Nine

~Claire

School was finally over for the day, and I couldn't help but feel grateful. I wanted nothing more than to just go home and hide under the warmth of my blanket.

"Okay guys, I gotta run,"Zara spoke as we walked out of our final class together. "My mum's having some bunch of friends over and I need to help out with the cooking."

I'd found out Zara, Sage and I were in same class — the Golden Class — while Red, Shawty and Jace were in the diamond class. Apparently things worked in a certain way. Once I passed a certain exam exceptionally, I would be dimmed fit to be in the diamond class as well.

That brings me to the question. How the hell is Jace in the diamond class if he was a nutjob who knew absolutely nothing? I found it confusing.

"Oh, okay. See you later,"Sage pecked Zara's cheek and she smiled at us both before rushing off.

"So that leaves us both,"Sage spoke playfully, swinging his arm over my shoulder and I chuckled lowly.

"You've been in this school for how long?"I asked curiously.

"Oh. I've been here for as long as highschool years. I started my highschooling here,"he replied and I nodded thoughtfully.

"Wow. So you know everything and everyone, right?"

"Of course I do...."he was still saying when Shawty came out of nowhere and pushed Sage aside, taking his place beside me.

"He's right. He's a total wireless radio, he knows absolutely everything about the school, inside and outside,"Shawty spoke in a playful mocking manner and Sage rolled eyes.

"Perfect. Cause I want to know something. From the incident this morning, I'm guessing Jace Finn is super popular here?"I asked, looking at them both.

"Is that a question or a statement? Of course Jace is popular here. He's like the hottest jock in school,"Sage spoke as a matter of fact.

"Speaking of Jace Finn, we saw you alight his bike with him. How do you know him?"Shawty asked, genuine curiosity on her face.

"Uh....."I trailed off. I recalled what he'd told me shortly after we'd been aware of our going to same school together.

"On no account must anyone find out you're my soon-to-be goody two shoes of a stepsister. If they do, I'll make it burn so bad, believe me." Hs words haunted my brain.

"He's an old friend. He offered to uh....help me to school today since it's my first day. He didn't want me getting lost,"I spoke quietly, looking at the floor in an ever so focused manner as I prayed they didn't figure out I was lying.

"Offered? Doesn't sound like what Finn would do in a hundred years,"Shawty laughed.

"Anyways, what was it with those girls earlier this morning?"I asked lowly.

"Oh, the fight? Nothing unusual. What would be unusual is actually starting the semester without a dramatic fight like that,"Sage shrugged.

"Tell me about it,"Shawty chirped. "You see, everyone's crazy over Jace. I, inclusive by the way. I'd kill to get those hands on me,"she squealed and I ewwed alongside with Sage.

"Anyways, as you must've figured out, Jace is a big time playboy. And certain girls he's fucked with more than once think they own him. They fail to realize that Jace doesn't belong to anyone. He's VIP, and he could kick anyone out the moment his standards grew higher. Nyx and Whitney are the worse of enemies. They hate each other to the balls and would literally do whatever to get rid of the other. That's how obsessed they are,"Shawty summarized.

Wow. All that.....all because of my soon-to-be stepbrother? The one that behaved like some evil spirit?

"Red and Whitney are siblings? Really?"I asked for confirmation.

"Yeah. Whitney Charm, Red Charm. It's obvious in the name,"Sage replies

Of course.

"They act so different, that's why I'm asking,"I mumbled out inaudibly. How they heard me is still a mystery.

"Whitney has always been a bitch. Her bitchiness is what got her the position as queen be and president of the cheerleading team. Red's the ambivert who just doesn't want the spotlight, and he's way more good than Whitney could ever be. It's only sad that she knows how much he loves her and uses it to her advantage,"Shawty spoke with a huff.

"Their relationship as siblings is what I envy sometimes,"Sage agreed with Shawty.

Wow. Okay, I'd been caught up in the gossip, I'd forgotten that I didn't know the way home.

"Uh...do you know where I can find Jace?"I asked after looking around in vain.

"Oh. Check his class. If he's not there then you'd surely see someone who knows where he is,"Shawty replied and ran off the moment someone unfamiliar called her.

"I know where he is,"Sage spoke before I could walk off.

*

We stopped in front of the school's old basement.

"He's here?"I asked in surprise, wondering what om earth Jace would be doing in a place as deserted as the basement. But then again, he was one weird guy.

"Yes. Just go in, and step on that spot,"he pointed at the said place.

"Okay. Thank you,"I managed a smile at him and he nodded before turning around and leaving.

Carefully moving towards the directed spot, I stepped on it and the sudden sound of it rolling down as a rollable ladder, startled five years out of my lifespan. The hell was this place even discovered?

I peeped in but couldn't see anything other than a neat mini apartment. Wow. A secret rest place? Jace didn't fail to surprise me.

I gently found my way down and pushed the ladder back up before looking around for the stubborn head I called stepbrother.

"Jace?"I called in a whisper as I looked around. I'd almost given up when I realized an inner room was somewhere there and I walked in. He was laying there on the bed, looking so peaceful. I had no idea  when I smiled.

I sat across him and fetched my iPad from my bag and began drawing. I'd wanted to finish it, but I knew he was bound to wake up soon so I took a picture and put back my phone and tablet.

"Jace...."I called quietly in an attempt to wake him up but he didn't even stir.

"Jace,"I moved closer to tap him gently but nope. He moved a bit, causing three strands of his braided her to come falling over his face. God, he was hot. No wonder those girls fought over him.

I reached out to push the fallen strands off his hair and my finger brushed past his cheek. The feeling was something I liked so I felt a bit more.

He was more fun to be with when he was asleep than when he was awake. That theory was something I realized in the short while I'd been here.

"Whatchu doing here, Kïttên? Missed me that much?"his sudden words had me instantly pulling my hand away but he caught it and pulled me back. The sudden movement had me falling over him and Jesus. That moment was officially one of the most embarrassing moments of my life.

And to think our faces were just an inch apart?! I could as well just die.

"You look hot from this angle,"he commented with a smirk and I blushed furiously — against my will, if you must know!

"What're you doing here?"he repeated his earlier question as he helped me lay on him properly. As much as it felt so nice, I still wanted to get up and crawl into whatever hole I could find. It wasn't proper for crying out loud!

"I...I...uh,"my attempt at speaking failed WOEFULLY. I tried looking for random things I could see. Led lights, black walls, female pornstar magazines....wait!! P**n magazines? Okay, looking around was not a good idea.

"You what, Kïttên?"he asked, looking at me in an amused way. "Can't talk?"

"You... you're too...too close,"I spoke quietly, fisting on the part of his shirt that I was holding on to.

"I haven't even gotten close yet,"he leaned in closer, our noses were touching. God please, couldn't you just blow the trumpet already?!

"I...."

"Shhhh,"he hushed me. Jesus, coming here was a bad idea. I should've turned back the moment I saw how enclosed the place was. "Just follow my lead, okay?"he whispered against my lips and I don't know why, but I swallowed and slowly closed my eyes. Curse the devil.

I was that way for a few seconds before I felt his breath against my ear.

"You're pouting, Kïttên. Want me to kiss you?"his words had my soul evaporating immediately.

Anyone there? Please do me a favor and shoot already.