[|]"Leave my house before I call the police," Lucas said and I gulped when Andrea glared straight at me. "Karma's going to hit that whore so bad—""Leave!" Lucas barked and she rushed out, throwing curses around.Once she shut the door with a loud bang, the house became too quiet. I stared at the floor, trying to control the tears threatening to spill out of my eyes and the hurt in my chest. Everything happening was my fault."Jackie," Lucas whispered as he faced me.I backed away when he reached out to touch me. "I'm such a horrible person," I said and he shook his head."No, don't say that. You aren't a horrible person. Don't let what she said to get to you."Tears rolled down my cheeks as her words echoed in my head. I wrapped my arm around my body and cried more. I hated that I was too vulnerable around him. When he stepped closer, I didn't move and stiffened when he wrapped his arms around me. I rested my head against his chest and wrapped my arms around his torso."It's okay,
[|]Lucas' POVJackie's arms went around my shoulders the moment I kissed her lips and I moaned in appreciation. I wrapped my arms around her waist, tightening the grip I had on her. She felt so soft in my arms and so delicate like I needed to protect her from any harm as we kissed.I angled my head and grabbed her hair before deepening the kiss. I pulled away when my lungs needed air and kissed her cheek, then her jawline. I ran the tip of my tongue along the line of her jaw and smirked when I heard her labored breathing. She grabbed my arm and clenched my muscles when I nibbled on her jawline before moving down to her neck where I started to kiss. I made shapes with my tongue against her neck and moaned when she pressed her chest against mine. I pulled away from her neck and cupped her cheeks, taking in how she looked. I licked my lips at the taste of her lipgloss as I saw how swollen her lips were and how hooded her eyes were underneath her long lashes. I moved my thumb to he
[|]Jackie's POVMy lips were sensitive from the way Lucas had kissed them and my body was heated up from the pleasure of his actions on my body. I was even wet and turned on from the feel of his strong body against mine and how soft and attentive he had been with me.Something about the way he kissed and touched me made me feel so good. Like the moment when you have feelings for someone and they give you pleasure or attention, it makes you feel so good and want more from them. That was how I was feeling about Lucas.But the moment his phone rang, distracting us, it was like I realized where I was and what I had been doing. When he went to the side to answer the call he got, I watched his bare back, loving how his muscular back looked. My eyes even trailed down to his ass underneath the sweatpants he was wearing and I felt my core throb from need.I slowly sat up and moved myself to the edge of the bed where I sat and looked at my hands, mulling over what would happen. Lucas said the
[|]Lucas and his brother had not been around when I brought Maddy with me which wasn't was I expected but I ended up showing her around and giving the details of what had been happening, including the Andrea saga.We talked more with snacks while watching a rom-com on the large television, hoping Lucas would return soon. Once the movie ended, I turned off the television and Maddy turned to me, smiling."What? Why are you smiling like that?" I asked and she rolled her eyes."Tell me, Jackie... I know Lucas and you were a bit touchy and stuff in high school. Are you two still the same?" She asked, wiggling her eyebrows.I grabbed a throw pillow and smacked her in the head, causing her to laugh and fall to the floor. I crossed my arms, lips pursed and eyes narrowed."Oh, come on. You're living with someone who was all around you. You can't tell me something dirty hasn't happened because I know how Lucas can be," she said, a smug look on her face."You are something, Maddy. Why would you
[|]I woke up to the smell of food and quickly rose from my position. I blinked away the sleep from my eyes and shifted the blanket off my body then left the bed. I stretched my arms and smiled as memories of yesterday appeared in my mind. I could still feel the flutters in my stomach and the throbbing from what Lucas had done to my body. It was surreal and exciting. It was something I wanted to experience again but knowing it was all in the spur of the moment and that Lucas and I were not in any relationship, it was not going to happen again, which made my heart sting.I wanted something with Lucas. I had never been with a man before and I felt Lucas was the first person I wanted something serious with even though the chances were slim due to his type of lifestyle. "Get over it," I said and went to the bathroom. I brushed my teeth and took a hot shower then left the bathroom with a towel wrapped around my body. As soon as I walked out of the bathroom, I came to a halt at the sight
[|]I was in the middle of watching a movie when I remembered that I have not checked my examination results. I had to spring up from the couch I was sitting on to the bedroom where my phone was, startling Lucas who was using his laptop and going through some documents."What's the rush? What's wrong?" He asked, sounding worried.I went to my phone and quickly opened it. At first, I checked our group chat and saw others talking about their results, and immediately opened the school website. I groaned when I realized that I could not access it with my phone, which was such a stupid thing for my school to do. I threw my head back and groaned."What is it?" Lucas asked again.I scratched my head. "My exam result is out today so I have to check but I can't with my phone. Now, I need to go to a cyber cafe.""Why don't you just use my laptop," he said and I looked at the black device."But—""Don't start, just use it," he said and turned it around.I hesitantly walked over to where he sat
