Page 3 of The Fallen Ones

Jace

My tires screeched as I drove away, leaving the girl I was in love with staring down at me from her apartment window. My Lily Pad, with her dark long hair and gray eyes haunting my soul and breaking my heart. I’d never felt pain like it before. I wasn’t used to being told no. No one had ever dared to utter those words to me before. But that’s one reason I was so drawn to Lily. She was different. Shy and sweet, but fiercely independent when she needed to be. She came from the blocks on the opposite side of the tracks in this same city where we now attended college. That side of town was mostly abandoned buildings, warehouses owned by gangs, and a few homes and apartments where time had stood still. I’d never crossed over the tracks to that side of town, never had a reason to, until I finally convinced Lily to be mine. She’d have me drive past places she still loved while pointing out old shops where she had fond memories. I’d do anything for her, yet she refused to put out and fuck me.

She’d had a rough childhood, something I could never understand no matter how much I tried, and I tried so fucking hard. I grew up a rich kid on the upper east side of the city. I’d ignored her throughout our school years, but that didn’t mean Ididn’t see her. Didn’t want her. In fact, I wanted her a hell of a lot, but I let my pride stop me from trying. Plus, I knew she was my best friend’s stepsister for less than a year. Of course, that friendship ended long ago just like her mom’s marriage to his father had.

Lily kept to herself, never going out and doing all that much. Anytime I did see her, she was always with her best friend Caleb who had tagged along with her to college here at Holloway University.

The trauma inflicted by her dead mother seemed to affect her life in so many ways, and unfortunately for the both of us, empathy wasn’t my best trait. I’d been so patient with her, but her refusing sex for the better part of a year was enough to push any man over the edge. She was so perfect in every other way. No one else seemed to get why I’d chosen to be with someone like Lily. She wasn’t a cheerleader, or even one of the popular people. She was an art student. She dressed in darker clothes most of the time as though she was in a constant state of mourning. Her paintings were soulless, yet captured the fragility of life. I remember being confused and almost afraid by them the first time I’d seen them. Until she whispered in my ear and taught me how to understand that things in life do have deeper meanings. Just like being intimate with Lily would mean more than just sex to me. I craved her touch, and yet she rejected me just like every painting I’d attempted was tossed in the trash. Lily had me in a chokehold since the day we met, and that hold had only grown over the years. She tutored me in English Literature at Holloway, and I passed with ease. She was my saving grace whenever things got rough. I couldn’t afford to fail a class and be kicked off the football team. But even more importantly, I couldn’t afford to become a college dropout and bring shame on the Adams family name. At this point in my life, I was sure I’dmake it to the NFL. My family adored status, and this would be huge for them.

Being an Adams, I always had the best of everything. The latest consoles and cellphones. Whatever I wanted I got. My dad wasn’t around much. That meant my mom spent a lot of time at home, playing the doting mother and socialite. What people didn’t know was my mother was as cold as ice and not as nurturing as she made people believe. My father spent a lot of his time at work, managing his multi-million dollar computer company. When he wasn’t doing that, he was catering to my mother’s every need. Lily was the only constant in my life, even if we didn’t interact as teens. I looked forward to seeing her each day, daydreaming about what it would be like to make her mine but knowing it was out of the question if I wanted to maintain my status. Uppers didn’t hang with the lowers. Those were the rules. I abided by them.

It was different now though. The only person to ever love me for who I was, for who I am, was her. She belonged to me, and there was no way I was about to let her leave without a fight. I had to get her back.

One way or another.

As I road raged through the city on a bender which included breaking my heart all over again through the lower side of the city and all the memories she’d poured out to me, I recognized the house by the tracks. Still on the shitty side of town, it was situated just on the edge of where garbage meant prosperity. It was her best friend Caleb’s place. I swerved my Range Rover into the driveway, barely avoiding the trees and sending the fallen crisp leaves upward, creating a mini blizzard.

I jumped out of my vehicle and headed to the doorway.

“Caleb,” I called as I banged on the door hard.

This old neighborhood didn’t even have doorbells never mind the techy camera ones.

Caleb opened the door and looked me up and down. His wavy dark hair and startling blue eyes made me want to punch him in his pretty face. I had no idea why the pair had never hooked up, but now that I’d survived Lily, I understood it was more a her problem than a him problem because Caleb Watts wanted my girl. I’d seen it a hundred times. His blue eyes on her every move. The tiny smile that played along his lips. The way his voice grew softer and gentler whenever he addressed her.

Either she didn’t give a shit or she was oblivious.

“What do you want?” he demanded, his voice gruff. He crossed his arms over his broad chest. He clearly worked out. I knew he was at Holloway University on a scholarship, so the prick had both looks and intelligence. It made me hate him just a little bit more.

“I need to talk to you. It’s Lily, she–”

“Dumped your ass? Dropped you like a sack of bricks? Kicked you to the curb? I heard. She called me.” He scoffed and shook his head at me. “I can’t say I’m surprised, and to be honest, I’m glad,” he continued without holding back.

“Wait.” I threw my hand against the door as he tried to slam it closed in my face.

Caleb shook his head at me once more, a look of annoyance on that stupidly handsome face of his.

He was always so against Lily and I. He played the best friend role so fucking well, but all of my friends warned me about Caleb. He wanted my Lily Pad for himself. It wouldn’t surprise me if this dick hadn’t encouraged her to break up with me. He was the only guy she’d actually take advice from. And here I was going to him for help getting my girl back.

How the mighty Jace Adams had fallen.

“Listen, I have proposition for you,” I told him and shoved the door back open.

So fucking desperate.I couldn’t believe I was even considering the idea, let alone sharing it with Caleb.

“Lily doesn’t want to fuck you, Jace. Go home,” he taunted me, smirking. “Guess your pretty boy rich ass will have to find a new girl to win over.”

“She doesn’t want to fuck you either, cunt,” I bit back.

“Fuck you, Jace.” His smirk soon faded as he glared at me and balled his hands into tight fists.

“Listen. Let me inside. I don’t want to do this here.”

“I’m not helping you win Lily back.”

“Just…listen to me, OK? Give me five minutes of your time. I’ll make it worth your while.”

Caleb narrowed his eyes at me before stepping aside and allowing me entry.

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