13 Chapter Thirteen: Drama

Jade has stormed out of the huge mansion, refusing to look back. She struggled to keep the tears back, struggled not to scream. The turmoil within her felt like it was eating her from the inside. Her heart hurt, rage boiled in her blood, and a nearly overwhelming exhaustion flooded through her limbs. The battle between tiredness and adrenaline hurt, but not as much as the throb in her heart.

'How could I be so nieve...so stupid?'

Jade sighed deeply, rubbing the bare skin of her arms. It was a hot day, but she felt cold. Void of any positive emotion as Derik's words went through her mind.

'You think you're worth toying with?'

He said it like she was nothing like she was a waste of time to even toy with.

'Then what was that kiss in school for?'

'Why the hell would I toy with you?'

His voice echoed in her mind. His words had cut her deep, deeper than she thought they could. She had opened herself up, she had let it happen.

'If only I had been more careful.'

As she walked, she put her head down, looking down at the pavement. A single tear fell from her eye, and she quickly wiped it away.

'You're a Hunter, stop acting so weak. Pick yourself up, and keep moving. Never stop.' She told herself.

Listening to her own advice, she put her headphones in and listened to her music, volume turned all the way up. Her father would be angry if she came home early, she was supposed to be in school. So that's where she went. She still had two classes before the end of the day.

Arriving at the school, Jade went to her locker. The school main room was empty, seventh period was still in session. Jade used this to her advantage, giving herself time to gather her emotions into a little neat package and tie them up with a pretty white bow, seeming in order to the outside world. She'd deal with her hurt later when she was alone in her room.

The bell rang, and Jade collected her books and went into her eighth period, emotions stored away for the safety of the other people.

Derik had left his house after Jade, taking the bag full of Soul Stones.

'What just happened?'

Their interaction had left him completely confused. He told her he wasn't playing with her, so what was with her reaction?

'Derik,'

He normally loved the way his name sounded in her voice, but this time it was full of anger, full of hatred, full of pain.

'I swear to fucking God, if you don't let me go right now, I will never forgive you,'

Her voice was filling with pain, and that pain had been hurting him.

'and you don't want to piss off a Hunter.'

The threat had sounded weak. The anger had been quickly fading, leaving in its wake a sadness Derik never imagined Jade could possess.

All of this had left Derik's own emotions a jumbled mess. He wasn't one to care about human emotions, they were under him. But Jade was different, much different. And because of that, it drove him crazy, both angry and happy. The two emotions that should and did, clash, he always felt, in one form or another, around Jade.

He sighed and texted the guys. They agreed to meet him at the school, although they were all curious as to why he wanted to meet up.

At the school, Derik was assaulted by questions.

"Why were we contacted?" Mark asked first.

"And where is Jade?" Jones asked second.

"That's why I contacted you," Derik replied.

"Did that Incubus get Jade?" Jones asked, concerned.

"No, no. She is safe. She just doesn't want anything to do with me." Derik said.

"Wait, so the great Derik Heath is having girl problems, and he called us for help?" Jones asked, feeling shocked but honored.

"Yes," Derik said with a sigh.

"We got you, Man. Start explaining." Jones said, smiling like he won the lottery.

"Well, We were getting the Soul Stones at my house. We got there and she suddenly got pissed. I confronted her about it and she freaked out. Then she left and I texted you." Derik explained, frustration and confusion running through him again.

"What was said?" Mark asked.

"She was saying I was toying with her, but I don't understand where she would get that idea," Derik replied, sighing.

"Sounds like you need to calmly talk to her," Jones said.

"How?" Derik asked.

The group had walked into the school. Derik just had this feeling Jade was there, he didn't know why, but he felt like she was. As they walked in, the bell rang. Students flooded the room, and sure enough, Jade was walking towards the lockers, the other humans clearing a way for her.

"She's at your locker, maybe she's ready to talk," Jones said.

Taking a deep breath, Derik walked to Jade, who was by his locker. The guys followed him, keeping silent so they could listen.

Jade opened her locker and got her last period books. Derik's words were still fresh in her mind, but she had managed to get past the urge to cry. It wasn't like they had anything serious going on.

"Hey, Jade. Can we talk?" A familiar voice behind her said.

Every part of Jade froze. Then she moved. Her heart went to excitement to anger as she straightened her posture.

"What is there to talk about?" Jade asked cooly.

"With what happened at my house," Derik said.

"Are you apologizing?" Jade asked a spark of hope starting in her chest.

"No. I don't have to apologize, you're the one who freaked out. I want to know why." Derik said.

The spark of hope went out instantly, replaced by a raging fire of hatred.

'Pretentious ass.'

Jade's eyes narrowed as she slammed her locker shut.

"So?" Derik asked.

"So," Jade replied calmly. "Fuck off."

"Jade. Would you just listen?" Derik's frustration was rising again.

"No. You listen, Asshole. Go. To. Hell."

With that, Jade walked right out of the school, never once looking at Derik or anyone from his group.