[|]I was still in the elevator, trying to remember if I had paid my loan somehow in an unconscious state or if I was currently dreaming. I had read the mail on my phone one too many times to try to grasp what had happened. On one hand, I was happy at such a miracle, knowing I had hoped for one but on the other, I was not comfortable with this."Who could have done this? How is this even possible for the person to pay it off without my permission," I said and wracked my head. "It can't be Axel or Maddy."Once the elevator doors opened, I stepped out and paused when I realized who might have paid it off."No... No, it can't be." I was angry right now and needed answers. With the newfound discovery on my mind, I ran through the hallway until I got to Lucas' apartment door. I pushed it open and walked in. I saw Lucas in the kitchen, pouring juice into a glass cup, and clenched my hands before marching over to him. "Who gave you the right, Lucas!" I said and he looked at me in confusion
[|]I sat in silence and confusion when Jared pulled into an open field with a crowd not too much and cars parked all around. As he drove close, I noticed the type of cars they were. They looked like race cars with customized parts. Some had LED lights while some had the most ugliest paint jobs. "What is this place?" I asked when Jared parked his car."You'll find out soon."Jared got out of the car and I hesitantly followed suit. I shuddered at the cool breeze blowing and looked around, eyeing the scantily dressed girls walking around or leaning against some of the cars. I saw Jared walking away from the car and I ran to him and stopped beside him, matching his pace."Jared, where is Lucas? What are we doing here?" I asked and ignored the looks people were giving us as we walked into their gathering.The roaring and humming sounds of car engines filled the air, the exhaust smoke of cars too. I came closer to Jared when a group of buff men in leather outfit leered at me, some whistli
[|] The next day, we were back to the hotel we had been in before Maddy captured me. When I woke up, I felt an odd feeling at the thought of Maddy being dead. Even though she ended up betraying me, she had been part of my life and it made me a little sad that she had to end the way she did. I pushed away the feeling and sat up on the bed. I looked at the other side of the bed and smiled at a sleeping Lucas. He was facing the other way, bare-chested. I leaned forward and ran my hand over his smooth chest. He moved his body a little but didn't wake up. I rested my chin on my palm and stared at him. His jawline was covered with very light beards and I pictured him with a full beard. He would look handsome with it and more mature as I imagined him with a trimmed beard. It made me smile as I focused on his hair which was a bit longer. I began to imagine our life together with a child running around the house. I smiled wider at the imagination. "All I want is happiness from here on ou
[|]"Hey."I flinched at the sound of Lucas' voice. I turned away from the floor-length window in the hallway of the hospital and faced him. He was looking stressed out with bags under his eyes, scattered hair, and pale skin. I wouldn't be surprised if I was matching his look."How are you?" I asked, walking up to him. I opened my arms for a hug and he came into it and I wrapped my arms around him. He lowered his height and rested his head on my shoulder."I'm so tired and I'm sure you are too," he said and hugged me back."I'm better now that I know Axel is fine," I said and pulled away from him.Axel had gone into surgery the moment we arrived at the hospital and it's been hours since we arrived. Barry had not left the door of the operating room. I could see how much they loved Axel. "You need to sleep. You are stressed from everything," Lucas said and cupped my face."I'm kinda hungry though," I said with a smile. "I need a nap but I won't do all these until I'm sure that Axel is
[|] The loudness of the gun was ringing in my ears and I could barely hear my heartbeat. I was frozen on top of Maddy as I felt fear move through me. I gulped and wondered why I couldn't feel anything, I was numb. I rolled away from Maddy and looked down at my stomach. There was blood on my shirt but I couldn't feel any wound. It was when I looked at Maddy, that I realized the blood belonged to her and not me. She had a bullet hole in her chest while the gun was slack in her hands. Her eyes were wide as her chest moved up and down quickly. I rose to my feet, holding my stomach out of fear and protecting the baby in me. "Jackie?!" I looked up at the sound of a new voice. I saw Lucas staring at me with fear in his eyes. He ran up to me and cupped my cheeks"Jackie, you're shot," he said. I snapped out of my shocked state and shook my head. "No... Not me," I replied and looked down at Maddy who was laying on the ground, still breathing. Lucas furrowed his eyebrows and slowly fol
