Zach

I followed Mom and Stepdad to a club to celebrate. It was eighteen and up, so I could go in. they thought it was a shame that Jade didn’t want to come along, but they were so lost in themselves and their happiness that they didn’t seem to notice the air between Jade and me was strained. They didn’t seem to notice that I wasn’t in the mood for partying, either. I was happy for Mom but even more worried about Jade.

What am I going to do?

I’d done my best to hold back and keep my distance from her. Because I knew, even if she reciprocated, the situation was too complicated. When she came to me, I was ecstatic. All thoughts of holding back gone. The speed went too fast, though, and I got careless.

Jade must have heard the rumors at school. I didn’t doubt Todd would spread it around. Like I’d guessed, she was angry. Enough to decide to break up with me? I hoped not. I didn’t know how to define our relationship. We’d both fallen to the mutual attraction, and since we’d first had sex, all we