Jace: You think Ms. Carver knows she missed half her mustache shaving this morning?

Alexis: That's so mean!

A small giggle sounds from across the room. I glance over to where Alexis is seated, expertly hiding her phone in her lap and failing miserably at hiding her laughter.

Jace: It's not mean. I'm sure there's a guy out there who loves rubbing mustaches with his girlfriend.

She looks up and catches me watching her, biting down on that full bottom lip while she tries to fight back another giggle.

We've been texting a lot since yesterday. She told me she's worried about how her friends will react to us, so I've been trying to take her mind off of it.

Personally, I couldn't care less what her friends think, but I don't want her stressing it.

I already know Caleb's gonna be pissed but I don't know Marcel or Ava well enough to guess what they'll do. Shit, I still don't know what will happen. The guys and I had to talk with my uncle about what went down at the party, so we were late to school. Would've been better if we had talked to him last night but he had gone on patrol with a few others.

Fifteen minutes after the bell for first period rang, I walked into class and received a small smile from Lex. I had changed a few of my classes last week when Alexis was trying to dodge me. May sound crazy but I was determined to make her face me. For most, that would be hard to pull off, but the vice-principal goes way back with my uncle. He's even come by the barn a few times to have a drink. All I had to do was name drop, and it was a done deal.

When Lexi finally agreed to be friends yesterday, I manned up and told her right away. Figured it was better than surprising her with the news when I walked into her class.

"Is this what you meant at Calebs? That whole thing about how I was gonna be seeing more of you starting this week?" she asked with that spicy fucking attitude that drives me crazy.

I was honest with her. Told her I was now in her English, History, Art, and Home Ec class.

She chewed on the information for a minute before shrugging and saying, "Alright. I can live with that."

I was fucking stunned. I thought for sure she'd flip her lid, and I'd have to spend the rest of the week getting on her good side again. Hell, I was prepared for it, but her accepting it so easily blew me away.

I can't figure out where I stand with her. I've never had such a hard fucking time getting a girl to loosen up to me. But I guess after what I put her through, I deserve it. Doesn't mean I'm gonna give up though, and from the looks of things, I'm doing better than I expected.

The school day's already half over, with lunch right around the corner. Lexi tosses her phone back in her bag and stares at the clock, waiting for the final minutes to pass by so we can get out of History class. As for me, I'm soaking up this time sketching the same set of hazel eyes I've drawn out a million times before. The same ones peering out from my arm.

I'm dying for the chance to tell Lex about the different designs on my skin, but that one is gonna be hard to explain.

When the bell finally does ring, I collect what little I have and cross the room to Lexi's desk before she can even grab her books.

"You know, it's against school rules to text during class."

"Ha!" Lexi flips her hair over her shoulder, slipping her purse onto the other arm. "Since when do you follow rules?"

"Fair enough."

She stands up, gracing me with her gaze and perfect smile. "You ready for lunch?"

"Are you?"

"As ready as I'll ever be." She shrugs, her eyes filling with anxiety as she tightens the grip on the strap of her bag.

Good going, jackass.

Walking side by side, we leave class only for me to hit the breaks in the hall.

"Damn it; I gotta grab some papers from Ms. Carver."

Lex nods. "Okay.".

She stands completely still, chewing on the inside of her cheek like she's waiting for me to do something. The urge to wrap my arms around her and feel her against me is hard to deny. But I move, and she backs away, that's just gonna make shit weird.

I fucking hate these awkward moments. I just wanna grab her and have shit be the way they used to be. It may have been two years ago, but to me, it still feels like it was just yesterday. Forgetting all the random hookups between then and now, of course. All of those were just my stupid way of trying to get her out of my head.

A lot of good that did.

I tip my head in the direction of the main hall. "Meet me at the lockers?"

"Yeah," she agrees and I swear she looks disappointed, but that could be wishful thinking. "I'll see you there."

It takes Ms. Carver a minute to get the papers I need, the one downfall of switching classes, but the second she hands them over, I jet out the door. I waste no time traveling through the crowded halls and out to the main lobby where our locker is.

Over the crowd of bodies, I see Lexi's long brown hair. She flips it over her shoulder as she plays with her lock, her facing pinching with frustration. Caleb shows up at her side like a lost puppy and places his hands on hers, offering to 'help.'

It takes everything I have not to push through everyone in the hall and intervene.

"Aye, man. You alright?"