[|]Jackie's POVThe moment Lucas had shifted, I was confused because I had been expecting him to fall at the impact of the bullet but I saw someone else; Axel.When I had seen Lucas at first, I felt my heart stop beating, I had felt like I lost it all. I thought I had lost him, I thought I had lost the man I loved but when I saw Axel, I didn't feel any different. Axel was my best friend, a brother I never had. I never had a sibling but it felt like I was losing one when I saw Axel taking the bullet for us. I didn't know if I could have screamed or passed out at the sight of Axel. I had not expected Axel to take the bullet. When I saw Lucas broken at the sight of his brother, I prayed that Axel was alright.The moment I saw Maddy run off, I knew I had to go after her before she escaped. I didn't even think twice and ran after her, picking up the gun she had dropped in the process.When I saw that Maddy had run out through a door in a corner. I pushed the door and looked on each side
[|]Lucas' POVI could not let Jackie die. I would rather die than let the woman who has suffered enough go through death. I just couldn't watch her take that bullet.So, when I saw Maddy pull out her gun, I knew things would not end well. I had thought she would not pull the trigger but I was wrong when I saw her finger push the trigger. Knowing how fast a bullet was, I blocked Jackie to take the bullet with my eyes shut the moment she fired the gun.But when three seconds went by and I did not feel the burning and body-numbing feeling of the bullet, I opened my eyes and felt like my soul left my body when I saw the last person I was expecting in front of me."Axel?!" I screamed at the top of my voice, the same time Jackie said my name.I couldn't feel my body as I watched Axel slump to the floor. Everything around me became dark and I found myself falling to my knees and crawling toward him. He rolled onto his back and my eyes went straight to his bleeding chest. My hands began to s
[|]Jackie's POVIt hurt so bad.It broke my heart to see him sign the contract. It made me angry to see them kiss. It wasn't Lucas' fault, I was not mad at him. I was mad at Maddy. She was so cruel. The worst feeling I felt was helplessness. I couldn't do anything to stop everything as I watched them kiss. I felt like my heart was ripped out of my chest and tossed into a larva. I felt like I could not breathe. It was at that moment I knew that people could die from heartbreak. I just couldn't withstand the sight and thought of losing Lucas to her."Finally," Maddy said and I raised my head.I sniffed and glared at her when she looked at me, smiling wide with the contract pressed against her chest. She giggled and walked up to me."Won't you congratulate me?" She asked, craning her head to the side.I formed some saliva in my mouth and spat on her face. She gasped and closed her eyes at the impact. I smiled at the sight of my spit on her face then chuckled."I already got what I want
[|]Lucas' POVI took out my gun from my duffle bag and checked for bullets. I saw it was fully loaded and fixed the gun between the waistline of my pants and my back. I covered it up with my shirt and grabbed my jacket then turned toward the door. I paused to take deep breaths. I was scared and worried and I was feeling like I was going to go crazy. I was so mad at myself for leaving Jackie alone when I knew Maddy was around. Now, she was with a crazy bitch who was probably going to hurt her. Whatever I had to do, I had to act smart and not put Jackie in danger.I exhaled and opened the door then walked out of the room where I met Barry leaning against the wall across me."Ready to go?" They asked and I nodded."Yes. Have you called the police?" I asked."Remember the Redside police department is on their payroll, I don't think it's going to be something they'll like to hear," Barry said, pushing themselves off the wall."You're right. They won't care about what we say," I said and
[|]"You know, at some point, I started to give up on Lucas since I saw you weren't interested in him. That's where Clark comes in," Maddy said and sat down on a chair the man had brought for her. "I saw him, he was rich, handsome, and a player like Lucas. They had the same issues, family problems and all. I felt like I had Lucas but in a different body."I was too weak to even try to tell her how crazy she was. I saw her type of person in the movies and books. It was so unbelievable I was experiencing such before my very eyes. "As I was saying before this, I found out Lucas was going to our college and I had to forfeit a prestigious university to be close to him. I watched him but with you around, it was so hard. I ended up regretting canceling your scholarship to the college in the UK. I wish I had but I'm only human. When I found out you choose this college as your second choice, I had to keep you close and make sure you got in. I'm sorry for everything you went through but you de
[|]My eyelids hurt so bad that I felt pain when I struggled to open my eyes. When I had them open, the first thing I saw was my lap through slightly blurred vision. I hissed and then moaned when I felt a dull ache on my head. I tried to raise my head but it was difficult, almost as if my neck was stiff with pain. I shut my eyes against another wave of a dull headache then opened them when I heard heavy footsteps."You're finally awake," a gruff masculine voice reached my ears and I groaned out in pain when my hair was yanked back.The pain in my neck and head doubled and I felt dizzy from the movement. I took deep breaths and looked to my side, I saw the same man who had been following me in the supermarket. My eyes widened as fear came over me then I became aware of my surroundings. I was facing a church altar and on my side were rows of wooden benches. I furrowed my eyebrows and looked back at the altar in confusion. I could tell from the stained glass window behind the cross that