"Hope you came just in time" Mark greeted me as I walked through the doors to the event. "I would like you to meet one of our greatest friends, Daniel Hossler"
"Jadens brother" I accepted the handshake from Daniel.
Daniel nodded "We run two separate gangs."
"And why's that?" I interrogate him.
"I own my mothers and he owns his father" he gave me a innocent smile
"Jaden mother is-"
"We have different mothers." He interrupted "Same father."
I said goodbye to Daniel and continued meeting everyone else. Mark introduced me to every single person in the place. So many names to remember.
We would go in a circle around the place. Daniel just happened to be at every turn, he was right there with his eyes on me.
"You always find your way back to me" he smiled
"Or maybe you're just everywhere" I said with a little annoyance in my voice.
He steps forward with his glass of champagne "So, Hope Petrova, you're gonna be the new leader of the black dragons?"
"I am" I said the bare minimum.
He scanned my body up and down "I see you got your first tattoo. You'll get your other one when you become leader."
"So, where's Jaden?" I changed the conversation to his brother to upset him and hopefully make him not wanna talk to me again.
"He isn't your friend. I am" he answered
I rolled my eyes and crossed my arms "Says who? You?" I laughed
"You can only have one Hossler brother and right now, you have me."
I stepped forward "Only one? With both we could be stronger."
"We're already strong" He tightened his body.
"Jaden is stronger than you Daniel. We would be better off with the other Hossler"
He rolled his eyes "You think that now but what are you gonna do when he breaks your little heart?"
"You're insane Daniel." I laughed then walked away from him.
I spend an hour walking around talking to anyone who wanted to talk.
The bar area was my best friend the entire night.
"Hi" someone stood beside me "I'm Alex" he reached his hand out to meet mine.
I accepted his hand and smiled "Hope"
"Can I get you a drink?" He asked
"I would like that, thank you"
He ordered me another margarita. I said thank you again and took a drink.
"I seen you talking with Daniel, didn't look like it ended well" he started off the conversation.
"It's about him and his brother. I'm close with Jaden but my father is close with Daniel, and Daniel says we can only have one Hossler"
Alex laughs with a nod as he takes another drink of his champagne "Sounds about right" he laughed again "Daniel and Jaden have always hated each other"
"But why?" I got more interested in the conversation.
"Daniel always wanted to run their father gang but he gave it to Jaden instead and he's been jealous ever since. He hated his mother gang, said it was weak."
"So he's jealous that Jaden is stronger than him?" I asked
Alex shook his head no "Daniel hates his brother. He would murder Jaden just to take over the gang, be careful messing with the Hossler brothers."
I look at my dad that was speaking with Daniel in the middle of the ballroom.
"How did he get an alliance with my dad instead of Jaden?" I asked
"Never figured that part of the story out." He laughed
We stood there and talked the rest of the night. He was constantly supplying my margarita which made me not wanna leave the conversation.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Next Morning
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Hey hope" Zoey said as I walked over to them in front of the school.
"Hey" I smiled "Have you guys seen Jaden?" I asked
Zoey stayed silent. I saw a small eye roll from come her but ignored it, thinking she just had a bad morning.
"He's over there" Rose answered for me.
"Thanks, I'll see you guys in first period" I smiled and walked away from them and over to Jaden.
I wrapped my arms around him from behind. He turned to me but didn't say anything.
"Hi" I said with a uncertain look "Is everything okay?"
"Yeah" he had no expression change "You coming this weekend?"
"You know I wouldn't miss it" I smiled
He nodded then just walked away. Not even a single kiss before we departed from each other.
"This will be another partner assignment" Mr Adam walked back and forth in the front of the classroom "You are able to choose your own-"
"Can I be with Jaden?" Zoey raised her hand with a eager smile.
Mr Adam gave her the okay. She looked back at Jaden and winked at him before turning to me with a smug look on her face.
We got with our partners. I started walking towards Zoey and Jaden when Rose grabbed me
"What are you doing?" She asked
"I'm going to talk to Zoey." I answered
I loosened my arm from her grip and walked over to Zoey. I asked to speak with her in private. She said okay and followed me to the other side of the classroom.
"What the hell" I said "why the hell do you wanna be Jaden partner?"
"I mean he gives you shit for sex, can't I want some of that?" He batted her eyes at me
"What are you talking about? Jaden would never go for you."
She laughed and took a single step closer "Maybe, but Nathan sure did"
She walked back towards Jaden. I stared at her as she rejoined him and Rose stood beside me.
"What did she mean by that?" I asked "Nathan did?"
"It means nothing Hope." Rose answered "You know Zoey gets like this sometimes"
"Right" I pretended to shake it off but it still stuck on my mind for the rest of the day.