I hadn't even noticed Wilder walking beside me, not that, that's surprising. Dudes a fucking ninja when he wants to be.

"Yeah. I'm fine." I nod, struggling to walk at a decent pace.

"Bullshit," he coughs into his fist before shrugging with an innocent smile. "Sorry. Allergies."

I crack a smile. It's hard not to when your best friend's a fucking nutcase.

Wild punches my shoulder. "See, there you go. No need to get all riled up and smash someone's face in at school." His eyes follow my line of sight. "Especially if the one you're thinking of beating the shit out of is your new hot friend's best friend."

Damn it. Why does he have to always come out with these random moments of wisdom? No one would ever expect it from him, but it happens once in a while, and he's right. If I touch Caleb, Lexi will never forgive me.

Play nice, hot head.

We finally make it to the lockers. Lexi doesn't notice right away, but Caleb sure as hell does. His whole body tenses up like he's ready for a fight while a snarl twists his all American boy next door face.

If only people knew.

"Don't start your shirt Jace. Just leave Lex alone." He lifts his head high and puffs out his chest like some inflated knight in shining armor.

Wilder snorts back a laugh, making it hard for me to fight back one of my own. But I don't have to say shit, not when Lexi looks from Caleb to me and smiles. She pats Caleb's shoulder and shakes her head.

"It's fine, Caleb. Really."

The dumbass deflates like she just popped him with a needle. "What do you mean?"

She takes a deep breath but steps towards me, making it clear for anyone to see that she's not scared of being close to me anymore.

"Jace and I are...cool." She looks over her shoulder at me and smiles. "We're trying to be friends. Get past the old shit."

"What the fuck?" Caleb steps back like he's been slapped.

This might just be one of the best moments of my life. The look on his face is priceless, as everything she said starts to sink in. His eyes shoot to me with so much hatred, the fucker would burn me alive right now with one look if he could.

That's right, asshole. She chose me. Again.

The grin that forms on my face is proud as fuck, and irritates him even more.

People passing by in the hall start to stare, the tension forming around us becoming palpable to everyone. From the corner of my eye, I see Kade and Travis across the hall, slowly making their way over. Behind Lexi and Caleb, Marcel and Ava approach too.

Great, everyone's coming to the party—perfect time to get this shit out in the open.

"What's going on?" Marcel nods at Lex, keeping his eyes locked on Caleb like he might blow at any second.

Lexi tries to answer, but Caleb beats her to it.

"Lex says she and Jace are friends now," he sneers, practically spitting the words.

"You got a problem with that?" Kade interrupts, breaking through the crowd with Travis behind him.

Kade looks calm as hell, but I know it's a mask, a facade he wears well when looking over a situation. It's one of the things that makes him a beast in a fight, being able to compose himself and look at all his options.

Marcel glances at me for a second and then at the pleading look in Lexi's eyes before he shakes his head and pats Caleb on the back. "Look, man, relax. If this is what Lex wants, then be cool." He turns to me and holds out a hand. "A friend of Lexi's is a friend of mine."

His eyes flick from me to his hand, and I get what he's doing right away. Marcel seems levelheaded, and this is his way of making a truce, building a bridge between Lexi's world and mine. He's being a good example, hoping the others will follow.

I didn't know him well back in the day; I just knew he and Lexi considered each other family, which was good enough for me. Now I'm starting to get why Lex looks up to him so much.

I take his hand, and we pull in, bumping shoulders and slapping each other on the back. When we let go, he turns to Caleb and nods.

"See? All good."

"Whatever. This is fucking bullshit." Caleb shoots me one last dirty look before turning around and walking off like a damn two-year-old.

"I'll go with him. Make sure he's okay," Ava says and follows after him.

Lex releases a deep breath like she's been holding it in this whole time. Every muscle in her body is stiff as she watches Caleb disappear.

Screw the awkward 'what if's?' Caleb's reaction is getting to her so I do the only thing I can think of and place a reassuring hand on her lower back. She tenses for barely a second before relaxing against my touch. With each circle I trace on the small of her back, she leans closer to me. I'm not even sure she realizes she's doing it, but I'll be damned if it doesn't feel satisfying.

"Well, that could've gone better." Wilder quips from behind me.

"Really?" Kade looks over at him and shakes his head.

Marcel ignores the loudmouth and offers Lexi a reassuring smile. "He'll get over it. Just give him some time."

