The Gossip Web (24 page)

“That’s enough, Freddie!” Trace snapped, his blue eyes hardening. “Just get out of here!”

Freddie laughed at his outburst and flashed another bright smile. “You’re playing a very dangerous game here, Trace. If you think you can just come waltzing back after you’re done screwing around with this---”

That’s when Trace lost it. “Freddie, do yourself a big favor and start walking,” he interrupted him angrily.

“I’m going, I’m going,” Freddie mumbled, his brown eyes twinkling with mischief.

After moving an foot or two down the hallway, Freddie stopped and glanced back at me. He sent a wink in my direction and said, “Maybe when you get bored of him, Jade, you could give me a call. I love Trace’s sloppy seconds…and Gloria never complained.”

Trace’s fist came out of nowhere. I didn’t even see it coming. All of a sudden, Freddie was lying on the ground and Trace was standing over him yelling, “Don’t you even think about coming near her! Do you understand me, Freddie?”

“What are you going to do about it, huh?” Freddie chuckled as he stood up. He wiped a palm against his lip, and I noticed a fresh cut just below his nose. Trace had hit him hard.

Staggering backwards, Freddie blew me a kiss and gave Trace an unpleasant gesture with his hand before he spat, “Go to hell, Trace.” When he finally started walking away from us, Trace exhaled and glanced back over at me.

“What a bastard,” he mumbled, rubbing his injured hand with the other. I noticed a bruise beginning to form on his knuckle.

“How hard did you hit him?” I asked him worriedly, hoping he wasn’t in much pain.

“Hard enough,” Trace replied stonily.

I was concerned about his reckless action. After shaking my head at him, I replied, “Trace, you shouldn’t have done that.”

“He deserved it after what he called you.” Trace sighed and added, “I should’ve kept hitting him.”

I placed a hand on his shoulder and gently said, “No, Trace. It doesn’t matter. He’s your friend.”

Trace shook his head and grabbed my free hand, bringing it to his cheek. “You’re my friend. The only real one I’ve ever had.”

As I stared into his warm blue eyes, I realized that his fight with Freddie had been because of me. The populars obviously opposed our relationship, and they weren’t going to stop until they successfully destroyed us. Nothing good would become of him if he stayed with me. He would turn into a social reject, and after a time he would hate me for it. I knew he would…and I couldn’t let that happen to him.

“I’m sorry,” I said suddenly, dropping my hands from his body.

“For what?” He asked curiously. “You didn’t punch Freddie in the nose.”

I shook my head and replied, “No, not for that. But…”

Trace smiled and reached his hand out to stroke my face, but I pulled away hastily. I bit my lip warily as I kept my stare fixed at my feet.

Trace crossed his arms irritably and asked me. “Okay. What’s going through your head, Jade?”

“All of this is my fault, Trace,” I told him with a sigh.

He appeared confused by my confession. “How do you figure that?”

I glanced away before I replied, “Awful things will only continue to happen if you stay with me, Trace. I’m like a disease, and once you catch it you’ll have no one but me at your side. Freddie, Gloria, everyone---they’ll forget about the boy you used to be and it’ll be their life mission to ruin you.” Gazing back at him, my eyes grew hard as I added, “I can’t let that happen to you, Trace. I won’t be the reason you lost everything.”

Trace’s brows narrowed, and he stared at me with an annoyed look on his face. After a few moments of silence, Trace replied sternly, “This has got to stop, Jade.”

“Huh? What do you mean?” I frowned.

“Every time something bad happens, you have to go all gloom and doom on me.” He stroked my cheek before adding, “You need to relax.”

I couldn’t help but be insulted over the fact that he was considering me emo and that he had no intention of taking my advice. “I’m just trying to warn you,” I told him, my voice holding a hint of anger.

“I don’t need to be warned, Jade. Okay? I’m a big boy.” Trace shook his head suddenly and spat, “And how many times do I have to explain to you that I don’t give a shit about anybody in this school but you?”

Feeling my cheeks heat up, I mumbled, “That’s not true.”

Trace ducked down to my eye level and said, “It is, Jade. It is.”

“Trace---” I began, but he wouldn’t let me go on. He pressed his face against mine, and my mind went dizzy. I lost all concentration of thought as Trace kissed me, and as my stomach did flip-flops, I enjoyed the sensation of his lips. I kissed him back and wished the moment to never end.

Trace ended the kiss and brought his lips to my ear. “Believe in that. In us,” he whispered tenderly.

“I do,” I mumbled faintly, still caught up by his taste.

He tucked a strand of my red hair behind my ear and said, “Know that I would never do anything to hurt you…at least nothing intentional,” Trace frowned and added, “Unless you really deserved it.”

Rolling my eyes at him, I pushed his shoulder gently and replied, “How considerate of you, Trace.”

“I’m such a gentleman,” he laughed, and just as he bent down to kiss me again, the two-minute warning bell rung. Why, oh why, must the bell always ring?

Trace frowned at the sound of the bell and replied, “Freddie was right about one thing though.”

“Which was what?” I asked him curiously.

“I really do need to get to class.” After kissing my cheek quickly, Trace grinned and said, “I’ll call you later tonight.”

“Alright,” I beamed happily.

Trace turned to walk away from me, but he stopped and tilted his head back around. “Oh, and just to keep you thinking about me all day, I’m going to let you in on a secret. When I call you, I’m going to ask you a very important question.”

“Really? What kind of question, Trace?” I asked him breathlessly.

