27. JACE

1387 Words
Jace ran like he was being chased. His heart was pounding as he rushed past his bewildered Mum and slid into his room, kicking the door shut behind him. With hands shaking from adrenaline, he ripped open his curtains so he had a clear view of Isabelle’s room. He wanted to stand on his balcony and loom across like her own little watch dog but even he knew that was crossing the creepy stalker line. She obviously had a lot of history with the guy so Jace was willing to give her a bit of room, but no more than a bit. What the hell had happened between Isabelle and that guy? It certainly wasn’t the kind of reunion you’d expect to have with a best friend. He felt his chest squeeze and then harden as his mind began to whirl. It had something to do with that Jason douche, he just knew it. Was Tate on his side and trying to force Isabelle to come back and face him? Did he believe it was Isabelle’s fault she had been beaten so brutally? A surge of anger over took him and he grabbed the closest thing to him, his iPod, and threw it across the room in a rage. It took him a few moments before his breathing became almost normal again, with logic beginning to return. No, from the little Isabelle had told him it wasn’t likely that Tate would throw her to the wolves like that. He sees through me completely and I’m not ready to be that vulnerable yet. The pieces started to fall into place. He must not know. Isabelle must have shut Tate out after whatever had happened, forcing him to come here in a desperate bid to learn the truth. It made the most sense, but it didn’t make Jace feel any better about the guy. He didn’t like the way Tate had looked him over like he was a bug he was trying not to squish, and he had hated the way he’d looked at Isabelle. Maybe something had happened between the two of them, just like something had nearly happened with him and Isabelle and she’d run from it? Just the thought of her reaching out to touch that guy had Jace fuelled with rage. “HE DID WHAT?” Jace jumped at the harsh tone, rushing outside, fully prepared to jump across if necessary. “Calm down,” Isabelle replied with a sob. “Tate, please calm down, my parents are going to hear you.” “Maybe they should hear me, I can’t believe you haven’t said anything!” “And this is exactly why! I’m not going to have this conversation with you if you can’t keep your voice down,” she told him in a wavering voice. “Come out to the balcony,” Tate told her tersely. Shit! Jace panicked and dove behind his couch out of their eye sight, praying he didn’t get caught crouching down here like a creep. He could only hope they didn’t see his feet sticking out. “I can’t believe you didn’t tell me,” Tate said in a hoarse voice. “I begged you to talk to me.” “That would have made it too real,” Isabelle whispered. “And I just wanted to forget.” “You need to go to the police, that bastard needs to fry for what he’s done!” “No!” Isabelle cried out desperately. “Tate, this is exactly why I didn’t tell you. No police, OK? They would make me relive it and there would be little to be done anyway. He didn’t actually…” She broke off, a sob breaking through. Jace heard a whisper of clothing which must be Tate moving forward to console her. “He would have,” he said softly. “And I will kill him for even trying.” “Tate, just please leave it alone.” “I can’t,” was the broken reply. “You’re my favourite person in the whole world, and he’s broken something in you that turned you against yourself and everyone who loves you. I don’t think I can live with myself if I don’t make him pay for what he’s done.” Jace felt uncomfortable even hearing this exchange, like he was betraying Isabelle’s trust just by being here. He glanced back behind him and sighed. No way of getting back inside without being in their view so it looked like he was stuck here. “Tate, you’re my best friend. I know I’ve been horrible to you the past few weeks and I am so sorry, but you need to listen to me, OK? If you tell anyone, or do anything about this I will never forgive you. You will never hear from me again and all our years together will be for nothing.” Her voice was cracked from crying but very firm. “I won’t go to the police,” Tate replied after a moment. “But I can’t guarantee I won’t hurt him. It’s not like he’s going to tell people why, so he’ll probably even make up some excuse for me.” Isabelle sighed deeply. “I’d really rather you didn’t.” “And I would rather have had you trust me enough with this, but this is where we’re at.” There was a long pause, so long that Jace wasn’t even sure if they were still out there. “I love you,” he told her quietly. “Don’t ever shut me out like that again.” Jace’s heart pounded so loud and painfully at that moment that he wasn’t sure he could concentrate on Isabelle’s reply. “I love you too,” she replied but her tone was much lighter than Tate’s. “And I really am sorry.” “I know you are. I guess I can understand why you didn’t tell me.” Tate let out a long breath. “So, how are you settling in anyway?” “It’s been surprisingly easy,” she replied, her voice a little muffled. Were they pressed against each other? “Apart from getting punched in the face.” “What?” Tate yelled, making even Jace jump. “Did that boy next door…?” “No!” Isabelle insisted with conviction. “Jace would never hurt me.” Damn right he wouldn’t. “It was his ex-girlfriend,” she admitted grudgingly. “I see. And she was hitting you because?” “Jace has been really sweet and welcoming,” Isabelle said, and there was no denying the warmth in her tone. “I guess she didn’t like that.” “Huh. And who is this guy anyway?” Yep, definitely wasn’t a fan of Jace. He could hear the venom in Tate’s tone. “A complication,” Isabelle replied shyly. “So you like him?” Tate asked bluntly. Jace moved as close as he could to the couch, not wanting to miss a word. “He thinks I’m beautiful,” she whispered. “You are beautiful,” Tate said flatly. “He makes me feel beautiful, Tate.” There was another long pause and Jace could feel the awkwardness in the air. “I’m so glad you came,” Isabelle said finally. “How long are you here for?” “Just the five days until school goes back,” he replied. “You don’t know how happy I am to see you,” she told him fervently. “You can come and experience this place with me and then I won’t feel like I’m the outsider.” “You would want that?” Tate asked. “Me to come and intrude on your new world?” “Tate,” Isabelle admonished. “You are my world, OK? Did you bring your boardies? There’s a pool party on tonight and you have to come…” Her voice faded away as they headed back inside and Jace felt his body go limp. He let himself slide into view and just lay on the floor, his mind filled with so much new information he had no idea what to do with it all. “What are you doing down there?” Maia’s face appeared above him.
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