"I hope you're right." She sounds so defeated. "Thanks for everything, though."

"Of course." Marcel shrugs. "What are big brothers for?"

"Seriously, thanks, man." I tip my head to him.

He looks at me with a seriousness that wasn't there before. "I'll do anything for Lex. Whether it's playing peacekeeper or going after some jackass for breaking her heart." He casually shrugs. "Just keep that in mind."

Considering I'm not planning on breaking her heart, I'm not worried.

I nod. "Sounds good to me."

"Then we're good." He flashes a wide smile. "Now let's go get some lunch, I'm starving."

"Dude, me too!" Wilder shoves off the lockers like an excited little kid.

Travis rolls his eyes before looking at me. "Guess it's a good thing you didn't tell him she stayed at your place on Saturday."

Dumbass!

Marcel stops in his tracks and looks at Lexi with a questioning raise of his eyebrow.

She lifts a hand up to stop anything he might say. "It's a long story."

"Okay." He nods. "You can tell me about it later, but..." he cringes. "Let's not tell Caleb. Not now."

"Good idea." Lex agrees.

Marcel turns to me and juts his chin in Travis's direction. "He must be the Ava of your group, huh?"

"Yeah," I nod. "Huge fucking mouth."

**** ***** ***** ******

In the cafeteria, Lex and Marcel decide to sit with us since Ava and Caleb haven't returned. The only one who seems bothered by their absence is Lex. Every so often she looks around, scanning the room and sighing when she doesn't see any trace of them.

Marcel, on the other hand, seems relaxed as hell, talking with the rest of us like we're old friends.

"If you got the equipment, how come you're not working any parties yet?" Travis asks Marcel.

Marcel shakes his head. "I'm not quite ready yet. I've only been DJing at home but I'm hoping I'll have everything down before Lexi's birthday. Ain't no way I'm gonna let someone else work that party." He nudges Lex with his elbow. "Right, sis?"

Lex nods, only half listening as her eyes watch the room. "Yeah...right."

I feel like a dumbass. Of course her birthday's coming up, it's the day after mine. I don't know how the hell I could forget something like that but maybe I can use this to my benefit. If things go as well as I plan, I could do something special for her. Something that'll take her breath away and have her come running back to me.

"You two are brother and sister?" Wild asks, looking confused as shit while his eyes bounce between Marcel and Lex.

Marcel smiles wide. "Well, you see Lexi's adop..."

"Don't believe his shit," Lexi interrupts, finally tearing her eyes away from the rest of the room. "We're just close friends."

"Oh." Wilder nods. "That's like Josie. She's practically family."

"Yeah, hopefully you'll get a chance to meet her soon," I tell Lex before a flash of red appears by my side.

"Did someone say my name?"

We all turn to find Jo standing there with her hand on her hip like she's posing for a picture. Her eyes light up as she flashes a aren't-you happy-to-see-me smile.

"Speak of the devil," Travis grumbles before getting up and walking away.

Josie watches him leave before taking a seat on the top of the table across from Kade. "What's up his ass today?"

"What isn't?" I shoot back.

Kade leans forward, resting on his elbows. "What are you doing here, Jo? Don't the Juniors have lunch next period?"

"I wanted to come see my boys." She rolls her eyes.

"So, you're skipping?" Kade questions further.

Jo gives him a pointed look before twirling some keychain with a plack on it around her finger. "Don't worry, Dad, I have a bathroom pass."

A twisted smile fills Kade's face. "Do it again."

"Do what?" Josie leans away, her face pinching together with confusion.

Kade's smile grows wider. "Call me Daddy."

Jo's mouth falls open. "Oh, you'd like that wouldn't you?"

He leans back and shrugs, looking smug as hell while Josie looks like she's ready to claw his eyes out. Her body stiffness, preparing to attack.

"Alright. Break it up." I stand up and grab Jo off the table, throwing her over my shoulder before setting her ass down in a chair. She could still get to him if she wanted, but at least now there's a bit more space between them.

Wilder shakes his head and shoves a fry in his mouth. "You two need to fuck already."

Jo throws her keychain at his back. He smacks her in the head with a fry.

When I sit back down next to Lexi, I meet her curious gaze. She doesn't say anything but I know she's got questions filling that pretty head of hers as she watches Jo and the guys.

I drape my arm over the back of her chair and nod towards Jo. "Aye, Josie, come here."