Trace grinned. “One that I hope you’ll say yes to.”

In a flash, he left my side and hurried down the hall. I watched him go with a smile, wondering what in the world he wanted to ask me. Of course, I had an idea of what his question could be, but I didn’t want to jinx it. However, if his question was the same one I was thinking of, Trace wouldn’t have to wish or anticipate. My answer would most definitely be yes.

30

             
WHEN I HEADED TO LUNCH,
everyone I passed by in the hallway stared me down. To make sure I wasn’t just being paranoid, I tried making eye contact with some of the students, but I was surprised to find their eyes averting quickly from mine. It was really weird. I thought maybe I had something on my face, or some other outer flaw that everyone was noticing. I didn’t worry about it too much though as I kept on to the lunchroom. But when I sat down at my lunch table and Trace joined me, I couldn’t ignore their undivided attention any longer.

             
As soon as I set my tray on top of the table, a pair of hands grabbed my shoulders from behind, and soft lips touched my cheek. I smiled as Trace said, “Hello, beautiful.”

             
“Hi, Trace,” I replied happily, and I watched him take a seat next to me. After eyeing him curiously, I asked him, “What are you doing? Isn’t your table over there?”

             
I pointed towards Gloria and her merry band of bitches, but I frowned when I noticed everyone sitting at her table was staring at us. Them too? What the hell was going on? I surveyed the lunchroom with heavy eyes, finding that each and every table was looking directly at me and Trace. It was unnerving, and when I nudged Trace, hushed whispers erupted all around us.

             
“Oh my God! Do they ever give up?” I muttered irritably as I propped my elbow up on the table. Lowering my forehead into my palm, I tried to hide my face behind my long red hair as I whispered, “I can’t take this anymore!”

             
“What is it, Jade? What’s wrong?” Trace asked me softly.

             
“They’re all staring,” I replied grimly, and I lifted my head out from hiding just as Trace began to glance around the lunchroom.

             
“I can’t believe this!” He muttered angrily, after he realized everybody was staring at us. “What the hell is their problem?”

             
“I don’t know.” I watched anxiously as Trace shook his head and stood up. “What are you doing?” I asked him.

             
Trace reached for my hand abruptly and said, “Come on, get up.”

             
My eyes went wide with fear. “Why would I want to do that?” I asked him warily.

             
“To beat them at their own game,” he replied. “If we want them to stop, we have to show them that we aren’t going to stand for their stupid games.”

             
I shook my head and said, “No, Trace, please---” but he ignored my plea and pulled me onto my feet. My face heated up from embarrassment as Trace and I stared around at the student body---who were all presently sitting. If there was a small amount of people who hadn’t been staring at us before, they definitely were now. By standing up, we’d certainly caused more attention for ourselves.

             
Students continued to stare at us while we stood by our table, and then someone out in the crowd began laughing. Suddenly, a wave of laughter erupted from the back of the cafeteria, and the harsh sound came rumbling towards us. I gazed around in bewilderment as boys and girls alike began to point and laugh at us.

             
“This is ridiculous!” Trace spat. “Come on, Jade. Let’s get out of here.”

             
“Please,” I agreed, and hastily grabbed his hand. “I can’t stand their laughter any longer.”

             
Trace squeezed my hand tightly before led me towards the cafeteria doors. I happily let him; I just wanted to get out of that circus. As soon as we were about to exit the cafeteria, we ran into Camille and Lacey standing by the double doors. The girls prevented us of our escape as they sneered at me; their hands planted firmly on their hips. Camille spoke first.

             
“Hi Trace…Jade.” Camille’s tone was sharp when my name passed by her lips, and she almost sounded as revolted as Gloria usually did when she spoke to me.

             
Trace narrowed his eyes at her and muttered, “Hey.”

             
I kept quiet as I watched Lacey roll her eyes at me and toss back her strawberry curls. When I showed no reaction to her rude behavior, she frowned and placed her attention on Trace. Lacey glared at him before she spat, “How could you do that to Freddie, Trace? He’s supposed to be your best friend, and you go and punch him in the nose? Is this little nobody really worth losing all your friends?”

             
“Lacey!” Camille hissed, shooting her a look of pure bitch.

             
“Sorry…” Lacey replied faintly.

             
Camille shook her head in annoyance before glancing back at me. Without a word, she took a menacing step in my direction and dipped her head down towards my ear. The hair from her brown bob tickled my nose as she whispered, “I’m going to give you some advice, honey. You’d better be careful because this game can get very dangerous. I wouldn’t want something horrible to happen to you, Jade.”

             
Now she was threatening me? Seriously?

             
“What are you saying?” I breathed angrily, my eyes turning hazy---but I didn’t mind them. I kept strong as I met Camille’s heavy stare.

             
Camille grinned and said, “Remember, Jade, you still have one more year left at West Havenbrook High. Do you really want to suffer your entire senior year?”

             
“Knock it off, Camille!” Trace shouted, and glared at her dangerously. “Leave Jade alone!”

             
“This is none of your business, Trace! So butt out!” Camille replied.

             
“You don’t scare me, Camille,” I told her faintly, gaining her attention once more. I took a deep breath and added, “Besides, haven’t you people done enough already?”

             
Camille looked to Lacey and then back at me. She smiled evilly as she said, “Poor, innocent, Jade. You have no idea what we’re capable of do you?” Placing a firm hand on my shoulder, Camille met my eye and whispered, “Trust me, it’s only going to get a lot worse for you.”