JASON'S POVI had never thrown a party before but I had been to most of my classmates in my former school. Normally I would wait to arrive later than anyone else to make an entrance but this time I was stuck in the middle of it.Tess's father was trying too hard with me and suggesting this party was his way of showing how supportive and cool he was. I wouldn't have agreed to it because I didn't care that much about things like this. But I did and now here I was. I figured that it wouldn't hurt to create a more welcoming environment from my new classmates and schoolmates but more importantly, I was doing it because of Tess. At first, I hadn't been sure about her feelings towards me and I was so afraid to act and cross that line but that morning everyone had changed. She hadn't tried to run away, well, except for the moment my person decided to embarrass me. This party was supposed to be a distraction from her and all those thoughts I had about her but now, that didn't matter. It was a
TESSIE'S POVI couldn't believe I had just said that to him. I was the one running all the time yet managed to be mad at him and jealous just because of the thought of seeing him talking to someone else. Was I always this possessive person even over something that wasn't mine? Probably, because now this was the second time I had expressed myself like that. Was this even healthy?Jace stared at me with a smirk pasted on his face. He was enjoying this. He patted the space next to him on the bed without saying anything. I eyed the spot and then him questioningly. "Come on. You are not afraid of me, are you?"Was I? No. I couldn't be. I was afraid of myself was more accurate and also afraid of what was going to happen if I sat down next to him. His eyes were filled with longing and the smirk wasn't even a tiny bit annoying. If anything, I found it sexy. I couldn't tell him that now, could I? Jace scooted closer to the edge I was standing in. My eyes followed his movement, shif
JASON'S POVHer soft sighs and moans were music to my ears. I was excited. At some point, I almost lost control touching her and kissing her all over but I didn't want to scare her. From the moment I kissed her and saw her naked, I knew that I wanted to see her again. This needed to be perfect or she would want to see me again.Thankfully I had enough experience with girls so I knew exactly what to do.My hand trailed along her bare tummy. I felt her shudder as I trailed along her waistline. Her eyes flickered open forcing me to stop. I wasn't sure if I had gone too far but her eyes still held trust. I claimed her lips then slowly slipped my hand into her panties. My fingers met a wet patch. "You are so wet," I whispered with a smile. Tessie blushed and averted her eyes from me. I stroked her gently, taking my time to observe her reaction. "Is that comfortable enough for you?"She nodded, "Yeah. It feels nice." I tugged on the panties. "I'm going to take these off, okay?" She no
TESSIE'S POVI had just had my first-ever orgasm. I could swear I wouldn't have known what that meant before all this— before Jace had shown me. He was the perfect translation of show don't tell and he was really good at it.What would Ava say about this? She would definitely be happy for me and want much more details like she had always told me. But then, this wasn't something I could just run to her with. It was really beginning to hit me. I had finally taken that step and had— well, almost had sex for the first time yet I couldn't discuss it with my best friend. Where would I even start?Oh, Ava! Guess what, I just experienced the best mind-blowing, shaking hardcore orgasm given by the boy you are crushing so hard on. I could already guess how that would go and I didn't want to find out. What was even more unappealing was the giant reminder I really didn't need at that moment that he was my stepbrother. No. I wouldn't think about that at that moment.I turned towards where he was s
TESSIE'S POV I had never been one for big crowds or parties. They drained the energy out of me and whenever I made an exception for Ava and agreed to go, I always ended up alone in a corner drinking my sippy cup as everyone else ran around either having sex, making out, or playing stupid games.I counted the minutes until Ava found some boy and took off with him. It was amazing how she would be upset pining over a guy and in the next skip off with another one. She did have all the features that guys liked. She was pretty and even though she was a nerd like me, she was the popular nerd. The one who always got noticed unlike me. I was alone once again and the urge to go back to my room was too strong.However several minutes later, I saw him. He stopped at the last stair looking around the room. The moment his gaze landed on me, my stomach rolled. God, would I ever get used to seeing him in the same room with me and that feeling that always enveloped me? I took a large swallow of the d
JASON'S POVI tried to focus on the partying around me but all I kept seeing was the image of Evan, my first enemy in the new school in the field, and now also in my personal life. I couldn't tell whether approaching Tess was a way of trying to piss me off or if he genuinely liked her. While I could tolerate the first one, asking me to accept the second one was asking for the impossible. There was no way I was going to let him have even the tiniest bit of a chance with her.Just as I was about to step forward ready to take on him, two girls stepped forward and blocked my way. "Jace!" One of them exclaimed as they both smiled.I knew them from most of my classes. They had sat in front of me multiple times and their seductive smiles every time our eyes met hadn't passed me by. I had noticed them. I had experienced their "head bitch in charge" personality, they were pretty, confident, and outspoken. I couldn't lie and say that I hadn't noticed them because who was I kiddi
