Tainted Romance

by Simone Elise

  And why the hell did she have to keep touching him?

  Were they flirting?

  Ebony’s wide polished smile broadened, while she continued to laugh.

  I suppose it didn’t help Zane was fucking grinning down at her like she was the funniest woman on the planet.

  My stomach twisted when I heard the school bell ring. Looks like I couldn’t prolong walking past them any longer.

  Holding my head high, I headed for class. I can do this. I am doing this. Lucky for me the timing was perfect as the halls quickly filled with students. I managed to get past them without either of them glancing at me.

  And that hurt.

  It hurt a lot.

  He knew I was Blake-free, but he didn’t bother to stop and talk to me. He didn’t do his normal cocky thing and stop me. Perhaps things weren’t going as well as I thought.

  It felt like all the progress we had made had just been wiped, and it wasn’t me determining that. It was him.

  It was Zane pulling away from me.

  I wasn’t one for nerves as I rarely got them, but, lately, it was as if I was filled with nothing but nerves, and Zane did nothing but flame them.

  The week had passed uneventfully. Zane was avoiding me. In fact, his behavior only got worse when the pack’s family run got postponed for a week due to Alpha Harris having to go out of town for business.

  Seeing as Zane had mentioned he would call or message me, my phone had been glued to me ever since.

  But he hadn’t called.

  Or messaged.

  In fact, he hadn’t even glanced in my direction for more than a second. I found myself hovering in common areas around the house, in case I ran into him.

  But still, that hadn’t happened.

  Blake still wasn’t speaking to me so it wasn’t like I could go and see him. So here I was, alone, at the pack house with not one friend.

  Not even Ryder was around anymore. I had called him a few times, and he had yet to return any of my calls.

  I fiddled with the strap of my dress while waiting outside. Still can’t believe I had agreed to this.

  The front door opened, and I turned to see who it was.

  What were the chances? I hadn’t seen him all week, and now, while I was waiting out front for Chase, he showed his face?

  “Hi.” Zane’s eyes ran up and down me. “Heading out?”

  I snapped my head back and looked away from him. No way in hell was I giving him an answer.

  “So, not speaking to me?”

  Against my choice, I looked back at him. “Surprised you’re speaking to me.” I crossed my arms. “Am I no longer invisible?”

  There wasn’t one trace of warmth or kindness in his eyes. “Been busy.”

  “Right.” If he wanted to be cold, I could be colder.

  Just in time, Chase’s headlights headed towards us. Looks like I was saved by Chase. I owed him one.

  “You going on a date?”

  I paused on the steps. “Is that really any of your business?” I turned to look back at him. “Really, Zane? You freeze me out of your life, and think you can ask questions now?”

  He had his chance and he blew it. Fuck, he exploded it into pieces.

  I swear I saw regret in his eyes for a moment before it disappeared. “Like I said. I’ve been busy.”

  Chase’s horn blew.

  “You know what, Zane?” Anger filled my voice. “So have I.” It was a lie, but in some ways not.

  Zane freezing me out made me realize how sheltered I was. It was time for me to spread my wings, I guess, and meet new people.

  “Have a good night, Zane,” I muttered, heading to Chase’s car.

  I didn’t know what had made Zane block me out of his life. I also didn’t know if I ever wanted to know.

  Chapter Twenty-nine

  Chase shot me a sideways glance. "So, are you going to explain that or not?" His eyebrows slowly arched with interest. "Never seen Harris be protective before."

  Well, Zane certainly knew when to pick a bad time to show his face.

  "It was nothing."

  Why was it since I met Zane I seemed to be lying more?

  "Why am I thinking you and Zane are the reason Blake is avoiding your calls?"

  "Avoiding them?" My head snapped in his direction. "I thought he was just busy."

  Chase bit back a smile. "Seriously? You thought he was busy every time you called."

  "Yes."

  I suppose I really needed to stop thinking the best of people. Finding out that your best friend was blocking your calls hurt.

