Chapter 26 Jade #2
I hadn't even realized I was smiling. “Nothing!” I say a bit too quickly, cringing at how unbelievable that sounded even to me. I can feel all three of them looking at me now, and I try not to shift nervously in my seat under the weight of their gaze.
This is ridiculous.
He walks over to the coffeepot and pours his cup before giving me a wicked smirk that lets me know he doesn’t believe me.
“Sure,” he draws out the word sarcastically, but doesn’t push any more than that before turning to the guys and asking if they're ready to go.
I take a moment to breathe while they give him crap about how they've been waiting on him.
I need to get my shit together.
I’ve worked for years to keep myself apart from everyone around me, to be what others needed, what they wanted, to just blend in. I can’t let a few weeks with some guys destroy that careful mask just because they’re nice to me.
“Jade?” Roderick calls my name, and I look up, pulled from my mental scolding, only to see that I missed something while I zoned out. All of them now stand at the kitchen entrance, looking back at me with varying levels of concern and suspicion.
I’ll give you one guess who’s suspicious.
“Sorry. I zoned out,” I tell them, forcing a smile to my lips, and the frown of concern on Roderick's face deepens. Pushing to my feet, I chug the rest of my coffee before leaning over to put my mug in the sink, scoop up my backpack, and head after them.
“It’s gonna be great, you'll see,” Zander tells me as I fall into step beside him, mistaking my warring feelings as anxiety over the first day of school. I don’t correct him. It's much better than the alternative…
Admitting that I’m smiling like a fool because of them when I know better.
We head out the door and pile into Roderick’s SUV together.
The drive to campus was much shorter than I had expected. I didn’t realize just how close their house was, but it made sense to live close if they didn’t want to live on campus.
We get a close spot in the lot even though it appears to be filled with cars as far as the eye can see. I wonder if it’s luck or if this is just another perk of them being, well them. I don’t bother to ask. Instead, I get out and follow after them as they head across campus to the main building.
Roderick and Spencer lead the way. Zander falls into step beside me, throwing his arm over my shoulder without care.
People around us move out of their way as they cut through the crowds of people standing around talking or making their way to their classes.
Some whisper, while others point and stare, and I try not to let the feeling of all of their eyes make me uncomfortable.
Just because I’m used to attention doesn’t mean I like it; I actually can’t stand it.
Nothing good has ever come from being the most looked-at person in the room, at least not for me.
As if he can sense my unease, Zander gives my shoulder a tight squeeze, pulling my attention to him and away from those around us. When I look his way, he gives me an adorable lopsided grin that's so cute I can’t help but return it.
Zander has been the easiest for me to get along with from the start.
He was the first to talk to me and the first to accept me into their lives, so it’s no surprise that I default to him.
But as I look at him, I can’t help but notice how much he’s changed since I first met him.
His smile used to have an edge to it like he was one second away from losing his shit.
And while I can still see that in his eyes sometimes, more often than not, when he looks at me now, I see something a lot more tender there, something that I can’t put a name on.
It makes my stomach knot, and I have to push the feeling down hard to stop myself from turning into a puddle every time he looks at me.
“Rick’s going to take you to meet Hazel for your books.
I have a double block in the auto garage today, and Spencer will be in the library for his free period.
Rick has your afternoon class with you, but if you need something, I got you this.
” Reaching into his back pocket, he pulls out a phone, not unlike the ones the guys seem to have on them constantly, and places it in my hand.
I look at it before I look back up at him in confusion.
I’ve never used a cell phone or any phone before.
It’s not something you’re given when people hold you against your will.
I’ve seen him playing with his a lot over the last week, but I have absolutely zero idea how to use it.
The only tech I've ever navigated was the iPod he gave me for music, and even that was a struggle at first.
“Um...” I trail off, not wanting to sound ungrateful, but also, what good could this possibly do me?
“Show her how to use it, dumbass,” Spencer huffs, shoulder-checking Zander as he walks past without a backward glance. I watch him go for a moment, noticing once again how everyone around him moves. Some girls smile and wave at him, attempting to get his attention, but he ignores them all.
I'd be lying if I said it didn't make me feel the tiniest bit better, knowing I’m not the only one he gives the cold shoulder, but I'd never admit it.
Zander facepalms. “Oh, duh,” he says more to himself than to me before he swipes the phone from my still outstretched hand. He gives me a quick lesson on how to use the phone to make phone calls and send out messages.
“I can show you all the other stuff when we get home today, but that will be enough for you to reach us if you need to. I’ve already programmed our numbers in there for you, right here in the contacts,” he says as he hits a button that pulls up their names.
I see Kratos is also listed. I wonder if I message him if he would answer…
I shake the thought away quickly, before I can let my imagination run wild. I need to get my brain under control.
He hands the phone back to me, and I take it with a smile before sliding it into the back pocket of my jeans. It weighs more than I would have thought for something so small, but I'm sure I'll get used to it. The guys seem to have no issue with having theirs on them all day.
“Thanks,” I tell him because I appreciate the thought even if I never use the phone. I’ve never really been given something for the sake of just having it, especially not something that’s meant to keep me safe.
It’s nice to have someone watching out for me, even if it's unnecessary.
He smiles at me, and it lights up his entire face. The pure happiness is so much that I look away as a blush creeps over my cheeks. What is it with him that makes me feel like this?
Before I can think any more about it, Zander leans down, gently pressing his lips to my forehead before taking a step back.
“I’ll see you after class,” he says as he continues walking backward away from me.
I look up in time to see him throw me a wave.
“Have a good day in class, Doll,” he calls, a little louder now that he’s a few feet away.
I give a small wave of my own before he disappears around a corner, and I’m left staring at where he just was, my hand still hanging in the air like an idiot.
