When the West County students first transferred to FHS the atmosphere was tense. Everyone walked around with stiff spines and cautious glares, watching and waiting for something big to happen between the students of both schools, but nothing ever did. Over the last couple of months people got to know each other or at the very least, became comfortable and familiar with each other. There's been no 'them' versus 'us' mentality in a long time. All the initial worries were for nothing and shit felt normal again.

Until now, of course.

It's been three days since Jace and the guys showed up outside of school, and it's felt like week one all over again. Most of the student body heard their message loud and clear, 'Derek's guilty and we're coming for him. Choose a side,' and they have, for the most part.

The divide between Freecaster High's student body can not only be felt but seen. Groups stay to one side of the hall, the cafeteria has been split down the middle, and people who were hanging out just days ago have started to look at each other as the enemy. Thing is, it's not even a West County against FHS issue anymore. It's Guardian supporters against the followers of Derek and the social elite.

Luckily, despite the dirty looks and whispered insults, nothing major has happened. No fistfights and Derek's kept his distance, but there's still no word from the school board and we've gotten no confirmation that Derek told his mom the truth. So, with the edgy school environment and floating in limbo regarding what happens next, I'm more than ready to get out of here as the last bell rings for the week.

I skip my locker completely and rush toward the front doors knowing the others won't be long behind me. The second I step outside, I close my eyes and tilt my head back, soaking up the feel of the warm sunlight on my face as I fill my lungs with fresh air.

Just two more weeks.

I've officially started my countdown till winter break. Just two more weeks, two more Fridays, and we'll be free to enjoy the holidays with our families. But best of all, we'll be away from school, and the tension.

"Aye, sweetheart, you gonna stand there all day or bring that ass over here?"

Normally, I'd be pissed at whatever jerk said that kind of shit to me, but he's my jerk and I know he only means it in the best way. Opening my eyes and dropping my head, I see Jace, Wilder, Kade, and Travis parked by the curb, not the curb across the street but the one just a couple yards away, where the school parking lot begins. The school they're not supposed to step foot on.

"What are you doing here?"

"Came to pick up my girl." Jace bites back a smile but there's a mischief gleam in his dark blues as he leans against his bike.

I tried to read the other three for clues but I've got nothing. Kade and Travis hold expressions made of stone, no cracks revealing anything useful for me. Wilder is my best bet, but with his face in his phone and his back turned toward me, he's giving me nothing to work with.

I huff out a sigh and turn my attention back to Jace. "You know what I mean. You guys aren't supposed to be on school grounds yet."

"No?" He pushes off his bike and steps closer. "You sure about that, baby?"

Freeing his lip from his teeth, the corners of his mouth tip up as a smile creeps across his handsome face. I can feel it, the relief and joy flowing off of him. It's too strong to hold back and sinks itself into my skin.

"Seriously?" I shout, feeling the adrenaline of excitement pulsate through my veins.

Jace holds out his ink-covered arms. "Got the call today. Everything's been dropped, we come back next week."

The squeal that leaves my mouth is beyond unattractive but I can't hold it in. I drop my bag on the ground right there and run to him, jumping into his open arms and wrapping my legs around his waist.

Jace crushes me against him with one arm and uses the other to support my ass, his rumbling laughter filling my ears. I giggle in return and pepper his neck and face with kisses before finally smashing my lips to his. What starts as a sweet and innocent kiss quickly turns hungry and desperate. Both of us pouring all our frustration from this week into our needy clash of lips, tongues, and teeth. I don't know how long we stay there like that, drowning in each other before someone clears their throat nearby.

Jace groans as we pull apart and look over to see that everyone else has made it outside. Our friends stand around the bikes, impatiently waiting for us to pull apart.

Marcel holds out my bag but his eyes fall on Jace. "Take it you got good news."

"Damn right," Jace smiles.

"And we're gonna fucking celebrate our asses off tonight!" A very enthusiastic Wilder shouts, putting his phone away. "First round of drinks are on me!"

"Where at?" Ava asks.

Kade mentions the Hideaway but most of us aren't paying attention anymore as one more emerges from the front doors. With blonde locks hanging in his face, Caleb sees us crowded around and pauses. His forest green eyes fill with uncertainty but sensing no hostility, my old friend simply smiles and nods to us before walking away. It's a friendly gesture, one that sparks hope inside me, but it's the following words that really allow me to imagine a second chance.

"Aye, Walker," Jace calls, setting me back on my feet.

Caleb stops and carefully turns around.

Holding his head high, Jace nods towards our group of friends. "We're going out tonight, celebrate our comeback and shit...You're coming with."

