AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Ahem.”
Jace and Reagan parted abruptly and found Dr. Gordon staring at them. And he didn’t look happy.
“Were you planning to go home and start your homework, or were you content to stand around and embarrass yourself?”
Reagan looked down at the ground as Dr. Gordon's eyes roamed over her.
“I was just saying bye to Reagan. I haven’t seen her all summer. And I don’t have any homework. It’s the first day.”
Reagan giggled at that until Dr. Gordon silenced her with a glare. Satisfied, he turned his attention back to his son. “Well, then. Now that you’ve said your goodbyes, maybe you should be heading home.”
Jace took Reagan’s hand and led her a few feet away from his father, who was still staring. “Sorry about that. I’ll call you later, okay?”
She simply nodded and walked away, shooting a parting glance at the elder Gordon, who was staring after her, watching her walk away. Watching her leave, Jace felt like the sun had just gone down. He walked back to his father and steeled himself. “Why did you have to embarrass me like that?”
“I embarrassedyou? I’m not the one who was out here putting on a peep show.”
“It was a kiss, that’s all.”
“Oh, that’s all? No, that’s how it starts." He jabbed his index finger against Jace's chest. "Let me tell you something, young man. Keep your mind on your books and your music. Girls come and go, and okay, she's a cute one, but your music is forever. Don’t let me catch you out here like this again, do you hear me?”
“Yes,” Jace said flatly, already checked out. His father had a lot of nerve giving him advice about girls with his track record. The man had taken more Ls than the Falcons.
Jace squinted into the setting sun and swallowed hard. “Are we really doing a tribute to Nyleah?”
Dr. Gordon retracted his finger, his voice softening. “Of course we are. She was part of the band family. It’s the right thing to do. Trust me.”
“Yeah but…I don’t know.”
“What don’t you know?”
“It’s just…weird." Jace stared down at the ground, stubbing his toe against the asphalt. "I was there with her.”
“Well nobody knows that now do they?”
“I guess not.”
“They don’t. So we’re gonna do what we would do if this was a normal situation. And nobody has to know anything as long as you keep your mind right.”
“Alright.”
“Okay?”
“Yes.” Jace nodded for emphasis.
“Good.”
Easy for him to say.
Jace met Nyleah and the rest of the Twelve during freshman year. He was new and friendless, and Bria started up a conversation with him in gym, the only class they had together given her status on the smart kids' track, and his status of average and regular. About three weeks into the first semester, she handed him a sealed gray envelope and instructed him to open it at home with his parents. He thought it was strange, but she was cute as hell and he was curious. He opened it on the bus ride home.
It was addressed to the Gordon family, who were being invited to brunch at the Lane home. The purpose of the brunch was to discuss the future. That was all it said, and it was signed by Marcus Lane. Jace's mom and dad—still married at the time—were impressed by the invitation because it was handwritten on monogrammed stationery.
Brunch was held on a breezy Sunday afternoon, and the Gordons were surprised to find other families there. Seven others, to be exact. And one of the other kids was Nyleah.
Jace had never seen anyone so beautiful in real life.
Velvety brown skin, thick, black, shoulder-length hair, full pouty lips covered in gloss, and herbody. The skin tight summer dress she wore showed every curve. He managed to stutter a, "Hey” to her before shuffling off to hide on the other side of the room.
