Chapter Text
The first thing I noticed was how soft Jade’s lips were. Like she’d used all the chapstick in the world, drank every single drop of water, and it had all gone to her lips. She tasted like her afternoon energy drink, a mix of peach and mango and caffeine that sent a jolt when it made contact with my taste buds. Her wrist, where I’d gripped in my moment of panic, was small and warm in my hand, the subtle raise of her treble clef tattoo creating a ridge atop her vein-
“Ah-hem.” I heard a boy’s loud cough, snapping me out of my brief reverie. It took me a second to register where I was, with who, and what I was doing…
“Oh!” I jumped back, breaking the kiss a little too violently, causing Jade to stumble back after being held up by my hand grabbing her wrist. I whirled my head around in fear, in shock, looking for an out. But there was none. It was only Graydon standing in front of me, his eyes widened, his expression a mixture of disgust and disbelief.
Then the expression changed to humor, and he started to laugh. And laugh. He nearly fell over, bracing himself in the doorway. “You…you honestly think…I’m gonna believe…” he managed breathlessly, unable to control his laughter, “…that you…are…no.” He threw his head back and laughed some more.
I rolled my eyes. That reaction certainly pulled me back to what was going on. I crossed my arms and squared my shoulders, looking at him more confidently. “You’d better believe it. It’s true.”
“It is not,” Graydon spat out, catching his breath. “You’re just doing it to get me off your back. Not gonna happen, babe.”
I opened my mouth to say something. I hated that word. Hated that pet name. And I would’ve told him off, except-
“It’s true,” Jade said, stepping in front of me and looking at Graydon with that same wild look I’d seen before. “We are seeing each other.”
My mouth just stayed open.
Graydon scoffed. “Yeah, well, I still don’t believe it. But…” he shrugged his shoulders. “This could be fun. I’m back now, and I have a friend who goes to school here. So whenever you guys want to meet up, I expect to believe it. Convince me, and I’ll leave you alone. But I don’t think you can, K. I love you, and you still love me, I know it. We’ll see what happens in the end.”
I glared at him. I’d had enough. “Get out.”
He held up his hands, winked, and slammed the door.
I let out a huge exhale and whirled around, plopping myself on the nearest couch. I felt the spot next to me sink.
“If you never want to see me again, I would not blame you.”
Jade put her hand on my knee. “That would be ridiculous. We’re dating now.”
I sat up almost too quickly, the room blurred for a moment. “What?”
Jade cleared her throat. “I mean…fake dating. We’re putting on a show for Graydon now.”
I shook my head and laughed slightly. “No. I can’t. No way.”
“At this point, Kit, I don’t really think you have a choice. Unless you want to marry the guy, he’s never going to go away.”
I exhaled and laid back on the couch, closing my eyes. Despite what I wanted, Jade was right. If Graydon hadn’t given up the entire time he was away, he certainly wouldn’t give up now that he was back. And I wanted freedom. To make my own choices. Graydon couldn’t do that for me. The only way out was through. I had to do this.
“Fine,” I said.
I opened my eyes slightly and turned my head to look at her. “I’m sorry I put you in this situation.”
Jade leaned back on the couch, too, and turned to look at me. Her smile was soft, her eyes deep as she replied, “It’s okay. I’d do anything for you. You’re my best friend.”