I'm not the only one with wide eyes, waiting for Caleb's response, and his expression is the most shocked of all. Chewing on the inside of his cheek, his brows knit together with confusion.

"I wasn't asking," Jace adds. "You helped us out. So, like it or not, you're team Guardian, and that my friend, earns you a drink."

Caleb's face relaxes but there's still a lingering sense of doubt in his eyes. Yet despite that, he nods and gives a small hesitant smile as he hoists his backpack up higher on his shoulder. "When and where?"

The Hideaway looks the same as I remember it but walking in here with a much larger group makes the atmosphere feel less scary and more exciting. Everyone stays huddled together as we carefully walk through the dilapidated first floor of the old warehouse hiding the club below. The guard at the door slides open the small window but the second he sees the guys, he doesn't bother asking for a password like last time.

"Guys," the bald guard nods as we walk through.

"Sup, G." Wild smiles wide and claps hands with cueball, exchanging some money in the process, and bumps shoulders with him.

A second guard opens the next door, letting us into the pulse-pounding party. We all slowly hustle out onto the metal catwalk that extends high above the bumping and grinding bodies below.

"Holy shit," Ava exclaims from beside me, her big brown eyes taking in the scene before us.

"It's something, huh?" I ask.

Ava nods with wide eyes. "Yeah. Really fucking something alright."

A smile tips my lips as I look around at all my friends. Caleb looks just as stunned as Ava, blinking several times like he can't believe his eyes. Marcel doesn't seem phased which doesn't surprise me at this point, and everyone else is already bopping to the upbeat house music blaring from the speakers. A strong arm wraps around my shoulders, pulling my attention to dark blue smiling eyes before being pulled along to follow our group down the stairs.

Kade and Josie take the lead once we reach the club floor, weaving a path for us toward one of the small private areas hidden behind a curtain along the far wall. A female dressed like a server is already waiting for us, holding the sheer covering back to reveal a space about twelve feet wide and six feet deep. The three black walls are lined with booth seating, the same dark maroon color as the curtain, but there's only a small table in front of it, giving everyone enough room to walk around and take a seat.

"What's with the VIP treatment?" Raegan asks, making sure to sit on the opposite end as Travis. "I've never been able to get a private table here."

"And when have you been here before?" Travis barks but is quickly ignored by his little sister.

"We know the guy who owns the place. So, he set us up," Kade answers Rae with a shrug like it's no big deal.

As if being summoned by those words, the server walks into the tiny space with a bright smile on her ruby red lips. She waits for the last of us to take our seats, and fill in the booth. All twelve of us make the seating a tight fit but we manage as Jace pulls me onto his lap and Kade does the same with Josie. Roman looks over at Ava and wiggles his eyebrows, nodding towards his lap. She shakes her head no and rolls her eyes but she can't hide the lift in her lips.

"What can I get you all to drink?" the server asks, her smile widening further.

Everyone places their drink orders, a mix of beer, cocktails, and shots. We sit around and wait for the server to come back and once she does, Kade instructs everyone to take a shot glass.

"To family and beginning a new era at FHS," Kade says with his shot glass raised in the air.

We all hoot and holler in response before each of us throws our shots back.

"Alright, now it's time to let loose!" Wilder jumps up and scoots towards the curtain. "I got the double-mint twins waiting to make a Wild sandwich on the dance floor."

Josie gets up next and stares at the rest of us expectantly. "Well...you heard the Looney Toon. Time to dance people!"

"I'm game," Ava laughs and heads out with Roman not far behind her.

The rest of us get up except Caleb, who leans back in his seat.

"Uh-uh, blondie," Josie tsks before walking over and pulling him up. "You're coming too!"

She drags him out making him give Kade a questioning look.

Kade laughs and shrugs. "You heard the woman. Get moving, Walker."

Every last one of us heads to the center of the dance floor where Wild and two girls are dancing their asses off. Beside them is Sophie. She spots us but surprisingly, doesn't give Jace or me a second look, especially when Josie pushes Caleb her way. Without even thinking about it the brunette starts shaking her ass all over Caleb, who actually seems to be enjoying it.

Everyone else pairs up too. Kade and Josie. Ava and Roman. Eddie and Travis with some random chicks and Raegan dancing on her own despite the several guys that approach her. I don't know if she's turning them away because she wants to or because her big brother gives each one a death glare, but she doesn't seem to mind being on her own.

And as for me and Jace...our bodies mold together like two halves of the same whole. His broad frame fits against my backside as his hands find my hips. I place one hand over his while the other wraps up and around the back of his neck. The music pumps through the crowd with a hypnotizing beat, not too fast or too slow, but steady and melodic.

