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.

snapped suddenly. He hesitated, then added, "He's

I froze.

stared at Jace, my mouth opening and

hand tightened on my shoulder. "Rea, you...

with

with sorrow. "Rea, if you need to cry...

couldn't cry. If I cried, it meant I accepted it. And I

thinking, I

You're all lying! I don't

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

lashed out, punching him, but it didn't matter. He

final, desperate move,

even flinch. He

I ran out of strength. My teeth loosened, my hands trembled, and I slumped against

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1925 BONUSI

still clutching his arm. "Please don't be so cruel...

accept it. Jace said

I

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. "Take me to

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