, but I knew she was lying."Then I have no say in this. You're both old enough to address your feelings, and I support whatever decision you make," Mom said, smiling and clutching her bag tightly. "I have to get back to the office now."Mom hugged Jenna and rushed down the hallway, leaving just Jenna and me standing there. As Jenna tried to walk into her room,
Game of Hearts 050
Jenna Brooks’s POV“Oh my God, Jenna, you look amazing!" Conrad exclaimed as he approached me."What are you doing here?" I asked calmly, trying not to sound evasive."Are you that surprised to see me here?" he asked with a smirk."Not really.""Exactly. The real question is, what are YOU doing here, Jenna?" he asked, taking a step closer to me as I took two steps back."I...came with a friend," I replied, not wanting to get Jeanette in trouble."You have no friends, Jenna. I know you came with Jeanette.""I...""It's cool, I'm not going to tell on you guys," Conrad replied, and I breathed a sigh of relief.There was nothing more to say to him. I turned and walked towards a chair by the bonfire in the middle of the lawn."It's really chilly, don't you think?" Conrad asked as he sat next to me. I watched as he took off his denim jacket and handed it to me. "You should wear this."I couldn't refuse; I was too cold to think. I slipped into the jacket and murmured a "Thanks."We sat i
Game of Hearts 051
Jenna Brooks’s POV“What the hell happened last night?" Jeanette exclaimed, her hand still covering her mouth.A familiar knot formed in my stomach. How could I not remember kissing Conrad? And why didn't he mention it to me? I clenched my fists and hurried down the hallway to my classroom.It felt like I was a magnet, drawing everyone's attention. As soon as I entered the classroom, all eyes turned towards me. Some glared at me with hatred, while others whispered in surprise, too afraid to show their true feelings.Conrad was nowhere to be found. As I turned to leave the class, I collided with Liam. Fuck, I completely forgot about him. When our eyes met, a wave of guilt washed over me, and I couldn't hold his gaze. Liam took my hand and led me out of the class, down the hall, and into the quiet auditorium.He released my hand and waited for an explanation."That video doesn't mean anything, Liam. I was drunk," I started, watching him grab a plastic chair and slowly sit down. "Are
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