Page 105 of The Way the Heart Breaks: Jade’s Story

“You good, man,” Lucas says before nudging me.

“Yeah, why?” I ask, forcing a smile.

“That loud noise you just completely ignored is the bell. I can’t believe you’re not running to Econ.”

Jade Ross, she's like an onion. Not because she makes me cry. Although I'm beginning to suspect that's possible. It's because every time I think I've figured something out about her, there's another layer underneath it. And yeah, I’m going to heed Brook’s warning. I’m not saying shit to her about my suspicions.

Those two Ross’. Twins, I suspect, look so much like her, not Tessa and Alex so much. They’re blonde. These two have the same striking features as she does. It’s impossible that they’re not her brothers.

It all makes sense now. Alex and Ryan not wanting to play ball if that was their thing, and I’m sure it was.

I don’t race to class; I take the time to get my head straight. I slide in just as the second bell rings.

I sit right next to her. “Hey there, pretty girl.”

She smiles, bright and beautiful, and I’m gonna guess she hasn’t been down by the gym, or maybe she has. Maybe seeing them there makes her happy. “You gonna let me focus on class or try your best to distract me?”

“Trust me, you’re a much bigger distraction to me.” I wink.

“Then focus,” she says, attempting to play serious.

“Yes, ma’am.”

Mr. Collins is standing at the board explaining something about supply and demand while Jade sits beside me, copying down notes.

I glance at her paper. Her handwriting is ridiculously neat. Mine looks like a doctor wrote it during an earthquake.

“You're making me look bad,” I whisper.

She doesn't look up. “That's because you're not taking notes.”

“I am.”

“You have three words.”

“They're important words.”

She finally looks at my notebook.

I have written: SUPPLY, DEMAND, and JADE.

She stares at it. Then she starts laughing. I bite back a smile.

“You're an idiot.”

“Probably.”

She shakes her head and goes back to writing.

I lean closer, keeping my voice low. “Hey.”

“What?”

Mr. Collins turns from the board.

“Something you'd like to share, Lane?”

I sit up straight. “No, sir.”