I'm sorry! I know the wait has been long, really long... but I've been very busy lately and when I wasn't busy writers block came. However, I will try to post more often now that I have a break for the holidays and can get myself situated again.
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The walk. Long and awkward, for me anyways, became even more awkward when we finally got to Reid's house. Jade has walked beside him as they talked and I walked a bit behind them. I still didn't know why she joined us on our walk, but after saying a small goodbye to Reid and watching him go into his house. I was going to find out.
Once he was inside and out of sight Jade looked at me. Tilting her head curiously, I looked at her confused until she suddenly grabbed my arm and dragged me away from Reid's house.
"Where do you live?" She asks as she let go of my arm, but stayed close.
"I'll just lead the way." I mumbled trying to ignore how her arm would rub against my own as we walked.
I stayed quiet as I led the way home, as I walked I occasionally glanced at her. She was staring down at her feet as we walked, the hood of her hoodie now hiding her face. I didn't question why she decided to now put the hood on, but with the way she walked I had to speak.
"So, why did you decide to walk with us?" I asked, soon realizing I caught her off guard as she flinched ever so slightly.
Recovering quickly she quietly answers, "Just felt like it." She shrugs as she answered my question before adding, "I've spoken to Reid a few times and after saving him from Kathrine then seeing you... guess I figured I could use the excuse to get to know the boy who stares at me in class."
I froze for a moment, but didn't speak back. Instead I looked away as I felt my ears burn. Lucky for me, Jade stayed quiet as well, but of course, it didn't last long.
"How come you couldn't drive yourself and Reid home?" She asks a bit hesitantly, I don't look at her, but I could tell she was looking at me. Not long later I felt her hand brush against mine before she hooked our arms together.
"When you have the towns sheriff as your dad, you don't get a lot of freedom — or any. He doesn't trust me and trust has to be earned like everything else. Before you ask, yes he loves me, but with how I'm his only kid and I'm currently the good child-"
"So you need to focus more on your grades rather than anything else to stay the good child." She cut off, "because if you get a car it'll count as more freedom than what your grades say and a car also makes your dad think that if you have more freedom then you'll grow defiant?"
I looked at Jade with a gaped mouth as she smiles up at me. Quickly shutting my mouth I mutter, "Lucky guess." Before we are consumed by the silence again.
She seemed to not take the silence well since she was staring down and pulling at her hoodies strings. Soon she looked up at me, "How about we play twenty questions?"
I hadn't expected her to speak, but soon nod as I say, "You first."
"How old are you?" She asks simply, most likely getting the easy questions out of the way first.
Either way, I answer, "I'm 18... and you?"
"17, I'm about to be 18 in a month or so though." She answers a bit quickly. She then looked like she was thinking as her brows furrowed and she bit her bottom lip before asking, "What's your favorite color?"
"Blue." I answer shortly, "Do you have any sibli-"
Before I could finish my question, Jade was pulled from beside me. My first instinct was to grab her, but I soon heard her giggle and stopped myself. Looking back I saw she was in the arms of a guy who looked a year or two older than me. He had on black combat boots, black pants a white shirt and a black leather jacket. I arched a brow at them as Jade soon looked like she remembered I was there as she looked at me and moved out of the guys arms.
"Matthew this is Johnny. Johnny this is Matthew." She introduced us. I only stayed quiet though as did Johnny. She noticed our silence and before I could react she grabbed my hand and pulled me closer to her while she did a type of spin. Ending us in a position where my arm was wrapped around her while her back was against my chest. Johnny's expression seemed to darken when she did that as I felt my ears burn.
"Is this a new play toy for Stella?" Johnny asked Jade which made me confused. Who's Stella?
"No," she said with a slight glare as she leaned more into my chest a bit protectively before saying, "Matthew say your full name." When I gave her a cautious look as she looked up at me, she gave me a look that read 'just say it'.
"Matthew Gale Jones?" I tried to state, but questioned more at the end as to why I was saying my full name.
"Oh." Johnny replied as he looked at me then back at Jade, "Well your dads looking for you."
Jade's expression faltered hearing that as her face turned blank before she asks, "Why?"
Johnny then shrugged, "He needs you for something and you need to be home now."
Jade stayed quiet then for a few moments before she nodded, "Ok, go back to your bike. I'll be there in a few minutes."
Johnny only nods before he turned and walked away while I was still confused. Jade sending my confusion moved away from me, but kept my hand in hers as her other hand zipped her hoodie open before she grabbed my phone from her crop top. I turned red since I had forgotten about where she had my phone and gladly took it back as I placed it in my back jean pocket.
"I'm guessing you have to go now?" I ask, my voice sounding more down than I wanted it too, but the good side was that it got her to smile a bit.
"I do, but I'll see you tomorrow."
Then her arms were wrapped around me, it took me a few moments before I hesitantly hugged back. After she pulled away and smiled. I returned it as I felt her let go of my hand before walking backwards towards Johnny and his bike before she turned and ran.
Turning I then take the rest of the walk alone with my guard up for just in case.
