The Line Between(19)

“You and Reid still not talking?” I asked, snatching up Jades’ bowl of half-eaten cereal and taking a bite. She’d filled me in on what happened with Reid on Saturday morning, and I felt guilty because their friendship was suffering on account of Dane being a total dick. I appreciated Jades’ loyalty, but I never expected her to lay into Reid about what had happened the night of my birthday. It was between me, and Dane, and I wanted to keep it that way. Too bad Jade was as stubborn as I was, and after hearing what Dane had done, she immediately got involved.

“He sent me a text,” she replied. “But I haven’t replied. I’m not sure I’m going to either.”

I placed the now empty cereal bowl on our coffee table, and turned to face her. “You have no reason to ignore him, Jade. He’s been your best friend for too long for you to be pissy about a situation that has nothing to do with you two.”

Jade’s head whipped in my direction, her perfectly shaped brows dipped in a frown. “Nothing to do with us? You’re one of my best friends, Kennedy, and what Dane did was so disgusting. I told Reid to keep Dane away from you on Friday night, so I blame him for all the shit Dane pulled.”

“It’s not Reid’s fault,” I argued. I felt bad that he had to deal with Jades’ wrath when it wasn’t his fault. I didn’t blame him. It was all Dane, and his asshole-ish ways. “He can’t control what Dane does or doesn’t do.”

“That might be true, but he’s been standing around while Dane treats you like shit for no goddamn reason, and in my books, that makes him just as guilty.”

“Jade,” I groaned, feeling irritated with her rationalization. “You have to talk to him. I won’t allow you to drag my problems into your friendship with Reid. You know it’s stupid, and you love that boy too much to let it come between you.”

For the most part Jade’s expression remained annoyed, but understanding sparked in her eyes. I knew she loved him, despite never having said it, and I knew how devastated she would be if Reid was no longer in her life. I couldn’t be responsible for that.

“Just think about it, okay?” I pressed. “Reid must be going crazy. This is the longest the two of you have gone without some kind of talking.”

Slumping back into the sofa, Jade stared up at the ceiling. “I’ll call him.”

I smiled, and clapped my hands like an overzealous cheerleader. “Good. Now what are we doing for dinner?”

I stood up, waited for Jade to respond, and quickly walked to my room to put my phone on charge. When I saw the most ridiculous bouquet of red roses on my desk, I froze. Jade must have been following me, because her front hit my back as soon as my feet stopped moving.

“Oh that,” she muttered. “I forgot those came by for you while you were on campus.”

“Who are they from?” I asked. It couldn’t have been my father, and as far as I knew I didn’t have a secret admirer.

“I have no idea. They were delivered by a delivery boy from the flower shop, and I didn’t want to read the card.”

I moved towards my desk, racking my brain trying to figure out who would send me such an exquisite bouquet for no rhyme or reason. I plucked the card from between the rose stems, and pulled it out of the envelope.





I read over the note a second time, working through the uneven blend of emotions crashing inside my head. I was confused, and even a little surprised, but the feeling that reigned supreme was indignation.

Most girls would have melted on the spot at his gesture, but I wasn’t most girls. I wasn’t some game that needed to be won or a conquest that needed to be overcome or defeated.

“Never saw that coming,” murmured Jade.

It only took me a moment to decide what I was going to do. I looked at Jade over my shoulder. “Can you please text Reid, and find out where they are?”

“What are you going to do?” She asked, her voice laced with worry.

“I’m going to give Dane Winters exactly what he deserves,” I replied. After eyeing me with suspicion, Jade grabbed her phone and it only took five minutes for Reid to reply. The goofy look on her face after seeing his name flash on the screen didn’t go unnoticed, but I reserved my comment, archiving it for a later date, preferably one that didn’t include knocking a certain asshole off his pedestal.

“They’re in the union  ,” said Jade.

“Perfect.”

And it really was perfect. I’d planned on doing this wherever he was, but having an audience was even better.

“You coming?” I asked, taking the ridiculous bouquet out of its vase.