11. JACE

789 Words
Jace smiled brightly as he strolled over to his house, hands in his pockets. Isabelle was unlike any girl he’d ever met. She was insanely beautiful and funny true, but there was also darkness inside her. It was such a contrast to her light appearance, that it had him wanting to connect with her, and in more than just a physical way. There was such a fragility to her that he wanted to protect her with his heart and body and protect her from anything that could cause harm. He grinned broader - that’s gotta be a first. He thought about the bruises on her skin, and his smile disappeared. Jason. The name she had choked on last night. He had done this to her - Jace was sure of it. He felt his palms curl into fists, and the urge to hit something, hard, overtook him. Whoever that douche was, he’d hurt and damaged her in ways Jace wasn’t even sure he could fully understand. Jace winced as he remembered the nights his Dad had come home late, smelling like cheap beer, and looking like he was part of a fight club. He knew better than anyone how deep emotional bruises could go, and how easily they became scars that would never fully heal. The last few years hadn’t been full of his finest moments, and he knew he’d made so many mistakes and hurt a lot of good people, because he felt too damaged and unworthy of anyone’s love. On more than one occasion, he had heard his own twin sister crying on the phone to Matt about how worried she was about him, and begging Matt to find a way to fix it. Which was laughable, since Jace didn’t think there was anything that could be done. “Jace.” He looked up and found her waiting for him at the front of his house. “What do you want, Kimberley?” he asked, in exasperation. She flinched at his tone. “Last night sucked.” “Last night sucked?” He repeated. “Right? Let’s just forget it happened.” “Is that your idea of an apology?” Her dark eyes narrowed at him, and she instantly went on the attack. “What the hell is your problem?” Jace shrugged past her, aiming for the front door and hoping she would understand the message, and leave him alone this time. He really didn’t want another repeat of the “Jace and Kimberley Show” for the whole neighbourhood to see. Sharp nails dug into his arm, and he yanked his hand away in reflex as she rounded on him. “You don’t get to just walk away from me,” she hissed at him, grabbing his arm again with her talons until she broke the skin. He wrenched his arm away, and felt wetness beneath his palm. He could not believe the crazy b***h had actually drawn blood. “I’d f*****g run if I could,” he snarled, the pain triggering his rage. “Jace.” When she spoke, there was a sad desperation and vulnerability he’d rarely witnessed in her. “I don’t want it to be like this.” She hung her head, her sheet of red hair concealing her face. Was she actually going to cry? His little wildcat who never showed weakness? No! Not his wildcat - not anymore. “What do you want, Kimberley?” “I want to go back to how it was between us. I hate that we barely even acknowledge each other, and that you won’t look me in the eye. Can we just forget the past few months? Can we just pretend it never happened?” He met her eyes now, and instantly memories flashed through his head. Kimberley passed out on the road, bubbles foaming at the sides of her mouth. Watching her half naked and dancing with one of his old mates. Feeling a spark of pain across his cheek as she raked her nails down his face, and then cooed over the guy he had punched for slapping her. The look in her eyes when she told him he was too broken for anyone to love, and she deserved someone better. The irrational demon he constantly fought against roared to life again, as the memories stung him. He thought he’d moved past this, had accepted everything that had happened, and made peace with it. It infuriated him that she still held the power to hurt him, even months down the track. He locked down on his anger and swiftly swept into the front entrance, shutting the door in her face and locking it, the sound of her curses following him.
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