  "He said something about you choosing the wrong side," Chase continued to press me for answers. "Did you and him, well, break up or what?"

  "We weren't dating." Why did everyone jump to that conclusion? "We were friends and, yeah, sometimes we might have had sex, but it wasn't like an exclusive thing you know?"

  "Did Blake know that it wasn't an exclusive thing?" Chase gave me a mocking expression. "Or did you just assume he knew?"

  "Of course, he knew!" If there was one thing I knew about mine and Blake's screwed up friendship, it was he didn't see it as a relationship. I was never his girlfriend. "Blake is just pissed off because he caught me checking Zane out, that's it. Like I said he overreacted."

  "You got a thing for the Alpha-to-be?" Chase's eyes widened. "Didn't take you as that type of girl."

  "Would you drop it!" I snapped, my temper boiling. "It was nothing, and this conversation is heading nowhere, so why don't you stop harassing me about it!"

  I only had one friend now, and that was Chase so as his face turned to one of rage at my sudden outburst, I knew I had crossed the line.

  "We're here." Chase pulled the car to a stop. "Hope you have a fantastic night, Allie." His tone dripped with sarcasm.

  I tried to apologize, but he jumped out of the car and slammed the door in my face before I had a chance.

  Why did this keep happening to me?

  I stepped out of the car, and as soon as the door closed the car locked, but I couldn't see where Chase was.

  My eyes froze on the house party.

  Teenagers overflowed from the house across the front lawn. The music was loud, and the laughter was louder.

  I swallowed sharply.

  This was a house party.

  This is how teenagers liked to spend their weekends.

  This was my version of Hell.

  I smoothed a hand down my red dress. My heels were high, my dress was short, and my hair was freshly curled. It was official, I had ticked all the boxes, I was ready for the party.

  But I didn't want to go in.

  I knew Chase would be in there somewhere, and sure I could lie and say that wasn't adding to my reasons to not to go in.

  I wondered briefly if Blake was in there.

  Then I wondered if anyone had noticed the weird girl standing outside the party, looking like an outsider.

  Sighing, I unclipped my purse and pulled out my phone. This wasn't my scene. I couldn't even pretend for a night. Why couldn't I be normal?

  By my current location on the map, I was only a few blocks over from the mall and library. At least I knew roughly where I was.

  Slipping my heels off, I held them in my hands and began to follow the path heading for a destination I would feel more myself.

  And so, my night as a normal teenager ended. I guessed when it came down to it, I just wasn't normal. Pity really, because I heard that that was the ‘in thing.’

  Chapter Thirty

  How did a book get such an alluring smell? More importantly, why was I suddenly feeling more at home in a library than at the pack house?

  God, was I coming down with nerd?

  I tucked my legs under me and flipped the page of the current romance novel I was reading. God, I was actually reading.

  My life just got that much more depressing. I found it amazing this library had such a c
omfortable couch.

  "Excuse me?"

  My eyes shot up from the page and landed on the last person I expected to ever see again. The weird boy from my class.

  "Um, hi." I frowned. He was the last person I would expect to see here, although I guess I was, so it didn’t rule out someone else having the crazy idea of crashing here also. "Can I help you?"

  Seeing as he was blankly staring at me, I guessed there was something he wanted.

  "I'm Jace." He shot a hand out. "I didn't get a chance to introduce myself the other day."

  "Um, Allie." I took his hand. "Sorry about that. My friend is a little dramatic."

  "Yeah, figured that." He blew out a long breath, looking slightly more relaxed.

  For someone as good looking as him, he seemed to be full of nerves. I couldn't lie and say he wasn't good looking because he was, his sharp features were what models were made of.

  "You're dressed up for a late night of studying." He nodded to my outfit.

  I suppose I was. "Wasn't the planned destination." I moved on the couch to make room for him. "Welcome to join me if you want."

