Page 47 of Stephan

The first day I jumped at everything. Thesecond I hid in the library. I’d gotten Cassie to give the phoneback to Stephan. I didn’t want him knowing where I was. Ideliberately didn’t look for him. It hurt too much when I saw him.I couldn’t even gaze upon Derick. I knew some of my friends thoughtI was overreacting, but I didn’t give my trust easily and I’d givenit to Stephan. He’d stomped all over it and my growing love. He’dabandoned me. When I’d woken in the hospital and he wasn’t there,not even one of his family members, I’d never felt so alone in mywhole life.

I listened as the girls talked about going tothe movies this weekend. “Sure, sounds good.” Right now I’d agreeto anything.

I nibbled on my sandwich and halfheartedlylistened.

*****

Stephan

I didn’t want to go to school. I didn’t wantto leave the house. The bodyguards still watched Jade, but I hadreceived the restraining order. Derick wasn’t talking to me. He wasstill angry with me over how I’d dealt with Jade after theshooting. My parents had left me be, only putting their foot downabout school. So I went to school and rugby.

“I’m leaving. I can’t sit with you anymore.”Derick got up and I followed.

“Where are you going?”

Derick walked toward the buildings. “Awayfrom you. I’m so pissed I can’t even look at you."

He entered the quad and that’s when I sawher. Like a moth drawn to a flame I couldn’t stop myself. She wasso beautiful. I missed her so much. She looked almost lifeless asshe sat with her head down. I hadn’t slept in two weeks and Icouldn’t even lie on my bed. Fuck this shit. I’d had enough. Iwanted my little bit back.

Going to Jade, I picked her up. She squealedand fought me coming to life.

“I hate you. I hate you. I hate you.” Shebeat me with her cast hand and I let her, needing to feelsomething.

I was numb since I left Jade.

“Why couldn’t you leave me alone? Why?” Shewhacked me over and over, tears streaming down her face.

I heard teachers come over and try to breakit up but for once my bodyguards were around and stopped them.

“I hate you. I hate what you did to me. Ihate what you made me feel. I hate what you’ve done to me. I hateyou. I hate you.” The hitting stopped and her fingers gripped myshirt. Tears rolled down her cheeks and I felt the worst I’d everfelt at the broken look in her sad eyes. I needed to fix it. I’ddone this to her. I would do anything to have the look of pain andhurt gone. She collapsed against me, giving up her fight and brokedown sobbing, “You left me. You left me.”

I didn’t care about school. I didn’t careabout the people watching and I didn’t care about the fuckingrestraining order. I held Jade in my arms and walked out of thequad and the school. David met me at the drop-off zone and I got inthe passenger side with my precious bundle.

Jade didn’t say any more and that scared memore than when she fought me. Brand got in the passenger seat andhe looked back at Jade and me. “She was a fragile flower and youhad her blossoming and then you crushed her. You gave hereverything she’s never had then took it away. You broke her,kid.”

“Fuck.” I held Jade tight as she sobbed in myarms. Her gut wrenching cries cut me to my core and I knew I’dnever stop making this up to her. But make it up to her I would,even if I spent the rest of my life doing it.

I took her home and I carried her up tomy—our—bed and lay with her in it. Jade cried herself to sleep andI didn’t say a word. I didn’t know what to say. I knew she wouldn’thear what I said now anyway.

Laying there with her in my arms I came upwith a plan. I was never going a night without her again. Icouldn’t do it. I knew the gate and the security would only holdthe police and the restraining order for so long. I would beg heron my hands and knees if I had to for the rest of my life, but shewas going to give me another chance.

I must have dozed off because the next thingI knew my dad was tapping my shoulder.

“Stephan, Stephan. A Detective Web is at ourdoor with a couple of officers.”

Jade didn’t even stir in my arms. I knew shewas probably exhausted. “Send them up.”

“Son—”

“Dad, she hasn’t even woken up with ustalking. Look at her. She’s lost weight and is deathly pale. Whenshe was with me before she had a pink tinge on her cheeks, shedoesn't now. Bring them up.”

Dad shook his head as he walked out of myroom. I turned back to Jade and stroked her back. She snuggleddeeper against me and sighed.

“My daughter goes to your school. She’s inthe year below you. She’s told me the gossip story but I see thereis some truth to it.”

I gazed up to see who I assumed was DetectiveWeb. “What story is that?”

“A Silverman has been caught. That a bunch ofgirls are now brokenhearted because they have a chance with oneless Silverman.” He dramatically rolled his eyes. “My daughter saysit’s love.”

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