I'm not the best dancer in the world, but with Jace's body moving against mine, his breath fanning the back of my ear, and his hands gripping me tightly, I feel like the sexiest chick here. Closing my eyes, I get lost in the music and the feel of this man. I lose track of time and the number of songs we've danced to until Jace's husky timber whispers my name in my ear.

"What's up?" I ask, hoping he can hear me over the music.

"Let's take a break. Get something to drink."

I nod as he takes my hand and leads me back to our private seating. Surprisingly, no one else has returned to our little area. I'm not sure if they're all still on the dance floor or doing god knows what, but I'm thankful to get a little alone time with Jace.

We take a seat on the booth and sip our drinks as we catch our breaths. But as soon as Jace places his beer back down, I get up and throw my leg around his and sit on his lap to face him.

"Hi." I smile.

My body feels blissfully light and airy. Probably a combination of the alcohol, dancing, and the way Jace's spicy-sweet cologne fills my senses.

"Hey," Jace says back with a smile of his own, his midnight blue eyes lighting up. "Feeling good?"

I nod and my smile grows wider. "I'm happy."

Jace trails the back of his hand down the side of my face. "And why is that, baby?"

"Because things are working out. We're in a good place, you guys get to come back to school, and everyone is here together."

His lips tip to the side. "You know I'd do anything for you, right?"

"Yes." I nod and playfully roll my eyes.

"Alexis," Jace rasps and holds my face between his hands, forcing me to look into the swirl of emotions dancing in his gaze.

All my playfulness evaporates as that one look steals my breath away. It's all in his eyes, the severity of his feelings for me, and everything in between. We've only been back together for a short time but it feels like he never left my side at all. Like even when we weren't together our hearts were still connected, still tied to each other despite it all. Even when I tried to push him away, he fought for me. He looked past my foolish fears and held on for the both of us.

That has to mean something..something deep.

Jace licks his lips and opens his mouth to say something but I quickly swoop in and smash my lips to his. He surrenders completely, relaxing under my touch before I pull away and gaze into those mesmerizing blue pools.

"I love you, Jace."

His eyes widen for a second before softening, the blue waters of his soul warming with a deep heat.

"Lex," Jace whispers like he's praying and leans his forehead against mine. "I love you too...so fucking much. Always have. Always will."

His lips find mine, kissing me softly but with so much emotion. It's the kind of touch that's careful and profound. Like saying, 'I know this is big, and I don't take it for granted.'

A shudder travels through every cell in my body and combusts with a blooming sense of euphoria in my chest. If I thought I felt light before, that's nothing compared to this. Everything inside me feels...suspended, floating in this moment and soaking it all in like it's the only thing keeping me alive.

"Why are you crying, baby?" Jace asks, pulling away and wiping the lone tear falling down my cheek.

A giggle erupts from me as I place the heels of my hands to my eyes. "I'm sorry. I didn't realize I was crying."

"You okay?"

The sincerity in his voice cuts right through me, making more tears brim my eyes.

"Yes." I nod and laugh at myself again. "I'm just happy. Like, really, truly happy."

Jace's smile slides into place again with another beautiful wave of love. Refusing to let more tears fall, I grab his face and kiss him again, harder, more urgent. I throw everything I am into this kiss, plastering myself to him.

"Lex," he groans against my lips, his hands diving into my hair and holding me tighter to him.

In an exquisite mess of lips and limbs, it feels like we're becoming one in this moment. Our pulses beating in time to each other, our breaths fueling the other. Every touch is felt bone-deep, igniting a fire between the two of us.

His tongue slides into my mouth, tasting me and catching the moan that drags from low in my chest.

"Oh, Jace," I pant.

"Fuck, Lexi."

His lips leave mine, creating a path across my jaw and down my neck. Each press of his lips sends a jolt to both my heart and my core, blinding me with an overload of sensations. I don't even realize I'm grinding against him until he growls into the crook of my neck.

"We should stop," Jace says but doesn't pull away. If anything, his strong hands pull me closer as his teeth graze my skin. "But I can't."

"Me either." I shake my head.

The need to feel more of him consumes me, and without another thought, my hands slide under his shirt to revel in the way his muscles constrict under my skin as we grind against each other.

We're so lost in the moment we don't notice the moving curtain until...

"Oh shit!"

Jace and I pull away quickly and look over to see Caleb.

With his mouth hanging open, Caleb freezes for a second before turning back around and walks out with a quick, "Sorry!"

"Well...that just happened," I say and burst into giggles.