  "Thanks." He unbuttoned the top button of his suit shirt and loosened his tie.

  "So, what's your story? Doesn't look like you dressed for a late-night study session." I said, taking in his black suit pants, ironed long sleeve black shirt, and white tie.

  "Yeah. Tonight's, well, been complicated," he muttered, staring down at the carpet.

  "Do you come here often?" I asked him. "Or is this a one-off thing?"

  Jace turned his head to the side to look at me. "Never been here before in my life."

  I suppressed a smile. "Me either."

  "First for both of us then."

  "Yep."

  We shared a smile, but it was his flawless grin that turned something in my stomach, which really had me wanting to hit myself. Seriously, a smile could get that reaction out of me! It was depressing and desperate all at the same time.

  "So, are you new at school or something? I haven't seen you around much." I attempted to recall seeing him around the place, but I was coming up blank. Apart from that awkward conversation in the classroom, I couldn't place him.

  Jace's smile fell, and he again turned to stare at the floor. "I was just visiting the school."

  "I didn't turn you off it, did I?" I joked while closing the book I had been reading. Then I snapped my fingers, remembering. "You said you had a few classes with me, oh, and you had notes. How did you have all those notes if you were just visiting?"

  Ok, maybe I was sticking my nose where it didn't belong.

  Jace leaned back on the couch. "Didn't say I had only visited on that day. I actually had been there a few weeks, but my dad is…" His expression darkened. "Controlling."

  I could relate to that. "Parents, they are useless, right?" I gave him a reassuring smile. By the distant look on his face, I could tell that his mind was elsewhere.

  "Do you want to get something to eat?" he asked out of nowhere, breaking the silence between us. He stood, placing a hand out for me to take. "Come on, it's on me."

  Ok. That changed quickly. I tilted my head to the side, looking up at him. "What changed?"

  "What do you mean?"

  "You aren't nearly as nervous as you were five minutes ago. Actually, you even look more relaxed."

  That grin made a reappearance. "Just realized something. So, are you in or not?"

  I placed the book on the coffee table. "Depends."

  "On?"

  "If you tell me what this realization was about." I scooped up my heels and put them on.

  "Do you ever do something to please someone else?"

  "Not really." I would admit it, I was a selfish person.

  "Well, I do. In fact, the last few weeks I've been having to do what they want me to do, and getting nowhere."

  I frowned. "Ok."

  "Then I just realized that if it is going to work, I have to do it my way." He shrugged it off.

  Placing my hand in his, he pulled me off the couch. "You're a strange person, you know that?"

  He laughed. "Normally I get handsome or extremely good looking."

  "Don't lie. You normally get weird, don't you?" I smiled back at him while following him out of the library.

  "I'll have you know," he held the door open for me, "That I am normally a lot smoother when it comes to women. You just… well, you just throw me off my game."

  "You barely know me; how can I make you nervous?" I glanced up at him.

  The smile had disappeared from his face, but it was the kindness in his eyes which told me there was something I didn't know.

  The kindness within those eyes wasn't the type you would have for a stranger.

  "You're keeping a secret from me, aren't you?" I paused, focusing on his eyes.

  "Perhaps." He brushed the curls from my face and dipped his head down slightly. "But I'm not going to tell you."

  "And who said I wanted to know?" I gave him a challenging look, placing a hand on my hip.

  He laughed, taking a step back from me. "It's who you are."

  I pointed my purse at him. "Don't act like you know me."

  "Oh, I know you." He shook his head. "Trust me. Come on, there is a café around the corner."

  "And what makes you think I want to come? You're a creepy stranger who is admitting to stalking me."

  He laughed again flashing his white teeth. "Stalking you? God, you jump to conclusions, don't you?"

  I shrugged my shoulders. "What would you call it then?"

  "Not stalking."

  "I'd call it stalking."

  "You just like attention."

  "See!" I pointed at him. "You don't know because if you really knew me, you would know I hate attention."

