Stephan(49)

This shattered my heart into a million pieces, because I’d put people I cared for in danger. I was worried I was putting Cassie’s family in danger. They assured me the two police vehicles kept them safe. A bunch of my grandpa’s associates had been arrested and for the moment I couldn’t do anything.

I was eager to go back to school. Cassie’s parents were fantastic. I only had two weeks until I was eighteen and I promised them I’d find a place of my own then. They told me over and over not to worry, that I was no trouble and welcome to stay as long as I wanted. I was done though. I was done relying on anyone but myself.

“Jade, sweetheart. You have a visitor,” Cassie’s mum yelled to me.

Easing off the bed, I put the book down I wasn’t really reading and went down the stairs. My heart sped up at the figure at the door. Stephan stood with flowers and a basket with goodies in it. He looked like he hadn’t shaved since I’d seen him over a week ago. He had dark circles under his eyes. I felt bad, but I couldn’t do anything except apologize.

“Hi. I’m sorry about everything. I’m glad Derick didn’t get hurt. ”

“Jade, you have nothing to be sorry about. You didn’t pull any triggers. You were innocent in all this.”

“Okay.” I didn’t know what else I was supposed to say. “Is that all?”

“No. I wanted to say I was sorry—”

“You have nothing to apologize for.” My body ached from missing Stephan. My heart was pounding so loud and it hurt at the sight of him. I wanted so badly to jump into his arms and hug him. I wouldn’t though, I would never touch him again. I couldn’t. I had been shot at, had my body cut and bruised, but nothing hurt more than Stephan leaving me. I didn’t have much in my shitty life but what I had, Stephan had taken and stomped on it. “Thanks for this stuff. I’ll see you around at school.” I turned and he grabbed my cast halting me. I glanced down at his hand and back to him.

“Wait. Little bit, I want you to come home.”

I choked on a sob, as he called me by his pet name, how could he? I fought him so hard because I couldn’t take this heartbreak, there were only so many times someone could be beaten down and I was done. I’d had my mum beat me down all my life and I bounced back. I even had my grandpa do it and now the man I loved had done it. No. I’d had enough.

“Get. Your. Hand. Off. Me. Now,” I gritted out. “You stay away from me.” I backed away and dropped the gifts he’d given me.

Stephan went white and I took an involuntary step toward him only to stop when I realized what I did. “Just go, Stephan.”

“I’ll see you at school tomorrow.”

I knew Stephan and he wouldn’t leave me alone. I nodded and walked away. I went up to the room and called the detective who’d given me his number, he was the nicest of the bunch. He had a daughter my age. “Hi, Detective Web. I need a restraining order please.”

*****

Everyone was staring at me. I kept my head down and kept close to Cassie as we walked to lunch. With the retaining order I had on Stephan I couldn’t sit with the girls where we used to sit. They’d moved for me. We now sat in the quad with all the younger people. Even after three days at school everyone was still talking about me.

The first day I jumped at everything. The second I hid in the library. I’d gotten Cassie to give the phone back to Stephan. I didn’t want him knowing where I was. I deliberately 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 thought I was overreacting, but I didn’t give my trust easily and I’d given it to Stephan. He’d stomped all over it and my growing love. He’d abandoned 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 my whole life.

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

I nibbled on my sandwich and halfheartedly listened.

*****

Stephan





I didn’t want to go to school. I didn’t want to leave the house. The bodyguards still watched Jade, but I had received the restraining order. Derick wasn’t talking to me. He was still angry with me over how I’d dealt with Jade after the shooting. My parents had left me be, only putting their foot down about 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. “Away from you. I’m so pissed I can’t even look at you."