Jace sighs, and throws his head back against the seat. "We need to find more privacy."

"Yeah." I nod. "But did you see that?"

"The look on his face?"

I smile. "Yeah. He didn't look...upset. At least no more than that time Wilder walked in on us."

Jace chuckles at that and drops his head to look at me. "Wild lucked out, we weren't even doing anything that time."

"Come one," I say, getting off his lap and holding my hand out for him to grab. "Let's get back out there before Jo comes looking for us next."

Jace takes my hand and stands up, wrapping his arm around my waist. "I love you."

"I love you too." I smile from ear to ear before we walk back to the dance floor.

The night goes on in a joyous blur of drinks, dancing, and good company. Over the last few months, I've enjoyed seeing my world mixing with Jace's, our friends combining into one solid group. But it's never been a more beautiful sight than tonight. Everyone is having fun, even Caleb, which warms my heart so much. He jokes with Marcel and Ava like old times and even manages to make Travis laugh.

Sighing at the sight, my cheeks hurt from smiling so much. Nothing can ruin this night.

As it gets later, the club continues to rave like a never-ending machine of gyrating bodies, but it's clear many of us are running out of fuel. So, when Jo suggests moving things somewhere calmer, we all agree without hesitation.

Everyone starts grabbing their things when Ava latches onto my arm with an urgent look on her face as she bounces in place.

"I need to pee, Lex. Go with me, please," she whines.

Laughing I nod and give her a thumbs-up before tapping Jace on the shoulder. "I'm gonna go to the bathroom with Ava before we go."

"Alright," he says. "The others are heading out the side entrance to the alley so I'll just wait here for you two to come back."

I look around, remembering the way Jace dragged me out the last time we were here, and spot the door next to the DJ station. Not far from the exit, along the same wall, are the bathrooms.

"No," I shake my head at him, while Ava's trying to pull me away. "The door is right next to the bathroom. Just meet us out in the alley. We won't be far behind."

Denial fills Jace's eyes before he even says a word, making me stop him right there with a finger to his lips.

"Relax. We won't be long and it's right there. Besides, it'll be easier to find you outside than in this mess."

His brows knit tightly together. "I can't leave you alone in here, Lex."

"I won't be alone. I have Ava."

"Lex," Ava whines, pulling harder on my arm.

I allow her to drag me away as I shout back to Jace, "Meet us outside. We'll be there in five minutes."

The look he shoots me before we disappear makes it clear that he's not happy about my plan, but he can't be a helicopter boyfriend. I love him, but he needs to know I can take care of myself long enough to go from the bathroom to the door right next to it.

Ava cuts us a path through the crowd like a woman on a mission, or a woman with a full bladder. I try to apologize to the glaring looks we receive until we make it to the small bathroom with a makeshift sign on the door with the word "Chicks" written across it. Just before Ava pulls us in, I notice the door next to it says "Dicks" making me laugh as we duck into the restroom.

I'm still giggling as Ava darts for the last available stall in what appears to be an overall decent ladies' room. I mean, it's in a warehouse club so it's not perfect. The pink paint on the walls is chipped and tinged different colors in certain spots, and the floors look like they haven't been cleaned since the fifties, but the sinks work, and the toilets are private. Honestly, I've seen gas station restrooms in worse condition.

Leaning against the wall, I wait for an empty stall so I can go pee too and it doesn't take long before a girl walks out of one. I slip in and line the seat with layers of toilet paper before feeling comfortable enough to go as the sounds of several more stalls opening echo around me.

"Lex," Ava's voice calls over the sound of a flowing sink. "I'm gonna wait outside."

"What! No, don't leave me in here by myself!"

Ava giggles. "I don't mean 'outside' outside, just out in the hall. Roman texted me, he's waiting for us as per Jace's instructions and he wants to talk to me real quick."

"Ava Catalina Santos, don't you dare!"

The restroom door creaks open and then thumps shut before I can finish scolding her.

"Ava...Ava!"

I'm going to kill her.

The only thing keeping me from running right out after her is the thought that she and Roman are just outside the door. Not that I'm really worried. We've been here all night and all we've gotten from the other party-goers are smiles of united fun or blanks expressions of indifference.

I finish up and walk out of the stall towards the row of sinks and the cracked mirror hanging above it. Bouncing along to the heart-thumping beat vibrating through the bathroom walls, I fluff my hair in the mirror and fix my makeup. Content with the results, I begin to wash my hands as a girl stumbles out of the last stall and slowly makes her way to the door behind the wall at the end of the sinks.

Poor thing.

