Chapter 2

I sit through the rest of the classes on pins and needles. Even Ruby's talk about the upcoming party can't bring me back to my senses. My thoughts keep coming back to Jaden like a stuck boomerang: How did he end up here? How has he been living all this time? Did he recognize me? If so, why didn't he come over? Why the hell is my heart pounding so hard?

I rush out of the auditorium, barely waiting for the lecture to end, and walk quickly to the parking lot. My childhood friend's unexpected appearance threw me back many years, bringing back memories of the past: an endless feeling of guilt and a sense of cold loneliness. After Jaden and Rosa moved out, my mother took me to a psychotherapist for a month because I had stopped eating and refused to leave the house. The sessions helped me tremendously. My appetite returned, and I started socializing with my peers again. However, the guilt didn't go away. Rather, it had been suppressed by the weight of the past years. Now, with one glance at grown-up Jaden, it flared up again easily.

"Tasha, I called the snack suppliers for Friday..."

"Not now," I say, walking past Christina, my assistant in charge of organizing entertainment events, without looking at her.

"But you said yourself..." she calls after me. I don't answer. I need to see Jaden as soon as possible. I have no idea what I'm going to say to him. I'll probably just say hello and make sure he's okay. It's wonderful news that he found the money to go to college, and that he didn't turn to drug dealing or end up in prison for theft, as is often the case with those from low-income families.

Once I'm in the parking lot, I quickly look around, searching the crowd for dark, curly hair and a black T-shirt. My impulsiveness and excitement surprise me. I could easily meet Jaden during the break tomorrow, but for some reason, I can't wait.

"Tasha, I wanted to clarify something about tomorrow's committee meeting," a high-pitched voice says from my right. "Are we holding it in the small or large auditorium?"

"Decide without me," I reply automatically. At that moment, my heart does a somersault when I notice him. Jaden is standing on the opposite side of the parking lot next to a long black sedan. My God, he's changed so much since we last saw each other. He's grown a lot, and hardly anyone would call him skinny now.

I take a pocket mirror out of my bag, make sure my face and makeup are in perfect order, and then put the mirror back and walk over to where Jaden is standing. A sophomore girl is already hitting on him, but I'll deal with her quickly. I could invite him to a party on Friday or grab coffee at the local Starbucks. Why am I so nervous?

I catch up with the car, the cost of which I can't determine because of its year of manufacture. With retro cars, you can't tell right away if they're worth pennies or a fortune. I take a deep breath, ignore the girl's long face, and touch Jaden on the shoulder. The brief moment he turns around feels like a full second, and as soon as our eyes meet, I feel another wave of suffocation. His face is so familiar yet unfamiliar to me. His eyebrows are darker and thicker, but his skin is just as tanned, his lips are just as full, and the color of his eyes hasn't changed—a rich green with dark flecks in the iris. But his gaze... It lacks the warmth I always wanted to bask in. Now, it burns with cold, making me want to put on sunglasses to protect myself from it.

"Hi, Jaden," I say before I have time to think. "Do you remember me?"

Surprise flashes across the girl's face, and I instantly regret not making her leave right away. What if he says he doesn't remember me? She'll spread my shame all over the university.

As Jaden scans my face, I experience a range of emotions, from confusion to deep embarrassment. He stares at my mouth for an indecently long time before returning to my eyes, doing it too slowly, too intently.

"I remember you, Tasha," he says in a rich, low voice that sends a chill through me. Thank goodness this vintage Moschino has long sleeves. "What's wrong with your lips?"

The sophomore forms an "O" with her mouth while I try to maintain my emotional balance. Jaden can be forgiven for asking such questions, though—he doesn't know how difficult it is for me to maintain my reputation. I should have gotten rid of those extra ears right away.

"Leave us alone," I say, looking at the girl. "You can chat with us another time."

The enthusiasm and curiosity instantly disappear from her face. She takes a step back and turns slightly pale.

"Stay, Katie," Jaden says without looking at her, continuing to stare intently at me. "My friend and I are going to have a little chat, and then we'll continue our fascinating conversation."

Katie shifts uncertainly from foot to foot, her gaze darting between me and Jaden. Does he even realize what he's doing? Does he realize that he's challenging my authority?

"I said move away," I repeat emphatically. The girl finally gives in, muttering, "I'll be nearby," and disappears.

