•Dedicated to≈ shimarris109 (sorry I took so long to dedicate a chapter to you hehe.) Even tho she hasn't been on this app for awhile, I still miss her and we still dedicate a chappie to her! She was my first ever reader!

Also, thank you so much for the 7k reads my little bunnies! I love you all so much ❤
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"Sometimes your mind can say one thing, and then it says another. But its your heart that determines what you really decide."

-Kamoyrocks 😊
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Julia's POV

"We don't have to go to school today if you don't want to baby." Jace whispers as he traces his fingers up and down my arm leaving goosebumps there.

"Mm...I don't want to go to school." I murmured as I shift on the bed to face him. Last night was absolutely draining. The crying, all the emotions I tried so hard hide came out in full force and I was absolutely tired.

He smiles down at me and I do the same. I still can't believe that I'm living with him, on his bed and this close to him.

"Then we don't have to." He says softly. "I'll go tell mom. Maybe we can go shopping today." He says and exits the room. I sigh in content.

Last night was amazing. I never thought that Jace would be so open up to me about his personal life. I know I should have told him how I felt. Not only for him but how everything has been affecting me. Surely he already knows but he doesn't know that I am suffering from severe depression.

I know I should have told him that I cut my wrists. That I'm suicidal, that I'm broken beyond repair. That I'm completely lost. I don't know who I am and I don't know what to do anymore and I know that if I tell Jace, he would just never understand.

Have you ever felt this way? You know you have people to talk to, to vent to but you just know that they will never understand you. And that hurts the most.

You know your not okay but you have to pretend that you are and its just so tiring to the point where you are slowly giving up on pretending and just want to disappear.

I want to disappear...

"What are you thinking?" Jace appears with a tray of bacon and eggs.

"Jace, as much as I love staying here with you, you know that mi have to face Linda someday." I whisper. He places the tray on the stand and climbs up to me, staring at me with his dark emerald eyes.

"Well yeah, I know that. But that day doesn't have to be today. I know that you can't stay here forever...even though I want you to. But let's not think about that right now. When your ready to see her, you tell me, okay?" He taps my chin and I hug him.

"Thanks Jace."

................

"So, where we going?" I ask Jace as he turns the corner. We are in his car and I can't help but admire how he looks so calm and collected other than last night.

"I have some books to pick up at school because I have to study then we can go shopping and eat something." He shows me his breathtaking smile.

"Sounds like a plan." I lay back in his black Ferrari. "School is over, right?"

"Yeah, maybe you can go say hi to the boys while I get my books." He suggests. "Just please don't go anywhere else. Come back straight to the car."

"Gotcha." I salute him as he chuckles.

..............

"I'll be right back." Jace whispers in my ear and kisses my shoulder. I feel the tingling that it brings and the goosebumps that appear.

This boy needs to stop doing these things to me...

"Okay." He smiles and walks into the school while other children scurry out through the doors.

"Is that my bae?" I hear Ethan's voice. I smile, he is just so adorable.

"Julia?" Alexander says as the gang walks to me.

"Hey guys." I say to them.

"Why are you acting like a stranger to us? Bring it in J.P" Alex says and brings me in for death grip hug.

"Alex, do you want to kill her?" Brook asks.

"What? No no no, sorry J.P" he says.

"Its okay." I try to catch my breath.

"My oh my. Julia is looking quite fine today. Are you a mountain? Because I would climb you and reach the top until I hit your peak." Drake says and Brook slaps him in the head.

"You just couldn't go one day without saying something smutty?" She questions.

"What can I say? Julia is like an ice cream. And I can just lick her out." My eyes grew wide at his statement and everyone pushed him to one side.

"Why didn't you guys come to school? We were worried sick about you guys." Alexander says. I wave at Lucus and waves back at me then returns to his phone.

"Jace wasn't feeling so well...had something to do wid yesterday." I mumble.

"Ohhh." They all say. We all talk for some more time and they all leave, going their separate places. I look around for Jace but I don't see him.

Where is he? He should be back by now...

I close my eyes and relish in the November breeze that caresses my cheeks gently. December is only around the corner which means that Christmas is almost near.

"Julia?" A voice says. I look up to see Gabe walking towards me. I gulp. Oh pot roast...

"H-Hey Gabe." I say nervously. Jace told me to stay away from him! But he's already towards me. I really can't look at him the way I used to. He seemed so nice and all.

Looks can be deceiving...

"What's up Lia?" He asks and hugs me. Lia? Did he just call me Lia?

"Lia?" I frown.

"Yeah, its your new nickname." He grins. I chuckle nervously. I stare at him as he does the same. There's this glint in his eyes and I don't like it.

"I'm good, listen Gabe-" he cuts me off by kissing my cheek.

What the fudge!

"Lia, I was so worried about you. I thought something bad happened to you as to why you didn't come to school. But anyways, I'm glad your here. I wanted to ask you something." He holds my hand. "Can you go out with me?"

Still in shock at what he did, i manage to let out.

"Gabe, your nice and all but I can't because-"

"She's already going out with me." I hear a deep voice growl. A know that voice all to well.

Gabe laughs. "Oh really now? Oh I'm sorry, I had no idea." Gabe smiles at me then hugs me again. "I'll see you later Lia. Here's my number, let me know if you change your mind." He whispers and walks away to Bianca's crew.

I look at Jace and his fists are in balls. I touch his shoulder and he tenses.

"Jace, don't let him get in your head. I won't call him. Are you ok-" I'm cut off when he puts his fingers on my lips to silence me.