  He rolled his eyes. "Come on, Allie, move your butt."

  "And what makes you think I am actually going to follow you?"

  He turned on the bottom step and looked back up at me with kindness in his eyes again. "Because you trust me."

  My smile fell. Did I trust him? How could I trust someone I just met? More importantly, how could I trust someone that was so darn creepy all the time?

  I took a step forward, meeting him at the bottom of the stairs. "Don’t think too much of yourself. Maybe I just like pie." My shoulder brushed him as I passed him.

  Did I trust him? I cocked a glance back at him, and, sure enough, he was following me, but it was the smirk on his face that gave me my answer.

  I did trust him.

  God, what the hell was wrong with me?

  ***

  "So, what's on for the rest of the night? Do you need a ride home?" Jace placed his fork down and reached for his water.

  The whole time he kept his blue eyes on me.

  I swallowed the last mouthful of my pie. "Do you have a license?"

  "Yep."

  "It wouldn't be a hassle?"

  "No."

  "Because I don't want to be a hassle."

  "Allie," he said my name with a determined look in his eyes. "It wouldn't be a hassle."

  Over the last hour, I felt like I was getting to know him better. I felt like I had always known him. I didn't know if that was possible, but it had happened.

  "Thanks." I shot him a smile and checked my phone.

  No missed calls.

  No messages.

  Looks like Chase hadn't cared what happened to me. Some friend. I finished my hot chocolate and Jace got up.

  "I'll get the bill, and then we can leave."

  "Wait." I reached for my purse and handed him some cash. "Here."

  He frowned for a moment, then bent down picking something up. "Here, you must have dropped this." Then he clicked a bracelet around my wrist. "I'll be back in a minute."

  I looked at the simple gold bracelet he had just snapped around my wrist. It wasn't mine. I hadn't dropped a thing.

  He rushed off so qui
ckly that I didn't even get a chance to tell him.

  I went to undo the clip, but it seemed to be stuck.

  "You ready to go?" Jace was back at my side.

  "Yes, I'm just trying to get this off." I played with the clip more, but it still seemed to be stuck.

  "Why? It's yours, isn't it?"

  I looked up at him. "No."

  "Well, it suits you." He wouldn't look me in the eye. Instead, he nodded his head at the table. "Don't forget your purse."

  He didn't even seem to care that he had just clipped some random piece of jewelry on my wrist, which would not come off mind you.

  Sighing and giving up, I grabbed my purse and decided we should leave before someone noticed it and thought I had stolen it.

  "So, where do you live?"

  I riddled off the pack house address and followed him up the street.

  "Isn't that a group house?" Jace questioned. "Why do you live there?" He didn't hide his dislike for the idea, but I guess that was all he had, an idea of what the house was. He didn't know the truth.

  "So, you parked here?" I changed the subject. "Bit of a walk to the library from here."

  He seemed to not want to answer my question, or at the very least not tell me any more details of his night so he changed the subject and started talking about the weather.

  I smiled to myself. Jace had secrets, and he sucked at not showing he had them, but who was I to judge, after all, I was half wild animal.

  ***

  Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump.

  "OPEN THE DOOR, ALLIE!"

  I stirred in my bed, groaning at the sound of the loud, demanding voice.

  "ALLIE!"

  Throwing the blankets back, I tumbled out of bed, tripping over a few things before finally making it to my bedroom door.

  "What? What's happened?" I threw the door open.

  I had expected an emergency. I wasn't expecting Zane.

  "You better have one hell of a good reason to get me out of bed," I snapped up at him, still squinting from the brightness of the hall.

  "Glad to see you're alive." His voice dripped with sarcasm. "Thought you had gone and got yourself killed."

  "Oh God forbid I do that." I really wasn't in the mood for this. In fact, I wasn't in the mood for anything apart from sleeping which I was doing until this ape ripped me out of bed. "I'm going back to bed." I tried to close the door, but he slapped it back open.