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.

Jace, my mouth opening and closing, struggling to make

on my shoulder.

turned to Steve, frantic, my eyes pleading with

filled with sorrow. "Rea, if you need to cry... just let it

If I cried, it meant

Without thinking,

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

his grip unrelenting. I thrashed, fought, clawed at him, but

suffocating panic took over. I lashed out, punching

a final, desperate move,

even flinch. He just held

loosened, my hands

12

1925 BONUSI

don't be so

accept it. Jace said

I accept

my skin, his heartbeat pounding in my ears-how could

too final, too devastating, shattering the last bit of hope I