I shake my head, happy that I didn't overdo it on the alcohol as the creaking of the old hinges echoes in the wake of the wobbly partier. While I glance around for something to dry my hands, a second creak sounds, quickly followed by a click. A sickening chill travels down my spine and I know, before I even look up that something isn't right.

"Ava?" I weakly call, side-eyeing the small passage leading to the door as the hair on the back of my neck stands up. "A, stop screwing around."

"You're really stupid sometimes, Lex," a voice I know all too well sounds before Derek appears around the corner.

Shit.

I take a step back, my eyes darting around for anything I can use as a weapon. But everything here is secured in place.

Shit shit shit!

"Relax, Lexi," Derek says condescendingly. "I'm not gonna hurt you."

"Where's Ava?" I sneer, praying she and Roman aren't far behind.

I never should've told Jace to meet us outside.

Derek nods back towards the door. "She's in the hall, making out with some guy. Didn't see me walk right fucking by." He cringes in mock sympathy. "You could use some better friends, babe."

"Is that why you're here? Trying to be friends again?"

"Actually," he tips his head back and forth as he slowly steps towards me. "You're not far off."

He has to be kidding.

I get how guys with big egos can take it hard when they're taken down a notch, especially if it's done publicly, but this is ridiculous. Derek has lost his fucking mind. Friends? I'd rather eat dirt filled with bugs and god knows what else.

Derek narrows his eyes, clearly seeing the disgust I'm unable to keep from my face. "You'd be lucky to have me as an ally, Lex, but since you're too infatuated with that West Side garbage, I'll have to be more persuasive."

He steps forward and I immediately shuffle back, running into the wall behind me.

"Relax." He sneers as he pulls his phone from his pocket. "I'm not gonna hurt you. I just want you to see something."

Derek taps his phone a couple times before thrusting it in my face. The image on the screen is dark and hard to make out with a big 'play' arrow sitting in the center of it. I chew my lip, debating whether or not I want to actually see this because I have no illusions that whatever this is, it's not gonna be good.

"Go ahead," Derek taunts, stepping closer so that his phone is nearly pressed against my nose. "Take it."

Huffing out a deep breath, I snatch the phone from his hand and press play. The video is a little grainy and bathed in shades of black and gray, but I can tell it's some kind of security camera footage. Looking closer with squinted vision, I can make out what looks like sports equipment: nets, shelves holding various balls, ropes, buckets and bins of unknown items, and piles of more junk.

What in the hell is this?

My questioning eyes flick from the screen to the smug look on Derek's face.

With a raised brow, he nods back to the phone. "Keep watching."

I roll my eyes but do as he says and look back down to the screen, and just as I do, the scene lights up as a door swings open from the bottom left corner. A stocky man with a baseball cap on stumbles through as if he's been shoved into the room. He catches himself on a rack of soccer balls, his hands gripping the metal shelf behind him as he faces the open door.

I can't make out his face but the heavy rise and fall of his chest and the way his legs and arms shake are a clear-cut sign he's scared. Slowly, shadows block out the light beaming through the door and the man cowers, crouching down with his hands still firmly grasping the rack. His mouth moves but there's no audio and the quality makes it impossible to read his lips, but what isn't impossible to make out are the four figures that walk into the picture. Even with the crappy condition of the video and their backs turned to the camera, I'd know those guys anywhere.

Oh, God.

Kade and Jace stand side by side with Wilder and Travis flanking them on the sides. The way their bodies move tells me they're saying something to the terrified man in front of them and after a moment their guest starts talking again, his mouth moving a mile a minute as he shakes violently. They must same something back that he doesn't like because the idiot jumps to his feet and seems to be shouting at them now. However, his angry actions only earn him a punch to the gut from Travis who seems to be trembling with clenched fists as the man resumes his gutless position on the floor.

"What is this?" I ask, unable to tear my eyes from the screen.

Derek doesn't say anything though as the video versions of Jace and Wilder disappear back out the door, leaving Travis and Kade to yell and taunt their victim further. When my boyfriend and his best friend return, they're carrying gas cans in both their hands, passing one to Travis.

The man looks like he might be crying as things get worse for him. Kade grabs his shirt and pulls him to his feet, speaking to him face to face as the other three begin to douse all the equipment with the liquid in their containers. The only place they leave dry is the center of the room and the path leading from the room. When they finish, Jace and Wilder walk back out as Kade and Travis leave the man with some parting words, and then they do something I never thought possible.

Kade hands Travis something and a second later, Travis is sparking a match and throwing it towards the piles of drenched sports supplies. Everything along the sides and back walls go up in flames as the two walk out, leaving the man in the inferno and shutting the door behind them.

