JADE'S POV
I watch her climb out of the car, dressed in a really short skirt I've never seen before and a crop top that did well to display her washboard flat abdomen.
And she's fully made up!
That infuriates me so much I'm out of words to explain how it makes me feel.
I have no issues with my sister trying to look, well like she is now, but leaving me out here in the school, sick and for hours on end just so she can put on make up?
That's just cruelty and inhumane in my book.
I wait to hear her excuse on why she's so late to pick me up after being called by the school's nurse and asked to because I'm not doing too well on my own, instead, all I get is her walking right past me like I don't exist and going over to Caden's side.
Really, Amber?
Well, why the fuck did I expect any different though, that's just like my sister.
It'll be totally out of character for her if she offered any explanation or apology.
"
JADE'S POVSomehow I managed to make it to my bed and without second thoughts, I stumble face flat onto it.I can barely see out of my eyes, my eyelids too heavy to keep open, no thanks to the continuous pounding in my head.If I didn't know any better, I could have sworn Justin Bieber is having a live concert with his million of female fans stomping around and yelling inside my head.It hurts that much.I can still hear my mom's voice downstairs yelling at me with her little minion Amber fanning the flame by telling her I intentionally got in the water.And even though it's becoming harder to make out their actual words, I know which direction her insinuations are flying and how nasty they can get.I'd just had our mom yell at me for getting in a chlorinated pool, while she watched and when I tried explaining that the school keeps the pool chlorine free and there had been no way I could have known there was something in t
JADE'S POVI feel the covers gets taken away from my body but I'm too weak to even crack an eyelid open to see why.Instead, I curl further into myself, fighting the chill with what body heat I could get.But there's something else.It's probably the fever really getting the best of me or something, but I can swear I'm perceiving Caden's heady masculine scent in my room.I should have taken some meds before crashing, maybe that would have saved me from absurd, delusional thoughts like this one, but I really can and it's intoxicating.There's no way he's here though, Caden I know will rather have all his teeth pulled out with rusted pliers and give up his nails too for bonus points.I curl up a little more, craving some heat to make the cold stop and savoring my favorite scent teasing my nose.It's a piece of heaven you know, imagining him being here and being able to inhale his sweet scent, but that is snatched from me in a sec
CADEN'S POVShe feels so small in my arms, her soft curves molding perfectly to my hard muscles and nothing have ever felt so right, so perfect.Holding her dosen't scare me, dosen't bring back horrid memories, if anything, it does the opposite.It brings me peace and solitude and a calming level of oblivion I've never dreamed of having.And her sweet honeysuckle and vanilla scent, fuck, I could smell that all day and still want more.It's intoxicating, it's Jade.God, I want to kiss her more than I want my next breath, but I don't want her to feel like I'm taking advantage of the situation here, I don't want to scare her off.I've been doing a sad job of that this past week though, kissing her and getting scared that I like it too much for my own good and running for the hills, I could see it taking its toll on her.Funny how I never consider anyone's feelings except mine these days, yet here I am.She makes me wa
JADE'S POVIt's the beginning of my favorite school week and I can't be any happier about being back within these walls of chaos called school, again.It'd been hell being stuck at home for the past few days and not being able to escape all of Amber's bullshit, but that's over now and I can't be anymore grateful.And I can't thank Ches and surprisingly, Caden enough for all they did for me while I'd been.They'd both stuck with me through it, catering to my every need and whim until I could get a grip myself.It was surprising to say the least, I mean having Caden around me that often and having him take care of me the way he did.Honestly, as the days went by, it felt like I was just waiting for the other shoe to drop instead of enjoying the one time moment of change in him.Watching my best girl though, turn into a blushing mess every time he comes around was an added bonus and kinda the cherry on the cake for me, and trust me there
CADEN'S POVIt hurt something inside of me, seeing her like that, scared to the bones, unsure of herself and looking like she was expecting something to jump out of her locker and attack her.In that instant all I'd been able to think about was how much I've failed her, both as her best friend and as the guy who's loosing every bit and piece of himself to her.Sappy, I know, but it had been exactly how I'd felt in the moment.I can understand how she'd felt then, that feeling of dread that keeps you rooted to a spot and frozen is a feeling I know too well, one I'd had to deal with a lot of times myself.But the difference is, she dosen't deserve this, she's too fragile to be dealing with shit like this and thinking about it only makes me wish I can nab the bastard behind all of her problems as soon as possible and deal with their fuck up already.This whole shit is taking much longer than I'd given it credit for initially and honestly, it's