"I'm okay June, I promise." He says and heads to his car. I stare at his retreating figure. I know he didn't mean one word he just said. I throw Gabe's number to the ground and head to the car. When I get in, Jace doesn't even look at me.

He's not made at me...is he?

...........

"Are you finished yet? Why do girls take so long to get ready?" I hear Jace say from the other side of the door.

"Almost." I say as I look in the mirror. I look at my body distastefully. I'm getting a little fat. I need to lose weight. I really hate having this eating disorder. I honestly don't know how to eat normal anymore. And even if I did achieve my goal in becoming skinner, I still wouldn't know how it is to eat normal.

I take a deep breath and step outside. Jace stands up and looks completely shocked. He smiles wide at me and I giggle. I'm glad he's over the whole situation that happen before, because Gabe isn't worth it.

"You look...amazing." He whispers.

I snort. "Jace, mi just a wear jeans and a crop top. There's nothing that looks amazing about this." He comes up to me and wrap his arms around my waist, his scent overwhelming.

"I don't care. Anything you wear is always amazing in my eyes." He whispers. I smile and head back to change into more clothes.

Jace is just too nice for me. I don't really know what he sees in me. I'll never be good enough for him. Its like I want to but I know that I'll mess up trying to be the one he wants me to be. I have to change myself in order to be the one for him.

...........

"Chocolate Milkshake and two cheese burgers coming right up." The waitress says and she flashes us a warm smile. I thought she was going to give me a glare...you know? Like the other girls that I've read in books when they see you with a handsome guy.

"Jace." I say to him.

"Yes beautiful?" He holds my hands in his. I couldn't help but notice the way he looks at me with love and passion. I blush when he stares at me intently.

"Um...what made you fall in love with me?" I shyly ask and look at the table.

"June, look at me." He says and I do. "I fell in love with your personality...for who you are. And not who you pretend to be. I fell in love with your beauty. And I love you because you are different and unique. And when I look in your eyes...I see my whole world." He says.

"Wow..." I wanted to say that I feel the same but something inside me just couldn't. I just couldn't. What's wrong with me?

'Maybe at the right time someday.' My subconscious says and I agree with her.

"Order up." The waitress says. We start eating and I almost spit out my milkshake.

"So, I didn't know that Gabe gave you a nickname. Lia isn't it?" He asks out of the blue. I see him clench his jaw.

"I didn't even know til' today. And besides, I like yours better." I nudge him. He smiles at me brightly.

"I know. He didn't do anything else...did he?"

"He kissed me on the cheek. But I was caught off guard." He nods his head but I couldn't help but notice the way he clenched his jaw, again. I just wanted to grab it but then I was afraid I would cut my hand by touching it.

Oh my fudge nuggets I sound so stupid..

"You know that means that he is trying to get to you...right baby? You have to be distant." He stares at me.

"But I can't just cut him off like dat. Mi still ago be friends with him but I'm gonna be cautious and distant." He bows his head and mumbles something to himself.

"That's great. Just know that he will never get you. Because you're mine." He says and drinks his milkshake casually, like calling people his is ordinary for him.

"I'm yours?" I ask like the idiot I am.

"Of course June. From the first day I saw you, I claimed you as mine. No one can have you but me. I shouldn't even let people touch you but unfortunately, I have friends and families who love you." He says and kisses my cheek. I've never seen this side of Jace, the possessive side of him, but I like it.

"Oh..." I blush.

"Excuse me? Are you Julia Pepper?" A group of people come  to our table asks.

"Yes?"

"Oh my gosh, I love how you decided to go on the boy's football team! Your a legend! Girl power! Am I right?" One girl says.

"Yeah."

"She's so cool."
"She's unique."
"She's talented."

"Thanks." I say. I smile at them because I notice that none of them pin point that I'm black.

Huh, I guess people are starting to warm up to me...

.........

"Today was awesome." Jace says as he enters his room.

"I agree." I put my new clothes in my suitcase and grab my pajamas, heading towards the bathroom.

"Where are you going?" Jace asks.

"To the bathroom?" I giggle.

"No, I meant, where are you going without a kiss?" He comes up to me and kisses my forehead. I blush I playfully push him.

I enter the bathroom and sigh. Just then, my phone rings.

"Hello?"

"Enjoy living there now you little slut. But it won't last long. Remember, eventually you'll come running back to me." The voice says and it hangs up.

It didn't take me much time to realise that the voice is none other than my demonic stepmother.

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A/N: Hello family!!!! I know this chapter was boring but please bare with me, the other chapters will be juicy, I promise. Julia is so confusing ahhh! But that's how I want her to be.

Who likes possessive Jace? I know I do. As a Libra, I'm obsessed with possessiveness ya feel me?

I'm so sorry if this chapter was confusing and jumbled. I just haven't been writing like I used to. Its been a very busy summer for me so far. Oh I forgot, Happy Summer my little bunnies! I hope you cuties enjoy the time being away from school (I know I am)

I think I followed some cutie patooties who were so nice to support me (if I haven't, please don't feel offended, I wuv you! There just so many of you) I'll make sure to give out dedications to who I can.

So I might not answer all of you guys request and comments etc, I'm trying to read your books one by one but its really hard, but I'll try. Let me remind you that I am a lazy little potato 😂, so please be patient with me.

I love you all individually. I want you all to just know that. I appreciate you all for what you are doing for me.

Reflection: Mistakes are only proves that you have tried. Never change who you are for anyone. Stay true to you.

God bless you all :)