The room looks pretty big but it doesn't take long for it to fill up with smoke. The man rushes at the door, banging his fist on it while trying to cover his face with the other hand. He crouches down to duck below the spiraling wispy tendrils trying to reach out and choke the life from him. But even then he continues to hit the door and plead for help through fits of coughing.

Then, just when it looks like he might pass out and the flames get close enough to undoubtedly heat his flesh, the door opens and Kade drags him back out. After that, the room continues to burn and eventually reaches the camera, destroying it and ending the video in the process.

I don't realize how hard I'm clenching the phone in my shaking hand until Derek pries my fingers from it and slips it back into his pocket. My stomach churns with a mixture of shock and relief. I know the guys are not ones to be messed with and I'm sure as Guardians they've had to do things that I might not like, but this was not something I was prepared for, and yet I'm not surprised they saved the man in the video. Deep down to the core of my being, I trust them, I trust Jace. They weren't trying to kill the guy, just scare him, shake him up for whatever reason. I'm sure of it.

"Did you notice the date stamped on the bottom?" Derek asks, breaking me from my thoughts but doesn't give me a chance to answer. "October third."

My gaze jerks to meet his as his lips tip into a self-satisfied smirk.

He nods, answering my unspoken question. "Yeah, the night West County burned to ash."

"I don't believe you. They wouldn't burn down their own school."

"Seriously?" Derek scoffs. "You just saw it for yourself. Your little boyfriend and his buddies are not the good guys you think they are, Lexi. They set that hell hole on fire and nearly killed a man in the process."

"Who is he?" I ask, referring to the guy in the video.

Derek shrugs. "Don't know. Don't care."

My head is spinning with this new knowledge. I don't want to believe that they would do that, that they would burn their school down without a care in the world but video evidence is hard to argue with.

Maybe they had a good reason? Maybe they didn't mean for it to get out of hand?

"Now that you know what kind of leverage I have, I need you to do something."

I narrow my eyes at him and cross my arms under my chest, trying to appear stronger than I feel right now. "What the fuck do you want, Derek?"

His smile is sickly sweet but the look in his eyes is heated and sinister. It's enough to make my stomach roll again, reading to spill the drinks I've enjoyed tonight.

"You're gonna break things off with Jace and take your place at my side like you should've done a long time ago," Derek says as he tries to trail the back of his hand down the side of my face.

I snort with a mix of a scoff and a laugh. "You're insane. I'd never do that."

"You will," Derek says in a darker tone, dropping his hand from my face. "Or else I'll make sure the cops get a copy of this video as well as every media outlet in the state."

My heart drops along with the previous amusement on my face.

Derek's grin twists wider. "That's right, babe. The locker shit was nothing compared to the charges they'll get for this. So, if you wanna save them from doing hard time behind bars, you'll do as I say."

"Why?" I ask, my lip curling back with disgust. "Why are you doing this?"

"Because I need those assholes distracted for a while, and you're Jace's biggest weakness. Without you, he'll lose his shit, and seeing you at my side will only push him that much further to self destruct. But that's just an added bonus, as is the part where I get to have you all to myself. Ultimately though, his fall will pull the others down too and that's the bigger goal here."

I can't hold it back anymore. My legs rush for the nearest open stall and I drop to my knees, emptying the contents of my stomach into the toilet. After I have nothing left to offer the porcelain throne and finish dry heaving, I shakily get back to my feet and wobble to the sinks. I cup my hands under the water and bring the cold liquid to my lips, cleaning out the filth from my mouth.

"Don't act so disgusted," Derek sneers in my ear, pressing himself against my backside. "It wasn't that long ago you used to have fun with me, feeling my hands all over your body. You fucking loved it."

I wrinkle my nose, my eyes locked with his in our reflection in the mirror. The urge to whip around and connect my knees to his family jewels is overwhelming but I know when I'm at a disadvantage. And as much as I hate to admit it, Derek has me trapped here.

I can't risk him getting the guys into more trouble. He'd ruin them, and their futures are more important than my happiness with Jace. It'll fucking gut me to do it, but I can't be selfish here. I have to play ball and maybe, just fucking maybe, I can find a way out of this eventually. But until then, I'm stuck.

My body shakes with angry acceptance and Derek sees it, his eyes lighting up with victory.

"That's a good girl," he purrs behind me, making my body shiver with revulsion. "I'll be nice though and give you one more week with the trash. Get as much of him as you can, while you can, and then come next Friday, you're mine. I want it done publicly though, maybe at my football game." He shrugs. "We'll talk about it between now and then. Plan it out together."