"So, what was your previous question?" I ask once we're alone. Without any strangers around who might notice my vulnerability, I feel calmer and allow myself to smile.

Jaden narrows his eyes and tilts his head to one side as if he needs more time to look me over. For some reason, I can't shake the feeling that he's angry, even though he doesn't show it.

"I asked what happened to your lips. They used to be different."

"They haven't changed that much," I say, trying to sound casual. I'm bursting with the desire to tell him that comments about a woman's appearance are tactless and inappropriate. "I had the contour slightly adjusted by a cosmetologist and evened out the volume. Even my mom didn't notice right away when...”

"They used to be much better," Jaden interrupts, looking me in the eyes. His rudeness makes my cheeks burn like they did during lunch break in the cafeteria. Does he even realize what he's saying is unpleasant? Are we really still talking about my lips?

Jaden continues to stare at me silently. Only now, his gaze drifts lower, from my neck to my cleavage. I have to remind myself not to breathe too deeply or too often, lest I betray my excitement and indignation. The bastard is blatantly staring at my chest.

"Everything here is natural, so you can stop staring," I hiss sarcastically. He's lucky we were friends in the past because otherwise, I would've hit him.

Jaden is unfazed by my comment because he continues to examine my body, moving down to my hips. Fortunately, his phone rings at that moment. I breathe a silent sigh of relief as he shifts his attention to it, freeing me from his suffocating gaze.

While he exchanges a few words with the caller, I use all my skills to estimate the cost of his clothes. Unlike in other cases, I'm not doing this to decide if Jaden is worthy of being in my circle. He already has a ticket in, even if he were dressed in rags. I'm just trying to gather information about him: how he lived, what he did, and what he does now. Judging by the scar on his lip and his slightly crooked nose, he often gets into fights. The protruding veins on his arms suggest that he spends a lot of time in the gym, but he doesn't take sports supplements; his shoulders are broad, but his body isn't overbuilt. He's wearing a classic combination of black Converse sneakers and Levi's jeans that can be worn by millionaires and McDonald's employees alike. His plain T-shirt gives no hint as to the brand that made it. Jaden Reed is a blank slate to me. The most telling detail is perhaps the phone in his hand: an older model iPhone. It's not the latest model, but I can't bring myself to get rid of mine either because I prefer it to the newer models. However, I don't allow myself to walk around with it because it's bad for my image.

After we finish talking, Jaden puts his phone in his pocket and turns his attention back to me. To avoid an awkward pause and stop him from staring at me again, I quickly tell him what I had been thinking about on my way over:

"I'm throwing a party on campus Friday night, and I'd love for you to join us. We could talk... You could tell me how you've been living all these years."

Jaden looks at me for a few seconds with an unreadable expression, then quietly asks,

"Will you be there alone, without a date?"

His question throws me into a state of confusion. Although I know I'm going with Isaac, I don't answer right away.

"My friends will be there. I'll introduce you to them, and..."

"I didn't ask about your friends, Tasha."

Damn it! He's interrupting me again, making me blush and feel like a complete idiot. I have to stop this.

"I'll be with Isaac," I say, lifting my chin and meeting his dark green gaze defiantly. "We've been dating for a year and a half."

There is a pause, each second of which makes my heart race. What's wrong with me? I shouldn't be ashamed of my relationship. Isaac and I are serious, and he's not the flighty idiot he was thirteen years ago.

"I'll be there," Jaden says, his expression changing to one of indifference and boredom. "I'll bring a couple friends, if you don't mind. Otherwise, I'm afraid I won't be able to stand watching a bunch of snobs kissing your royal ass and smacking their lips for long."

"Watch your language, Jaden," I say, my fingers digging painfully into my skin. "I treated you like a friend, and all you do is try to hurt me."

"You've just forgotten what it's like to hear the truth, Princess Tasha," he calmly retorts, turning his back on me and pulling the driver's door handle. "Hey, Katie! Want a ride home?"

Stunned, I watch the sophomore emerge from behind the neighboring car and climb into Jaden's with a triumphant expression on her face.

"I didn't get a chance to introduce myself," I hear her coquetly babble. "My name isn't Katie; it's Brenda. And you're new here, Jaden, right?”

"Right. So where do you want to go, Brenda?"

"Actually, I'm in no hurry to get home, and I'm open to suggestions."

Slut.