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.

see him," Jace snapped suddenly. He hesitated, then added, "He's

I froze.

Jace, my mouth opening and closing, struggling to make sense

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

turned to Steve, frantic, my eyes pleading with him. "What he said isn't...

if you

If I cried, it

eyes widened. Without thinking, I shoved him

You're all lying! I don't believe

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

out, punching him, but it didn't

final, desperate move,

flinch. He just held

I ran out of strength. My teeth loosened, my

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arm. "Please don't

to accept

could I

was so 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 to Steve, desperate.

word from Jace. His words were too final, too devastating, shattering the last bit of hope I had