Page 59 of Believe In Us

“Yeah I know, that’s not something I’m not aware of. She’s hurting, she’s been hurt before, but that is exactly why I can’t go there.” He runs a hand through his shaggy, brown hair, tugging his curls slightly. “I’m fucked up Jade, screwed in every way possible, and unlike you, my cracks can’t be fixed.”

I wince at the sadness of his words and how true I know they are to him. That’s the thing about us orphans, people may tell us over and over that we can overcome everything we’ve been dealt, that we are not the products of our upbringing, but the truth is, unless you’ve lived our lives, there is no way you can understand how hard it is to believe it for yourself.

Talk about insecurities.

I lay my head down on the couch's armrest, stretching my legs out until I’m flat on my back. “I know Malachi, I know.”

For once, sleep comes without a damn worry.

“You think she can hear us?”Stella whispers, hovering over me. My eyes are closed but I can feel her hot breath against my cheek. She smells of her homemade spearmint and eucalyptus toothpaste.

“Nah she’s out like a light, I mean she was snoring just moments ago.” That’s Drake, moving about the room, his voice not as close as hers.

“Wakey, wakey sleeping beauty,” Kai mocks, as he sits at my feet. He grabs my legs, lifting them and throwing them over his lap. I open my eyes slowly, finding all three of them staring down at me with happy-go-lucky grins. “We’re going out Wolfe. Jax and Ruby are meeting us down at Scottie’s for breakfast, well it’ll be lunch by the time we get down there.”

“Yeah luckily they serve breakfast all day because I’m in need of some french toast and waffles after all the fucking weed wesmoked last night,” Drake murmurs, rubbing his hand over his tired eyes.

Stella turns to face him, “Yeah where’d you run off to Damon? You were out like all night,” she asks, her inquiry, which sounds more like jealousy, stunning the three of us.

I notice Drake's expression turns serious for a moment before a playful grin appears. He walks over to where Stella stands, throwing an arm over her shoulder, “Keeping tabs on me Silver?” he asks, with a playful wink.

My vision focuses as I sit up and notice they’re already dressed. Drake wears black jeans and a black V-neck shirt, a shiny gold chain hanging around his neck. Real gold, interesting. Stella is in her usual pleated skirt, this one dark blue and seemingly shorter, paired off with tan booties, and a light brown sweater. Kai’s wearing blue ripped jeans and a white short-sleeve, button up shirt, buttoned only halfway, exposing his hairless, tanned chest, and here I am, in old sweatpants and matching hoodie.

“No, I mean I assume you stayed out pretty late,” Stella answers, nervously twirling her hair. However, I don’t think she’s aware that by doing so, it kind of looks like she’s flirting back. Kai’s anxious chuckle proves I’m not the only one who sees it. Drake and Stella have beenflirtywith each other since she arrived five days ago, and now I’m not sure I understand what it means.

Drake pulls her in closer, “I’m just messing with you Stella. I was out pretty late and now I’m starving so Jade, get the fuck up already and go get dressed.”

“Alright I’m up, no need to get all hangry on me Dragon.”

Drake laughs, tightening his hold on Stella, “By the way, why’d you sleep on the couch? The bed we so graciously let you stay in isn’t big enough for the two of you?”

I turn to Kai, who’s glaring at Drake's arm still draped around her, his eyes shifting to meet my gaze as he senses me watching him. “I couldn’t sleep, came out for some water, guess I ended up knocking out on the couch.”

Drake walks Stella toward the front door, grabbing his car keys hung up on the wall, but looks back over his shoulder before he turns the doorknob. “We’ll wait for you two in the car,” he says, winking at Kai and me, as he and Stella disappear into the hall. I turn to Kai whose eyes are dark and filled with fury.

“What the fuck was that about?” I ask out loud, but he simply shakes his head laughing lightly.

“Not a fucking clue,” he answers, walking over to the fridge to grab a beer. It’s ten a.m., but I’m not questioning him, nor judging. Not after the little scene that played out in front of us just moments ago. There is nothing worse than the person you are crushing on, whether you are in denial or not, crushing on someone else, and don’t I know it.

Twenty minuteslater we’re pulling into the dinner in Drake’s new coupe. The ride here was scary quiet, as in no one said a fucking word. Nothing but the blaring of the speakers, which were bumping MGK’s hitMy Ex’s Best Friend, were heard. However, the loud music was better than whatever was bound to follow the little moment which transpired between Stella and Drake back at the apartment. Kai sits beside me in the back seat, glaring out the window to his left, his fists gripping the seat tightly.

Not to our surprise, by the time I finished getting dressed and walked down to the parking lot with Kai, Stella was sitting in the passenger seat with Drake holding her hand in his and bringing it up to his mouth. They’re getting more obvious and daring with their flirting and it’s definitely raising more questions in me. I need to get to the bottom of it tonight.

We walk into Scottie’s and find Jax and Ruby already sitting in a booth toward the back of the diner. Without waiting to be greeted Drake and Stella walk arm and arm over to the booth withKai and I trailing behind them. I speed up trying to squeeze my way between the two of them but it’s useless. Drake slides into the booth behind Stella leaving me to sit at the edge.

“Finally y’all decide to show up,” Ruby scoffs, as an angry Kai slides in beside her.

Kai reaches an arm over the back of the seat behind Ruby, “You know your brother, Drake and his slow ass fucking driving, you’d think there was an old man behind the wheel.”

“Can’t be too careful when I have precious cargo Saint,” Drake replies, calling Kai by his last name.

Though before they can continue bickering, we’re interrupted by a young girl dressed in the diner uniform. “Hi, I’m Kelly, what can I get for you?” asks the young waitress with short brown hair, who nervously looks down at her notepad trying her hardest to avoid making eye contact with the guys who are obviously checking her out. She’s pretty, doesn’t look much older than us, and has the same shy girl vibe I got from Stella when we first met. Though now Stella is a sassy little firecracker, who is currently flirting and playing with fire. Everyone can see it now, the Dragon has even noticed which wasn’t much of a shock that he slid into the booth right behind Stella, leaving me to sit on the edge with Ruby, Jax, and Kai across from us in that order.

“Well hello there,” Jax says, leaning over the table to gawk at Kelly, the cute waitress. Ruby rolls her eyes smacking him over the head and causing him to cry out in protest. “Ow babe, what was that for? I was just being polite and saying hi.”

“Yeah I bet you were,” Ruby sneers, crossing her arms over her chest. I’ve honestly never understood why Ruby has stayed with Jaxon. Don’t get me wrong, I love Jax and can definitely see the appeal. Dark hair, big hazel eyes, an angular jawline covered in a slight stubble, he’s hot, like young Johnny Depp hot. Not to mention his laid-back attitude is a great contrast to the cynicism flowing through the rest of us, but just like any teenage guy, he’s a fucking slut, always hitting on other girls with Ruby standing rightbeside him. As for Ruby, well the Red Dragon is fucking sexy as hell and way out of his league. Although she can be a huge bitch, most of the time, she deserves better than that.

“Screw you guys I’m fucking starving. I’ll have the french toast and waffles plate, with a side of bacon, extra crispy, and a coke,” Drake orders, handing his menu to the waitress.

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