Jo gets up fast, sending her chair flying back and throws one of Wild's fries at Kade. He catches it in his mouth and winks.

It doesn't take Jo long to notice Lexi, her eyes shooting open wide with surprise as she gets closer.

"Jo, I want you to meet Lexi. Lexi, this is Josie." I point between the two of them. "And that's Marcel." I nod over next to Lex.

Marcel waves and Jo waves back but her full attention is on Lexi.

"Hi." She sits on the tabletop again. "It's nice to finally meet you."

"Um..." Lex looks startled, taking in Jo with her fiery hair, bright red lipstick, cut off jean shorts and thigh-high boots. "You too."

Jo crosses her legs and smiles. "Jace talks about you all the time. I swear, I feel like I already know you."

Lex cuts me a suspicious look while Josie continues signing my death warrant.

"He told me about the shit he pulled his first day here, and hon, I am so sorry. I would've slapped him for you." Jo looks at me. "You were a jackass. You and Kade need professional help."

Lexi snorts but quickly tries to cover it up.

"But at least he says nice shit too, like how beaut..."

"Jo!" My eyes practically jump out of my head.

Her ruby red lips spread wide into a smile worthy of the Cheshire cat.

"Oh!" Wilder calls across the table, pointing at Josie. "Remember when he told us about that time they went skinning dipping, and he stole Lexi's clothes!"

Jo's lips curl in, doing her damndest not to laugh.

Lexi turns to look at me, her mouth hanging open in shock before her lips pull into a mischievous smile. "Oh did he now?" She looks at Jo and Wild. "Did Jace also tell you guys about the time he drunk dialed me and left a voicemail describing all the dirty things he wanted to do, only to find out the next day he had really called his uncle?"

The entire table goes quiet for all of two seconds before everyone busts out laughing.

Lex leans back in her chair and crosses her arms, pretty fucking proud of herself.

I narrow my eyes at her. "Well played, sweetheart."

"Oh...my...God," Josie squeals between fits of laughter, clapping her hands dramatically. "I have to ask Rob about this!"

"No, you really don't." I shake my head.

With a sly smile of his own, Kade peers down the table at us. "I think I might've heard that voicemail."

I look at him sideways. "No!"

"Didn't you say something about..."Kade scratches his head. "Wanting to lick her from head to toe and make her scream?"

I throw my head back and groan. "I don't fucking know. I was wasted."

"All I know is I didn't get to hear it." Lex shrugs, completely fucking proud of herself. "Wish I did though. Sounds like some hot stuff."

"Yes!" Josie claps again and points a sharp fingernail at Lexi. "I like you. You'll fit in perfectly. We gotta bring you to the barn some time."

Lex cocks her head to the side. "The what?"

All humor fades from my body. I shoot Josie a warning glare that sobers her laughter.

"Um," Jo struggles to find the words.

Fuck.

"Just my uncle's place." My eyes drift from Jo to Lexi. "We hang there sometimes with his buddies. Throw parties once in a while. That kinda shit."

Lex nods. "Oh, okay."

"Well, it's probably time you get back to class, huh Jo?"

Josie jumps off the table, straightening out her shirt. "Yeah. Why don't you walk me out, Jace."

I nod and tell Lex I'll be right back before walking out to the hall with Josie. She pauses just outside the cafeteria door and looks back at the table. Wild's making Lexi laugh while Marcel and Kade are talking among themselves. Seeing them all click like that makes something inside me relax.

"You're right, Jace." Jo nods. "She's gorgeous, smart, and knows how to put you in your place." She looks over her shoulder at me. "But if you wanna keep her around, you're gonna have to tell her about the Guardians eventually."

My pulse races at that thought. "I know...I will. Eventually."

"Don't lose her this time. I don't think any of us could bear to see you that messed up again."

Josie's words hit me hard as she walks away.

I know I was pretty messed up after breaking up with Lex, but I didn't think anyone noticed. Shit, even I tried not to notice. Guess that kind of hell is harder to hide than I thought.

I prepare to go back into the cafeteria, a deep sigh draining from my lunges. Lexi's laughing catches my attention, and I can't help the smile that takes hold of me.

"So, who are the Guardians?"

My jaw sets as I turn around to see Caleb leaning against the wall. Fake confidence radiates off of him like a foul smell. With a sneer threatening to pull across his face, his razor-sharp stare waits for my reaction.

"What was that?" I ask, holding my ground, ready for whatever the hell he's come to say.

