Page 31 of Believe In Us

“I was asking Jade,” Liam answers, his body inching closer to me clearly realizing he’s pissing Bass off by being near me. Instantly his demeanor changes and he’s no longer stepping down. He meets Bass’s angry glare with one of his own, straightening up to meet him, not caring he’s still obviously outmanned.

“Get your fucking hands off of her Walker?” Bass growls, his stance domineering and his voice strictly authoritative. Liam quickly obeys, understanding he is in no place to challenge the man of the house, dropping his hand to his side.

“Sorry mate, I didn’t realize you guys were a thing,” Liam says, apologizing when he is in no way accurate.

“We are,”

“We’re not,” we both shout out simultaneously.

“Like fuck we’re not,” Bass shouts out.

I turn to Liam who watches me intently trying to understand what the hell is going on between Bass and me. Well that makes two of us. “I need to get out of here, Liam, do you mind giving me a ride back to campus?” I ask, knowing it’s probably not one of my brightest ideas but essentially my only option.

“Yeah of course, I was actually about to head out,” Liam answers, taking a step back asking me to join him.

Bass reaches out and grabs my arm vigorously pulling me to him. “Fuck no you’re not leaving, especially not with this fucker.”

The crowd around us has now doubled in size but I am quick to spot Scar, Ace, the other two horsemen, and the rest of my friends, watching us with wide eyes and shocked expressions.

“It would be my pleasure Jade, I actually was about to head out and grab something to eat, that's okay with you?” Liam says rather ballsy.

I smile at him, a genuine smile and not one of those fake grins I give everyone else. I actually like Liam. His easy-going personality is one I find myself attracted to. It’s exactly what someone who is as impulsive and reckless as me needs. But of course it’s not what I really want. No, I go for the damaged, manic, and emotionally unavailable ones. “That sounds perfect Liam. I’m famished not to mention I’ve had quite an appetite lately,” I lie, but Sebastian doesn’t know that. I turn to Bass, “Goodbye Sebastian,” I add, grabbing onto Liam’s extended arm, turning, and walking away from him. We make it all of three steps before I’m hauled out of Liam’s hold and Sebastian’s furious fist slams into the unsuspecting and undeserving chiseled jaw of Servite’s star quarterback. I hear a loud crack as Liam is slammed against a cocktail table, before Sebastian tackles him to the ground, pouncing on him. The crowd around us gasps, oohing and aahing as the popular jock and the rebel bad boy wrestle like a pair of fucking temper tantrum throwing children before falling headfirst into the swimming pool, taking down a cater waiter walking by. What a fucking shit show.

I run my hand through my hair as I turn away from the chaos, angry tears threatening to spill out of my eyes as I watch the scene before me. Way to come back and keep a low-profile Jade.

“Jade,” Scarlett mumbles as she reaches for me grabbing onto my elbow.

I turn and meet her gaze, as deep blue eyes, apologetic and melancholic, plead for me to give her a chance to explain herself. But I can't handle that right now, I'm barely keeping my shit together. “Not today please Scar,” I whisper, my voice quavering and unsteady. “I know we need to talk, but please, not today. I just need to get out of here.'' She nods her head accepting my plea as I turn and walk away leaving both Liam and Sebastian to deal with whatever pissing contest they’ve initiated.

“Wait up Jade, I’ll drive you,” Drake says as he appears behind me. I simply nod and follow my friend out toward the front of the property. But just as we are about to exit the large steel gate, a movement to my right catches my eye, and of course as expected, Stephan Silver stands behind a sandstone pillar watching me with a satisfiedI told you solook across his face and a smug as fuck smirk.

Well this could have gone better.

Chapter

Seventeen

JADE

Ihopped into the passenger side of the black two door coupe that Drake led me to. My mind was otherwise occupied at the time and I didn’t bother asking whose car we were in or where he had gotten it from until about ten minutes into our drive.

“It’s mine,” he says, not bothering to give any more details or explain how in the world some poor, orphaned guy like him managed to afford a car like this, or any for that matter. I mean it’s nothing super fancy like the SUVs Bass and Ace drive around in, but the interior is clean and not all tattered like my ex’s cars all were. It’s shiny, smells rather new, and has some high-tech stereo with touchscreen and blue LED lights.

“And how the fuck did you manage to buy a car let alone one like this?” I ask, rather intrigued by what the Dragon’s gotten himself into. He’s been MIA recently and we haven’t questioned it given his history with Scar, but now I'm definitely curious to know where he’s been running off to.

“I got a job,” he utters bluntly, once again not further explaining anything.

“Bullshit,” I yell, not buying it, “Where the fuck did you get a job? No one here would be crazy enough to hire any of us and Pleasant Hills is too far to commute daily,” I add, gaining me a scornful glare from him.

“First of all, it’s only like an hour and a half away and second of all, I don’t have to explain myself to you Wolf,” he snaps, tightening his grip on the steering wheel. His tattooed fingers turn white with the force he’s using to hold on to it, when he suddenly reaches over, turning up the volume to MGK’s most recent album currently bumping on the stereo. Drake and I have never been awfully close compared to my relationship with my other foster siblings. I’ve always felt more comfortable around Kai or Jax, while he was usually always broody and pissed off at the world when he wasn’t following Scar like a lovesick puppy. Then when we came here andtheyfinally got together, I realized their relationship was forced and they weren’t at all good for each other. I think deep down at one point he may have believed I was the reason she ended things with him.

“Well someone’s touchy,” I scoff, turning and rolling down the window letting the cold breeze of the night cool my skin.

“Says the chick who just caused a fucking brawl and ran out of their faster than she came in,” he answers, causing me to turn and glare at him. Now I’m the one who’s pissed. I reach over and turn the volume down, twisting my whole body to face him as I smack him over the head.

“What the fuck Jade, you’re going to make me crash!” he shouts, swerving slightly to the left.

“First of all, I just asked a fucking question, and second of all, you have no idea the shit week I’ve had. So don’t come at me with your whole I’m a fucked up, damaged bad boy bullshit Dragon. We’re all fucking screwed.” I roll my eyes and look back out myopen window, holding back the tears that have been aching to come out all day long. This time the Dragon’s smart, turning the volume back up and driving silently the rest of the way to campus.

---