Bye-Bye Jerk, Hello Mr. Right by Rosie Steppe

Neither Jace nor Steve said a word. They just stared of me.

I lifted my head slowly and asked in a daze, "You don't know?"

I tried to sit up. "Then I'll go find him."

"Rea." Steve pressed me back down. His eyes were red.

I blinked. "What's wrong?"

Jace's voice soft. "Hayden's already gone."

I nodded, "I know..." I forced a weak smile. "I know he's gone... that's why I need to go be with him."

Steve's grip on my hand tightened-hard, almost painful. I looked at him. "You're hurting me."

"Rea..." His voice was rough. "You won't see him again,

I stared at him, something inside me twisting, clawing, breaking. But I shoved it back down. "I can. Just let me go.

"Rea," Steve said again, his voice desperate.

But I couldn't stop. I pushed harder against his grip. "Let me go."

That raw, desperate need bubbled over, burning in my chest. I had to see him. If I didn't, I'd lose what little was left of me.

can't see him," Jace snapped suddenly. He hesitated, then added, "He's already... been

I froze.

mouth opening and closing, struggling to make

my shoulder. "Rea, you... you need to calm

pleading with him. "What he said isn't...

if you

I cried, it meant

eyes widened. Without thinking, I shoved

lying! You're all lying! I don't

and run, but Steve grabbed me again, his grip unrelenting. I thrashed, fought, clawed at him, but

lashed out, punching him,

a final, desperate move, I bit

even flinch. He just held

teeth loosened, my hands trembled, and

12

1925 BONUSI

arm. "Please don't be so cruel... Please don't

accept it. Jace said

I accept

alive just hours ago-holding me, dodging freaking balls from Bruno's men, his breath warm on my skin, his heartbeat pounding in my ears-how could he just be gone? I turned

couldn't hear another word from Jace. His words were too final, too devastating, shattering the last bit of hope I