"That chick, she said something about Guardians." He nods down the hall before his eyes briefly take Lexi in through the doors. "Is there something Lex needs to know?"

With a smirk, I fight the urge to put this fucker in his place. Caleb has no idea what the hell he's messing with, and he can thank Lexi that he most likely never will.

"That's not really your concern, Caleb."

His mask slips, pure hatred blazing to life as he pushes off the wall. "Lexi is my concern. So, if..."

"Lexi's your friend," I correct. "That's it. What's between me and her is gonna stay that way. You don't need to fucking worry about it."

A snarl rips through that boy-next-door facade. "You got some fucking balls coming here and thinking you can just jump right back into Lexi's life. Like you two will just pick up where you left off. Are you that fucking delusional?"

"I'm delusional?" I can't hold back the short bark of laughter that pushes its way from my throat. "Who's the dipshit that's been stuck in the friend zone for twelve years and still thinks he has a chance? You're her buddy, her sidekick. She'll never see you as anything more than that."

Advancing closer, I can't help but taunt him. It's too easy not to.

"At least I know what it's like to be with Alexis. I've had her in my bed, heard her scream my name, and still had her begging for more. I know what it's like to have her look at me like there's no one else she'd rather be with. I'm the one who called her 'mine' and I will again 'cause at the end of the day, you and I both know one thing. Lexi could never say no to me for long."

Caleb's seething. His face boiling red while his fists clench by his sides.

Everything I said was the complete fucking truth, and that's what digs at him. That's the shit that keeps him awake at night. No matter how much time has passed, he'll never get over the fact that she chose me, and I'll never get tired of throwing it in his face.

"Some friend you were," Caleb spits.

It's all he has. The last thing he thinks will get to me. Too bad for him, I got over that shit a long fucking time ago.

I step back, shaking my head. "Don't give me that shit, Walker."

"We had a deal!"

"Get over it! We were fucking kids!"

"Fuck that shit!" He jabs a hand towards the table where Lex and the others are sitting. "You think your boys would still be loyal to you if they knew what kind of friend you are? We swore Jace, neither one of us was gonna go after her!"

"I didn't go after her!" I snap. "She came to me on her own. She made her choice, and I wasn't gonna throw that away. You would've done the same fucking thing."

He shakes his head. "No. I don't betray the people I consider family."

"Right." I nod, biting my tongue. "Then what do you call what you did?"

A small hint of guilt flashes in his eyes before he shakes it off, his holier-than-thou anger returning. "You stabbed me in the back to be with Lexi and then you just fucked her over. There was no more reason for us to be friends anymore."

"You picked sides."

It doesn't bother me anymore. Sometimes people just stop being friends. It's life. It just irks me that he wants to paint me as the asshole when we both messed shit up. And yeah, maybe I'm holding onto a little fucking resentment of my own.

While I was trying to move on and forget Alexis, he got to stay by her side. Using that time to get to her. Not that it seems to be working out for him, but they're close and he could try to use that to fuck shit up for me.

'Try' being the main word there.

"It is what it is." Caleb shrugs. "But it started with you. So, you only have yourself to blame."

"Get off your fucking high horse, Caleb, and drop the backstabbing bullshit. Especially when that knife twists both ways. You wanna act like you're better than me now?"

His smirk is all the answer I need.

"Go for it." I jut my chin and square my shoulders. "You can think I'm trash all you fucking want. Doesn't change the fact that Lexi doesn't agree with you."

That smirk drops quick, along with all of Caleb's false bravado. I wait for him to say something else, but he's got nothing. All he can do is glare like a pissed off dog on a chain, unable to make a move.

With a taunting laugh, I stop wasting my time and leave his sorry ass in the hall. I got better places to be, like next to Alexis. 

💋____________________________________💋

Another chapter in Jace's POV! I know he doesn't get that many but hopefully y'all enjoy them anyway.

So, did you finally get some answers about the feud between Jace and Caleb? What do you think about their argument and the information revealed? Do you think Caleb will let things go? Does any of this change your opinion of either Jace or Caleb?

I have to say, I feel like this chapter might be missing something. Not sure what yet but maybe one of you can figure it out. I'll try and go over it again soon.

Let me know what you think in the comments and if you liked what you read, please hit that star button.

Also, keep an eye out on either my Twitter or Instagram for a teaser of chapter 11 in the coming days.

Till next time. xoxo