JADE'S POVChes and I spent the most of the day making plans of how to make the most of the trip that had just been announced and how to ensure we enjoy every bit of it.We are not really the outdoorsy duo but this is the one time in the year we can be persuaded to try.And if course we plan to have the best time of our life while at it because this only happens once in the year and this is going to be our second to last.But while the euphoria of knowing I get to be away from Amber and her troubles for a whole week lasted, I'm not sure exactly how to deal with knowing I'd be stuck with both Matt and Caden and Lizzy, the girlfriend I'd let myself forget about.This past week, I'd let myself alienate everything about her and the relationship she has with Caden, choosing instead to be living in my own fantasy where it's just the both of us, cocooned.I know that was stupid of me because ignoring it dosen't make it go away, but for once since b
JADE'S POVI spill my gut to Ches as soon as I find her, telling her everything that had just happened between Lizzy and I and how I didn't feel good about any of it, one bit.She took her time calming me down and talking me out of my fear frenzy, because despite my brave front with Lizzy, I was anything but brave on the inside.I'm still scared shitless of what might or might not happen after this, especially since I'd driven her to the brink of madness by standing up to her and responding to her in the way and manner that I did.Maybe I shouldn't have, for my own safety, really."You know you should tell this to Caden and Matt, right? They'd know what to do with this information more than the both of us since they are all in the same class and she's infact Caden's girlfriend. He can keep an eye on her to see if she's up to anything."As always, Ches is right, and the reminder that there something going on between Caden and Lizzy only
JADE'S POV"I ended things with Lizzy and she's not taking it well. I know how she can get and that's why I I was worried sick after I got your text."Those words had been the last thing I'd been expecting to hear from Caden when he'd showed in the class up with Matt yesterday, and no matter how hard I'd tried not to be excited by the news, I couldn't help the feeling of blooming hope that had surge through my entire being.He didn't say what his reasons were or what had happened between them to have caused their break up, but the little, hopeless simp inside me couldn't help imagining it had something to do with "us".Maybe, just maybe, he also feels whatever this feeling is brewing between us, maybe he could feel the heat of the inferno we ignite every time that we are together.Well, that's my wishful thinking because he didn't say anything to that effect.It wasn't helping that his words had taken permanent residence in my head and
CADEN'S POVI know what she's asking but the answer to her question is lodged in my throat, not coming up and not going down, only suffocating me like those nightmares I beg to wake from and hear nothing in response except my own thudding heart and my laboured breath.Time pass, the question condensing in the air, getting thicker and heavier in its entirety and I just feel so small, s feeling I've avoided like the plague in these recent and brighter times.She sits up on the bed, dropping my hand eventually like I'd wanted at some point, but the waft of cold breeze that cools it off of the tiny balls of perspiration that had built in them from contact, reminded me why this is the last thing I want.She says nothing, doesn't ask me again or try to push me fo tell her about the hellish years that had followed leaving here and the nightmares that had built after it.Just nothing.She just hugs her knees to herself and watches me and I see it in her quiet gaze, the resignation and resolve
CADEN'S POVI know what she's asking but the answer to her question is lodged in my throat, not coming up and not going down, only suffocating me like those nightmares I beg to wake from and hear nothing in response except my own thudding heart and my laboured breath.Time pass, the question condensing in the air, getting thicker and heavier in its entirety and I just feel so small, s feeling I've avoided like the plague in these recent and brighter times.She sits up on the bed, dropping my hand eventually like I'd wanted at some point, but the waft of cold breeze that cools it off of the tiny balls of perspiration that had built in them from contact, reminded me why this is the last thing I want.She says nothing, doesn't ask me again or try to push me fo tell her about the hellish years that had followed leaving here and the nightmares that had built after it.Just nothing.She just hugs her knees to herself and watches me and I see it in her quiet gaze, the resignation and resolve
CADEN'S POVI know what she's asking but the answer to her question is lodged in my throat, not coming up and not going down, only suffocating me like those nightmares I beg to wake from and hear nothing in response except my own thudding heart and my laboured breath.Time pass, the question condensing in the air, getting thicker and heavier in its entirety and I just feel so small, s feeling I've avoided like the plague in these recent and brighter times.She sits up on the bed, dropping my hand eventually like I'd wanted at some point, but the waft of cold breeze that cools it off of the tiny balls of perspiration that had built in them from contact, reminded me why this is the last thing I want.She says nothing, doesn't ask me again or try to push me fo tell her about the hellish years that had followed leaving here and the nightmares that had built after it.Just nothing.She just hugs her knees to herself and watches me and I see it in her quiet gaze, the resignation and resolve