"For how long?" I ask coldly.

"For as long as I say."

That's not forever.

His features contort again as if he knows what I'm thinking. "Who knows, maybe when I'm done with you, he'll be willing to take you back. I wouldn't count on it though."

"Lex," Ava's voice hollers from the hall as a repeated banging on the door fills the room. "Why's the door locked? Lexi!"

Derek doesn't step back, making me slide out from between him and the sink and brushing against the disgusting bulge in his jeans. I fight back the bile threatening to rise in my throat again as I look back at him.

"Are we done?"

He nods. "For now."

I turn to walk away when he says my name again, halting me in my tracks.

"Don't even fucking think about telling anyone about this. I won't hesitate to turn that video in," he warns.

With a curt nod, I walk towards the door, fighting to keep the stingy tears in my eyes from falling as a stabbing pain fills my chest.

I'm so sorry, Jace.

I lean against the brick wall in the alley, waiting for Lexi to come out. Even with Roman waiting for them, I feel uneasy, like letting her out of my sight was the worst idea in the world. But when I tried to follow after her, Kade caught my attention inside and asked me to walk Josie out while he and Travis talked with someone inside.

I'm not surprised. Kade trusts Wild and I'm sure Marcel and Eddie are good enough to watch over Jo too, but on this side of town, if Kade can't keep an eye on her, I'm his next preferred option.

Now I'm impatiently waiting for my girl while watching Wild and Eddie give Josie and Raegan piggyback rides up and down the alley. They laugh at the top of their lungs, enjoying themselves in such a simple way. It's enough to lighten my mood some, bringing a smile to my face. Closer to the entrance, keeping an eye on the road is Marcel, staying as vigilant as ever, which leaves Caleb.

He keeps his distance for a few minutes before slowly approaching and leaning against the wall next to me. I get the feeling he has something he wants to say as he casts cautious looks at me from the side of his eyes, but he doesn't speak, forcing me to take that first step.

"What's on your mind, Walker?" I ask casually.

He shrugs. "Not much."

I chuckle at that, detecting bullshit from a mile away. But he laughs too, knowing he's full of it too.

"Alright, so maybe a few things," he admits, his smile fading. "I...I wanted to say sorry to you...about everything."

Raising a brow, I look over at him, not entirely sure where he's going with this. "You already apologized for the locker shit. Lex told me."

"Yeah, but you deserve to hear it from me."

I nod, feeling something between me and Caleb I haven't in a long time...respect.

"It's not just that," he continues. "I, uh...I think I've been looking at this whole me, you, and Lexi thing all wrong."

He chews on the inside of his cheek and I don't press. Whatever he has to say needs to come out because he wants it to, not because I ask him to. Even though I have no fucking clue exactly what it is he needs to say, I can tell by his stiff stance and the focus look in his eyes that it must be hard. So, I wait and after another couple seconds of silence, he takes a deep breath.

"I didn't know what Lexi was planning on telling Derek to get him to talk. She just asked me to set up a meeting with him 'cause she knew he wouldn't do it if the request came from her. I was prepared for her to flirt with him, maybe dish out a few lies to butter him up, but I didn't expect the..." his voice trails off and he swallows the lump in his throat.

"The bite mark," I finish for him, watching from the corner of my eyes as he nods.

"Yeah. That."

"I didn't do anything she didn't enjoy," I defend. "I'm not that kind of guy. What happens between me and Lexi is consensual, always."

"I know that, man," he says, finally looking at me.

"Then what? You're judging her now? Can't look at her the same or some shit? She's still the same girl she's always been. What she and I do in private doesn't change that, doesn't make her...wrong."

I've never been happy about Caleb's feelings for Lex, and if those feelings are changing, I should feel relieved. But the idea of him looking down on her for what we do alone pisses me off. She doesn't deserve that, especially not from someone who's supposed to be her friend.

"It's not that. I have no room to judge anyone, especially not her, and nothing could ever make me look at her as anything wrong."

Turning to face him, my eyes narrow on the lost look playing across his face. "Then what is it?"

He meets my gaze head-on as everything inside him deflates. "I couldn't do that for her."

"Do what?"

"Be rough. Mark her." He shrugs. "Whatever it is you two do. I don't have it in me. I'm not that kind of guy."

This isn't new information. Caleb may be an angry asshole when it comes to me, but when it comes to women, he's the sweet all-American boy next door type. A big fucking teddy bear with an even bigger heart. He'd cherish whatever woman he ends up with, but he wouldn't be able to give her anything more than tender love and care.

