ログインI took my books and began the walk to class, doing my best to smile along with the adoring horde of students who waved and congratulated me.“Congrats on being head cheerleader, Lena! You were amazing at tryouts!”“We missed you yesterday!”I smiled and thanked them, hugging my heavy stack of books closer to my chest, but inside my mind there was a dark cloud hovering over everything.If Jace were here, he would’ve taken these from me, then rolled his eyes and refused to give them back. He probably would’ve been mad at me, scowling about something, but it wouldn’t have mattered because he would’ve walked me to class all the same and made sure I was comfortable.I was worried sick, angry, and in complete emotional turmoil, so much so that I didn’t know where one emotion began an the other one ended. I pulled out my phone again and tried Jace’s number. Straight to voicemail. Again.Where are you? Please… I need to know you’re okay. Why are you doing this? What are you up to?The first
Chapter [X+57]: Get Well SoonLENA’S POVNow the tables had turned, and it was my turn to call Jace and worry.I stood at my locker the next day, my phone pressed to my ear for what felt like the hundredth time. It rang and rang, each ring driving me deeper and deeper into suspense “Jace… please pick up. Just let me know you’re okay. Please.”The call went to voicemail, and I stared at the black screen, my thumb hovering over it as if one more call might magically make him answer. My stomach was in knots. Hours had passed since everything exploded, and I still couldn’t stop replaying the blood on Noah’s face, Mrs. Dawson crying hopelessly about her son, or the haunted look in Jace’s eyes just before he’d walked way and driven off.My mom had given me very specific instructions to go to school today and minmy d own business for my own safety, telling me she would kill me if I ever left to go anywhere or try to find anyone.Dawson family business was Dawson family business, according
LENA'S POVNow it was my turn to call him and worry.I sat in the sterile waiting room of the private hospital, my phone pressed to my ear for what felt like the hundredth time. It rang and rang before going straight to voicemail again. “Jace, please pick up… please.”Hours had passed since everything exploded. Mom and Mrs Dawson had rushed Noah here in a panic, and I’d followed in a complete daze. Now I was alone in this quiet corner, my leg bouncing nonstop, guilt eating me alive from the inside out.I knew something like this would happen. I knew it the second I saw that look in Jace’s eyes when he left. I should’ve stopped him. I should’ve never told him anything. Why did I ever open my mouth? Why did I have to do something so stupid?I felt angry at him for going ahead and starting that stupid fight even after I specifically begged him not to. Angry at myself for being so weak and trusting him with something so heavy, thinking I would somehow manage it even when I knew how t
I shook my head, voice shaky. “You’re wrong. That’s not what happened. That’s not—”Noah’s fury came roaring back, his eyes blazing. “You killed her, Jace. And I’m going to make you pay. Westbrook is filled to the brim with people desperate for a chance to get back at the big bad bully who ruined their lives. If I can’t use Lena, I’m just going to use someone else.”My eyes snapped up at that threat, glaring daggers at him as fresh rage flooded through me.But Noah didn’t give a shit; instead, he kept going, smiling darkly through the blood. “I would’ve preferred her though. There’s just something about being with someone so innocent, so trusting and naive… them changing them ever so slowly until they eventually become someone else. Makes me feel a fucking god.”He coughed up some more blood, but the smile never left his face, “Not to mention you’re clearly in over your head for her and it’ll hurt a whole lot more than some fucking rando freshman.”“You won’t lay a fucking hand on her,
JACE'S POVNoah started laughing. His shoulders shook like a crazy person, blood dripping steadily down his chin as he grinned up at me from the floor like this was all some sick joke. He laughed, “You stupid fucking imbecile. You think I’m only here because I want, what did you call it… yeah. Petty revenge on you. Why? Did it ever occur to you to actually find out why?”“I already know why,” I snarled, chest heaving. “But all of that happened a long time ago, Noah, and right now I’m not in the mood to go over the past with you. I asked you to get your shit and get the fuck out—”“Yeah, yeah, I heard you.” His eyes grew cold and flat, the laughter dying into something deadlier. “You want me to leave your house, hell, you even fucked up my face… all of this over a girl you’ve barely known for three months. You’d understand if I had to do even worse over my mom, right?”I groaned, his words bringing up old, buried memories to the surface again, “Fuck. Not this shit again.”“You killed
JACE'S POVI drove home like a fucking maniac, the Harley roaring under me as I pushed it way too fast through the streets. My knuckles were white on the grips, and it took every single ounce of control I had not to completely lose my shit back at Lena’s house. I wanted to punch Noah into next week. The image of that dent in her door kept flashing in my head, making my blood boil hotter with every mile.That motherfucker put his hands on her. Scared her so bad she ran home crying. I should’ve ended this a long time ago.I pulled into the driveway and killed the engine hard. Noah’s car was parked right there like he owned the damn place. Good. The fucker’s home.I stormed up to the front door and marched inside, already yelling at the top of my lungs. “Noah! Get the fuck out here, you piece of —"I stopped dead in the living room.Rosie, Allison’s little redheaded sister, was cartwheeled across the floor like a maniac while Martin sat calmly in the middle of the room building one of h