TESSIE'S POVI woke up the following day with a pounding head, a disoriented face and what felt like layers and layers of nausea. I sat up and held my head in my palms trying to adjust to the lighting. "Oh, God!" I swallowed a chunk of nausea. What had I gotten myself into? Right. The party the previous night. That wasn't my first party though. Why was I feeling like a zombie? I got up slowly knowing that any sudden movements could throw me off balance. If I hit the floor, I wasn't sure I could get up again for the next several hours. If that was how alcohol was supposed to make someone feel, I didn't understand how people became alcoholics. Waking up to this? Dealing with vicious hangovers and the urge to throw up that early in the morning? Not my cup of tea. The thought of tea made my stomach churn. How had I gotten here? Oh, right. Evan with his confession. That wasn't a dream. And Jace— that especially was a major blow to my ribcage. At that moment, I just wished I hadn't remem
JASON'S POVBy the time I got downstairs, Tess was already gone. Thanks to Lexi, now I had an explanation to give. I had no idea how I would convince her that I hadn't slept with her. The temptations had been there and yes, I had kissed her back but I hadn't gone beyond that. Sure she had thrown herself at me and I had wanted it but I just couldn't go through with it.The living room was a mess. I made the calculations of cleaning up alone and groaned. Whatever thing had made me think that throwing a party for rowdy teenagers was a good idea, I was now regretting it. My head was spinning from a hangover and there was no one to help me.The couch looked inviting. If one could ever say that. I had spent the night there leaving my bed for Lexi. Quite a gentleman I had been, only for it to come to this. I clutched my head in my hands and sat down with a heavy sigh. "Hey, handsome! I hope you don't mind that I borrowed these?"I looked up abruptly as Lexi walked into the l
AVA'S POVImmediately the teacher stepped out after the class, I slumped into my desk, sighing heavily from exhaustion. Thank God there wasn't another class after that because I would have died. "Get up lazy ass! Go sleep at home," Margo said, shaking me. "Leave me alone," I groaned, my eyes still closed. "Five more minutes, okay?" "Yeah, that's code for thirty." A different voice said. One that was too familiar to me. I frowned and then slowly looked up only to find Tessie standing over me, a tiny smile on her face. "Hey," she greeted.I wasn't sure what to say to her so I started looking around. This was the first time in months that I hadn't sprinted out of class right after a lesson just to avoid talking to her. I could get up and leave her there but this time, I didn't feel like it. "Where is Margo and Katie?" I asked, just to make conversation. "They just left. They said something about going to watch the boys' swimming practice?" "Mo
AVA'S POV "Okay, your frown just went from a two to a seventy real fast. What's pricking your butt?" My friend Margo, asked as we walked out of the cafeteria. "Nothing, maybe it's just something I ate?" "Ava, you barely touched your lunch," she pointed out giving me a disapproving look as she blocked my way forcing me to stop right outside the cafeteria. "In the morning? Maybe it's something I ate for breakfast." "I'm pretty sure your half pancake and a sausage are digested by now. I'm also very sure this," she said, expressing with her hands all over me. "Happens every time we walk by your ex-bestfriend and that walking heartbreaker stepbrother of hers. I have noticed so, spill." "Yeah, you never told us what really happened between you two. You two were always so tight than you ever was with us," my other friend, Katie weighed in. I sighed. I was cornered and I wasn't sure what I was supposed to tell them. The truth? No, I would neve
JASON'S POVSeveral months had passed after Tessie and I got back together. They had been the best months I'd had in a while but also the busiest. With college applications, tests and retests especially for maths. Thankfully, I had Tess to help me study and I was more positive about passing than I had been at the beginning of the year. Prom was just a month away but I wasn't looking forward to it like I was looking forward to graduation. I had already made up mind that I wouldn't go. There was no way I could go with Tessie so, I had other plans for us that day even though it was still a bit further away.Having moved back to the Prescott's house permanently, everything was moving smoothly. Late night sneaking into Tessie's bedroom, helping her father at his office sometimes... He had even offered me a summer job with him before I went to college. I hadn't given him an answer to that yet because I wasn't so sure I wanted to be there after graduation— something I hadn't told even Tessi