CADEN'S POVI know what she's asking but the answer to her question is lodged in my throat, not coming up and not going down, only suffocating me like those nightmares I beg to wake from and hear nothing in response except my own thudding heart and my laboured breath.Time pass, the question condensing in the air, getting thicker and heavier in its entirety and I just feel so small, s feeling I've avoided like the plague in these recent and brighter times.She sits up on the bed, dropping my hand eventually like I'd wanted at some point, but the waft of cold breeze that cools it off of the tiny balls of perspiration that had built in them from contact, reminded me why this is the last thing I want.She says nothing, doesn't ask me again or try to push me fo tell her about the hellish years that had followed leaving here and the nightmares that had built after it.Just nothing.She just hugs her knees to herself and watches me and I see it in her quiet gaze, the resignation and resolve
CADEN'S POVI know what she's asking but the answer to her question is lodged in my throat, not coming up and not going down, only suffocating me like those nightmares I beg to wake from and hear nothing in response except my own thudding heart and my laboured breath.Time pass, the question condensing in the air, getting thicker and heavier in its entirety and I just feel so small, s feeling I've avoided like the plague in these recent and brighter times.She sits up on the bed, dropping my hand eventually like I'd wanted at some point, but the waft of cold breeze that cools it off of the tiny balls of perspiration that had built in them from contact, reminded me why this is the last thing I want.She says nothing, doesn't ask me again or try to push me fo tell her about the hellish years that had followed leaving here and the nightmares that had built after it.Just nothing.She just hugs her knees to herself and watches me and I see it in her quiet gaze, the resignation and resolve
JADE'S POV I try hard not to look at him differently, not to feel so much hurt on his behalf and not blame myself so much for not being there when he needed someone the most, but it's sooo fucking difficult not to, not after listening to everything he just said.I had no idea all he'd gone through, alone and now all the times I spent hating his guts and resenting him seems a waste and stupid.Every day, I imagined he was enjoying his super perfect life, looking down his nose at the rest of us measely teens but his life had been anything but perfect.It'd been all bright on the outside and yet very dark, lonely and hollow on the inside that it must have been so fucking difficult.Somehow, I'm glad I skipped school today and is spending the day with him, a weak attempt at making up for lost times and a silent apology for....everything.Silently, I'm grateful that his book went missing because he would never have told me any of this if it hadn't, though I hope to hell and back that it do
CADEN'S POV Richard was a portly man, a little too young to be imagined a close friend of my dad's and always overly excited with his beady eyes and warm hugs.......but I don't tell her this.I don't say a word about how I hate the smell of musk and spice to this day because of him and I don't mention how terrifying I find anything served unsealed or in a glass.I dont say shit to her anymore than I already did because even that is too fucked and too much to dump on someone.There's no point burdening her with the whole story now of how he'll come home from work early every other day, always glad when he finds me home alone.He'll always smile like he's the good guy and ask how school was, even though I never bother to answer any of his questions. All I wanted at that point in my life was for my mom to not be.....gone and for my dad not to always be gone, not some man always prying into my business every now and again.Her sobbing, faint now but still there, racking through her petit
CADEN'S POVI know what she's asking but the answer to her question is lodged in my throat, not coming up and not going down, only suffocating me like those nightmares I beg to wake from and hear nothing in response except my own thudding heart and my laboured breath.Time pass, the question condensing in the air, getting thicker and heavier in its entirety and I just feel so small, s feeling I've avoided like the plague in these recent and brighter times.She sits up on the bed, dropping my hand eventually like I'd wanted at some point, but the waft of cold breeze that cools it off of the tiny balls of perspiration that had built in them from contact, reminded me why this is the last thing I want.She says nothing, doesn't ask me again or try to push me fo tell her about the hellish years that had followed leaving here and the nightmares that had built after it.Just nothing.She just hugs her knees to herself and watches me and I see it in her quiet gaze, the resignation and resolve
JADE'S POV I can't believe he liked me back then, almost as much as I like him and said nothing.All those years ago and he'd let some stupid thing he heard me tell Ches out of resignation ruin all of it for both of us.I mean, she and I had been what we thought of as pretty obvious in our crush on him, she, the more obsessed one and me, more the best friend that knows for sure that she'll never have the guy but he'd not once seen through any of it?Wow, I can see now why most people would easily agree that most guys can be so fucking clueless, annoyingly so, when they want to be."So when you returned, started a new school and found out I was there, why didn't you try to talk to me about it, or say something at least? Why did you just continue ignoring me, barely answering my greetings and rolling only with your new circle of popular friends?"He has the decency to look sorry about that, like he just realised now too how much of a bitch hindsight can be."I'd just gotten out of very