It's not a bad thing, and I don't fault him for it. Plenty of chicks are into that. But Lexi isn't one of them, and I've always known that.

Taking another deep breath, Caleb runs his hand over his hair. "What I'm trying to say is, I think I get it now, why you and Lex work so well. Why I'm not the one for her...That doesn't mean I'm completely over her, but...it's easier to accept now. Seeing you two together, it makes sense." He looks up at me again. "I just wanted to let you know that. I'm not gonna make any move on her. I'll leave you two be."

He waits for me to say something but when I struggle to find words, he pushes off the wall with a nod and starts to walk away. I should be happy but something nags at my insides.

Fuck.

"Wait," I call out.

Caleb turns back around and I walk over to meet him face to face.

"Just because me and Lex are together doesn't mean she doesn't still need you as a friend...or that I'd be totally against trying to be friends again too."

A smile tugs at his mouth. "You sure?"

I nod.

"So...does this mean I get to whoop your ass at video games again?" Caleb asks, referring to our favorite pastime hobby when we were kids.

A chuckle shakes free from me. "Don't push it, fucker. I've gotten better over the years."

"Me too." He laughs.

We both laugh before jumping out of the way when Wild and Eddie run by carrying Jo and Rae on their backs.

"Out of the way!" Josie calls through fits of giggles. "You're in the middle of our race track!"

"You're losing anyway, Jo," Rae hollers, clinging to Eddie's shoulders.

Laughter fills the alley, louder than before, but then there's another sound. A rumbling thunder that I'd recognize anywhere.

My stomach drops as I turn to look at the mouth of the alley at the same time Marcel looks back at us with a nervous look.

"We got company!" He shouts, turning to run our way.

And that's when it happens, like a scene from a nightmare.

Three bikes pull up at the end of the alley, leather jackets draped over their backs with the Vipers insignia on their sleeves and blackout helmets. They pull out guns and before I can even figure out what kind of guns, they unleash, filling the alley with wild shots.

Wilder and Eddie are quick, taking the girls and ducking down behind a dumpster as Caleb and I dive behind a couple trash cans. Eddie pulls a pistol from his waistband and fires back from around the metal container, but he's shooting blind trying to keep from getting hit. The trash can at my back rattles, taking a few fires from our attackers and I'm debating how long my small cover will last when the shots stop. The sound of bikes taking off roar through the air once again but none of us move.

"They gone?" Raegan asks, huddled behind Wilder.

"Can't tell," Wild answers and looks across the alley to me.

Nodding, I glance out from behind the trash can, my heart beating like a hammer in my chest. Not seeing anyone, I release the breath I was holding in.  

"They're gone!" I shout and step out only to be caught by surprise when one of the shooters appears at the end without his bike.

He looks right at me, and even without seeing his face, I can feel his eyes burning a hole through me. His hand raises and before I can move my feet, he pulls the trigger.

I'm frozen, locked in place like a deer caught in headlights until a body slams into mine, pushing me behind the dumpster with the others. Falling against, Wild, I watch as Caleb takes the bullet meant for me.

"CALEB!" My voice breaks through the air, strangled and outraged all at once.

Crimson liquid blooms through his white shirt over his stomach. Without looking to see if the shooter is still there, I dart out and catch Caleb before he can fall to the ground. Wilder and Eddie are right behind me as the girls cry, holding each other.

Another motorcycle rumble blares to life and fades off in the distance.

"He's gone," Eddie says but it's like he's a million miles away.

Caleb's breaths are steady but pained. "I'm okay. It's not that bad. I don't think it hit anything..." he winces. "Major."

"You're a crazy son of a bitch, you know that?" I tell him, hearing my pulse still pounding in my ears.

He laughs. "Yeah. Knew that a long time ago, buddy."

I don't get a chance to say more or give his wound a closer look before the door to the club opens. Lexi, Ava, and Roman appear and I watch in slow motion as the color drains from my girl's beautiful face.

"It's okay, Lex," I tell her in a rush. "I think he's okay. Just call for an ambulance."

But she doesn't hear me or see me. Her eyes lock on something closer to the mouth of the alley as her knees give out. My head jerks and I spot the figure laying on the ground, my stomach bottoming out.

In an ear-piercing pitch that rattles the sky above, Lexi screams, "MARCEL!"

To Be Continued.

Please keep an eye out for "Dating My Ex", book 2 in the Guardians of Freecaster High series.

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Ahhhh! Don't kill me!

 I know not everyone is a fan of cliffhangers but I swear you won't have to wait long for book 2! 

I have so much to say to all of you lovely readers as well as updates for the future, so please continue onto the next page for that. 😘😘😘