The Grounders The 100 Novels & Stories

If you hate our service, just say it—don't make up stories! She clawed at him, desperate. Alec shoved her again, this time straight to the floor.

My heart is also racing. "Miss Ava, we just went for a jog." It was Ricci who answered me. I slowly turned to him, confused. Jog? I swallowed hard and turned to Mr. Sanford again. He's wearing a black sando and boxer shorts. My cheeks heated. He went for a jog? He cleared his throat. There's a ghost of a smile in his lips but he hid it by biting his bottom lip. "Uh… We don't have stocks. Can we ask for a cup of coffee? Just for today? Please?"

' Next morning, my phone blew up: [I've invited my friends tonight. Ready to apologize?] [If you're sincere, I'll give you another shot. You can still be my wife. I'll keep paying for your mom."] [8 PM. My family house. Don't be late.] *** By the time the clock hit eight, the Fletcher mansion was bursting at the seams. Everyone showed up for the same reason—to watch Jenna crash and burn. Whispers buzzed through the crowd. "Place your bets—what lame excuse is she rolling out tonight to win Mark back?"

The fact that her efforts were lasting an entire day was already rare. Normally, if she backed down once and I didn't respond, she would switch to getting mad, and then it'd be my turn to soothe her. But today, all I could think about was whether I'd be chosen for the overseas training program, so I only gave her half-hearted replies. When we finally arrived, I realized she had taken me to an observatory. She grabbed my hand, excited. "I hear there'll be a meteor shower tonight. This is the best place to see it. When I was little, Ron and I used to—"

But to my surprise, Theodore was waiting in the parking lot. When he saw me, he rushed over, as if trying to impress me. "Have you reconsidered it, Elle? If you don't like diamond rings, let's go look at something else, okay? I know everything's my fault. I was greedy and wanted to have cake and eat it too. But I just can't accept that… Can't accept that you're working so hard for your career! You're shining bright like a diamond… And I don't want anyone else to see it but me."