“Come on,” Roderick says from behind me, startling me from my thoughts, or lack thereof.
With a mental facepalm, I drop my hand and turn to find him already headed to the front doors. I have to rush to follow him so I don’t get swept up in the sea of people around us.
We make our way into the office, which is just about the only place that feels familiar to me, even after my tour a few days ago.
I see Roderick as he makes his way over to Hazel, a little ways ahead of me, and I hurry to catch up, not wanting him to have to wait around for me as I’m sure he has other things to do.
Just before I reach them, someone sidesteps right in front of me with their back to me. In my haste, I wasn’t paying close enough attention, and I'm walking too quickly to stop myself from crashing into them.
I almost land on my ass, but I manage to get my feet underneath me at the last second.
The person I just slammed into turns to face me, and when I look up at him, I see the concern on his face as he looks me over.
“Shit! I’m so sorry,” he says in a rush. “There are so many people here that I was trying to get out of someone's way and didn’t even think about who could be behind me.” His cheeks turn slightly pink as he runs his hand through his hair. “You're not hurt, are you?” he asks.
I take a second to assess myself mentally before I turn my attention to him.
He seems like your average guy. His skin is just tan enough that it could be natural or a sign that he spends a lot of time in the sun.
He’s not quite as tall as Roderick, but at least as tall as Zander, which means he still towers over me.
His dark hair is short on the sides and just long enough on the top that he has it pushed back.
I shake my head in response before looking up at him into his startling green eyes, eyes that are a lot like mine.
I know from my time with the girls that green is a pretty common eye color, but seeing someone with a shade close to mine stops me short.
The closest I have ever seen to a similar shade is Roderick’s one green eye, but even his is a bit darker.
He’s the only one of my guys with green, though.
Wait, what the fuck?
The guys.
Not my guys. I mentally scold myself.
I pull myself together before returning my focus to the stranger in front of me.
His green eyes are concerned as he continues to watch me as if I might fall over at any moment.
I mean, he’s a wall of muscle if the throbbing of my nose is anything to go by, but it’s not something to be concerned about. I’ve handled much worse.
“I’m fine,” I tell him with a tight smile in hopes of settling his concern.
Bad idea.
All that does is make my nose hurt more.
It seems to do the trick, though, and he smiles back at me.
His smile is huge and blinding, and I almost feel the need to look away at how expressive his face is.
I’ve worked to hide my emotions all my life, but he seems to wear them openly, and it's making me uncomfortable.
Grabbing the straps of my backpack, I adjust its weight simply to give myself a reason to move.
“I shouldn’t have been going so quickly with so many people around.
It was just unlucky timing,” I tell him, hoping he will take that as a dismissal and move on so that I can get to Roderick, who I can see just a little ways behind him with Hazel. His brows dip down as he watches us.
I sidestep the wall of a man, intending to go to them, but before I can, his hand is outstretched in front of me. I pull my eyes from Roderick and back to the hand now hanging in my face before looking up at his face again.
He must see my confusion because he chuckles under his breath with a slight shake of his head.
“I’m Leo,” he says, and while his face is open and his smile kind, I hesitate to touch him. Nerves churn my stomach as I grip the straps of my bag tighter and try to swallow past the lump in my throat that I can’t explain.
“Leo.” Someone calls from across the office, pulling his attention. I let out a breath I wasn’t aware I was holding as he drops his hand before looking over his shoulder to whoever just called his name.
Trent steps up next to him a second later, and I feel some of my nerves settle as I turn to face him instead of Leo. I know the guys don’t like Trent, but I feel better with him standing here for some reason.
He has a few books in his arms that he promptly hands to Leo before he notices me.
“Hey, Jade.”
“Hi,” I answer back, and my voice sounds weak even to me.
His smile falls a little as he watches me, but before he can comment, I feel someone step up behind me, a hand resting on my shoulder.
I know without looking, it’s Roderick. I’m not sure how I know, but I do.
The moment he speaks, I settle further. My nerves disappear entirely, and my posture sags slightly as the tension leaves me.
He gives a small squeeze but doesn’t remove his hand, and I’m grateful for it.
I don’t let myself even begin to wonder why that is as I keep my focus on Trent and Leo in front of us.
No, thoughts like that can be dangerous.
“Leo, I wasn’t aware you would be attending here this year,” Roderick says.
Leo turns his attention to Roderick, still all smiles. Clearly, this isn’t their first encounter.
“Yeah, my mom is here for a while on business. She insisted I come with her so she could show me the ropes a bit, too. So, I figured I might as well kill two birds with one stone. If I keep pushing college, I’ll never get it done,” he says with an easygoing shrug.
I look back over my shoulder at Roderick for his reaction.
He nods but doesn't say anything in response to him. Instead, looking down at me. “This is Leo. He’s Jake and Amanda’s cousin,” he informs me, the disdain clear in his voice at the mention of them, and I can’t keep the frown off my face at their memory.
“Aww, come on, man,” Leo says in a playfully whiny voice that has me looking back at him. “If you introduce me like that to everyone, then nobody will like me,” he chuckles, but it sounds forced.
Maybe it’s because he’s right. I’m not sure how anyone could like Jake or Amanda, so he’s not winning any points with me, that’s for sure.
Roderick huffs behind me in a way that I’ve come to understand is his way of agreeing. It’s weird how much I already get them, and they get me.
“You're not wrong,” Hazel pipes up from beside Roderick with a chuckle. I had forgotten she was there, if I’m being honest, but I’m happy she is. For some reason I can’t explain, having another girl here comforts me.
Why the fuck is being around people so damn confusing. I feel like I don’t understand my reasoning anymore.