AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“But that’s the thing, Hads. Love makes you crazy.” And Ace said it himself—he’d do whatever it takes to protect me.
“Look,” I say, stopping at my locker. “I don't think Ace would ever do anything to hurt me on purpose, but I won’t lie that how far he’s willing to push his moral compass in the name of revenge scares me.”
“Yeah, I guess.” She leans against the locker bank. “I mean, look at Cole the other night. I still can’t believe he did that.”
“Really?” I raise a brow. Hadley had told me all about Cole picking a fight with Hayden at the party, but we hadn’t really talked about it. Not since she wasn’t in class yesterday with a stomach flu. Although, I was starting to wonder if that was just a cover for whatever was happening between her and Cole.
“Cole doesn’t want me, Remi,” she says with an air of sadness. “I’m not even sure he likes me. Hayden was just an easy target.”
“What happened there?”
“Hayden got a little touchy feely. I told him to stop... Cole walked in right at that second and just lost it. He was wild, Remi. Completely unhinged.”
“He’s been through a lot.”
“I know,” she whispers, glancing down the hall to make sure no one is eavesdropping. “It was like nothing I’ve ever seen.”
A chill zips up my spine. Ace has said before that Cole harbors a darkness, but hearing about it and seeing it are two very different things.
“Maybe you should stay away from him,” I suggest. “Let the dust settle.”
She barks out a laugh. “Cole doesn’t let people get close, Remi. Trust me, whatever happened the other week at the pool house was just some weird twin thing.”
“Okay, whatever you say.”
Hadley rolls her eyes, sticking her tongue out at me, just as an announcement comes over the speaker.
Michaela’s saccharine sweet voice fills the hall. “Don’t forget, Homecoming is this Friday and tickets are selling fast...”
“Ugh,” I grumble. “Did I ever tell you I hate school spirit?”
“You’re really not going to come? I got you a ticket, just in case.”
“Hads... you know I don’t do school dances.”
“Maybe you should start. You have that gorgeous boyfriend of yours to suffer alongside you. Besides, it’s senior year, Homecoming is like a rite of passage or something.”
“I can hardly imagine Ace wanting to go.”
Her face lights up. “But if he wanted to, you’d think about it? Please... for me.”
“Hadley, it’s in three days. I have nothing to wear. And I’m not even talking to Ace right now.”
I’d ignored all his texts this morning. Granted, it isn’t even first period yet, but he’s sent enough.
“Playing hard to get, I like it.” Hadley grins and I groan, knowing she’s completely missing the point. “I’ve got to get to class. But I’ll see you at lunch. That’s if Ace doesn’t chase you down first.”
She takes off down the hall and I’m left with my stepsister droning on about Homecoming etiquette.
“And don’t forget, Seahawks,” she sings, “vote Michaela for Homecoming Queen and show your support and loyalty for your favorite student body president and cheer squad captain.”
My stomach churns at her words. She’s so fucking fake, it makes my skin crawl.
I’m halfway to class when Ace rounds the corner. His eyes collide with mine and I freeze, slowly backing up. “Princess,” he says with a glint in his eye.
It’s the same glint he gets whenever he’s about to play dirty.
Not today, Ace Jagger. I take a step back, ready to make a break for it.