TESSIE'S POVMonday morning, I sat in my usual place during literature class, doodling on my book. My mind was so absent, closed off to the noise around me as we waited for the teacher. I turned slowly to the desk next to mine. Ava had still not arrived which was so odd. Well, odd, but I had some ideas why she was probably taking her time. This was the first time we had gone through a weekend with no communication. It sucked, big time. She had ignored all my texts and every time I called her, it went straight to voicemail. She was giving me a message but I wasn't ready to give up yet. How could I just let four years of our friendship go down the drain?I looked up just in the moment she walked in. Our eyes met and my face brightened as I sat up. Finally. However, her face dropped, her eyes growing hostile and instead of walking over to me like she always did, she turned away and headed to a different desk, way far from me. I swallowed hard, something uncomfortable stirring in my stom
TESSIE'S POV "Tessie!" My father's voice alerted me from the hallway followed by a loud knock. I turned with a groan and sat up rubbing my eyes. Why was he waking me up so early ? "I know it's Saturday but you need to get up and have breakfast with us before I head to work. We have some news we want to share." "What time is it?" I managed to mutter under my breath and reached for my phone. It was some minutes past eight. My father didn't have to go to work early on Saturdays which explained why he was still there. "Tessie? Are you awake?" "You woke me up, Dad!" I shouted back. "I'm sorry. I haven't seen you since yesterday. Is it so bad that I want to share a meal with my daughter?" "I'll be there in a few minutes," I gave in knowing there was no point in arguing when he got like that.Beside me, Jace stirred awake and stretched his hand to me. He wrapped it around my waist and forced me back to bed with him. A silent gasp escaped me
TESSIE'S POVTears sprung out of my eyes as I watched Ava run away from me. This is what I had been so afraid of— watching her walk away with that hatred in her eyes. Were we ever going to be okay again? Jace pulled closer and I leaned against his chest, my heart completely torn. I had wanted Ava to know the truth. I was going to tell her everything because I didn't want her to find out this way. "I fucked up," I breathed hard. "She is never going to talk to me again." "Tessie, it's not your fault. We both did this, I did this," Jace comforted me. "I lost control, Tessie. I thought she had left." "She did. At least I thought she did. I don't know why she came back." "Hey, it's okay. Stop beating yourself so hard about it. Ava is going to come around, we will talk to her together." "What if she tells our parents?" I asked, my voice shaking slightly. "Do you really think she would?" "I don't know. She is very upset and migh
AVA'S POVI blinked slowly trying to take in the scene in front of me but my whole body shut down for several seconds. I couldn't move or say anything so I just stared. Tessie and Jace broke apart quickly, their faces pale from shock. At first, I wanted to believe that I had imagined everything but the moment my eyes met theirs, all I could see was betrayal.My insides shredded at that instant. Tears stung my eyes and a soft sigh escaped me. My entire strength failed and I forgot to breathe for a second. "Ava..." Tessie stepped forward.It was at that moment that I managed to gather myself. I turned on my heels and ran out down the hall and headed downstairs. I couldn't be there, I couldn't face her, and I didn't want to talk to her or even see her face. "Ava, please wait!" she called after me as I ran out the front door without looking back. "Ava!" "I have nothing to say to you two!" I turned sharply and shouted. "Unless you want to tell me that wha
JASON'S POV We searched for her for almost twenty minutes without seeing any sign of her or Evan. I hated myself for thinking that maybe she had gone home with him and used feeling unwell as an excuse. I couldn't stop thinking that they were off somewhere in the backseat of Evan's car or his bedroom making out or having sex.The thought drained the energy out of me and I paused outside the gym trying to fight it off. Just as I was about to give up the search, Evan appeared, heading back to the gym. I straightened up and met him. "Hey, do you know where Tessie is?" I asked. "She texted Ava that she was unwell and now we can't find her." "Yeah, she told me to drive her home. She has a headache but she is safe."I exhaled in relief. Right then, Ava joined us. "Is she mad at me for disappearing on her? Please tell me she isn't mad," Ava asked desperately. "I don't know," he sighed. "But I think you should check on her or call her to find out what's going o
JASON'S POV "So, how do you and Jude know each other?" I asked Ava as we danced amongst the crowd. "We met through our parents. They used to be coworkers then friends. What about you guys?" "He is my cousin," I stated casually, not surprised that Jude hadn't mentioned my relationship with him. "The one you are staying with," she stated.I frowned slightly, "How do you know that if he never mentioned me before?" "Tess told me, plus I live a few houses down from the Prescott's so... I know things." "Right," I nodded, my heart skipping several beats wondering how much Tessie had shared with her best friend. The truth? "What else did Tessie tell you?" I asked lightly. "Nothing much, except that you are single again which probably the whole school knows and many girls might be trying to get your hands on you." "Tessie told you that?" I cocked an eyebrow. Ava chuckled, "Not really. That was me blurting out every un