JADELYNN
Thad’s arm was laced around my waist as we walked towards the waterfall. It was one of my favorite places to go in this entire place. Georgia had gorgeous scenery that we both thoroughly enjoyed. There were many places on our bucket list to see one day, but this was the one of the most beautiful places that I could have ever thought about living.
This waterfall in the in the middle of the woods was a place of true beauty. There was a power and brilliance in the tranquility it provided. The rushing water as it plummeted down had a lulling effect. You could see through the water as if it was a piece of glass. It cascaded down the rocky outcropping into a deep pool below. Founder’s Peak Waterfall was the first and only one I saw in person. However, I doubted that many could compare to this one.
It was my eighth birthday when our parents brought us out to this waterfall for the very first time. We had a little camp out which turned out to be more fun than I had anticipated. I loved the outdoors, but I loved the comfort of my own bed more. We had a blast though and was my favorite birthday then and now.
Thad just turned seventeen the day after the start of summer. We had known each other for nearly ten years now and have been inseparable our whole lives. His eighteenth birthday was going to be one to remember because it would be huge. I had yet to decide what we were going to do, but I would make sure that it would be one that he never forgot. Perhaps we would do a huge bonfire party. That could be a lot of fun. We were no strangers to parties, but we always had to be on the lookout after Pauline tried to roofie him to finally get a taste. She would definitely not be coming anywhere near his party though. None of her friends would be either.
The sun peaked out through the shading of the tree canopies. It was warm but the slight breeze helped keep us cool. It felt perfect.
“Did you see how red Pauline’s face got?” Thad asked, breaking me out of my thoughts.
I threw my head back and laughed. Oh, I saw alright. It was hilarious and something that would replay in my memory forever. I would not say that I thrived off dominating Pauline, but it was something that I definitely enjoyed doing. She felt like she was everyone’s master, but she certainly was not, nor would she ever be, mine.
“I didn’t know that someone’s face could get quite that red,” I snorted.
We laid down on the blanket he put out. I took a good look at him. He changed over the summer. Not in a bad way, but definitely in a noticeable way. Besides the physical changes, he held an air of authority now. I was not entirely certain how to describe it. He had this type of aura which called out to me. It certainly made him sexier.
“What’s that look for?” he asked as he tucked some hair behind my ear.
His fingertips trailed down my cheek until his thumb ran across my jaw. His touches always ignited butterflies in my stomach, and this time was no different. It was amazing how his simple touch could ignite such a reaction from me. He was the only one who could.
“Don’t know what you’re talking about,” I said with a straight face.
Thad knew me better than anyone else did. There was not a single thing that I could hide from him. Even if my expressions were completely schooled, he still saw the truth behind the mask. The emotion behind each twitch and movement I made just like I could do with him.
“Mhm,” he hummed, clearly not believing me in the slightest.
“You’ve changed over the summer,” I said.
I did not miss the slight tick of his jaw. It was his tell that there was something he wanted to say but could not. He never once pushed me, so I would extend the same courtesy to him. Thad always told me whatever he could whenever he could. I trusted him implicitly, and this time was no different.
“It’s fine, you know. You don’t have to say anything until you’re ready,” I said with a smile.
My body curled into his and got lost in his arm tightening around me. He held me to him as if afraid to let go. Whatever was going through his head, whatever it was that he could not talk about just yet, worried him. That alone was concerning because Thad was the laid-back jokester. He did not worry about much unless it was about me. Was this about me? Part of me wanted to just tell him about the way I had been feeling lately, but I could not bring myself to utter the words because I felt like I was being completely ridiculous.
What would I even say? Look, I get this feeling of being watched even though I had no proof. I never once saw anyone or anything out of place. There was no reason for me to feel so weird. It made absolutely no sense, so until I had some shred of proof, I would just hold onto whatever it was.
“Thanks, Jae,” he said, kissing the top of my head.
Every stress and worry faded away when I was surrounded by nature. It was something I loved about our house because there were woods out back. I often took my coffee to the back steps in the mornings before going to school. There was something incredibly peaceful about the unchanging and unwavering beauty of nature. Many humans sucked to be around. The ones who were greedy and nasty really rubbed me the wrong way because they held themselves proudly just as Pauline did. What was so difficult about being a decent human being? Nature, on the other hand, did not suck like that.
We stayed in our peaceful bubble until my stomach made its presence known. He began laughing because I always hated my body’s reaction to being hungry. It was a beast that always made its presence known.
“C’mon. How about we grab some food at the diner? Our parents are having their double date thing anyways,” he said.
The diner was owned by Harold. He was a flirt and a half, but he was a great guy who would go to bat each and every time for the people he cared about. We both gravitated towards him because of that. This became our favorite place to eat years ago.
Thad opened the door for me, kissing my head when I passed by him. It was the little affections that made my heart swell around him. We grabbed our favorite booth just as Harold came over to us.
“If it’s not my favorite two customers. Hadn’t seen you all summer. I always feel so starved without seeing you two every week,” he pouted.
Harold was in his late thirties and took over Pop’s Diner when his father passed away. He renovated it to make it look like an authentic fifties diner, complete with the black and white checkered floor, red leather booths and stools, and a fantastic jukebox in the center of the room that always had the oldies playing. It was a blast from the past that I always loved visiting. I might not have been alive in the fifties, but I had an appreciation for history given that my father was a Historian and all.
“My epically sweet boyfriend was off punching sharks and saving baby turtles, so I waited patiently by my window until the moment that he returned to me,” I said, fluttering my eyelashes at Thad.
Thad’s lips tipped upwards when I called him my boyfriend. That was exactly what he was. It seemed like he needed the word uttered before he hoped. I would shout it out if he wanted me to. I was proud to be his girlfriend. He was the best boyfriend anyone could ever hope for.
“Not fair. You’re the only true beauty in this place. Now, I’ve lost my shot,” Harold sighed dramatically and clutched his heart.
“That’s not true. That chocolate malt you make is the true beauty of this place,” I said with a chuckle.
Harold barked out a laugh as he patted Thad’s shoulder before taking the hint and getting me the malt. We always ordered the same thing whenever we came, so he never had to ask what we wanted.
“Boyfriend, huh?” Thad teased me.
“Boyfriend. Partner in crime. Alibi. You are many things, Mr. Easton,” I said, taking his hand in mine.
The bell over the door dinged. I looked up and saw Brian and two of the cheer-whores who hung around him. They earned that name when they helped Pauline try to roofie Thad. That was when I lost all respect for them. Nobody messed with Thad because I would never allow it.
Brian noticed us right away and made his way over. Brian disliked me. Well, disliked might be a light term. He loathed me. Hated me. Wished I would drop dead. He tried to bed me Freshman year but failed miserably. He called me a stuck-up bitch and said I had better watch my back. It was something I never told Thad because I knew that Thad would have gone apeshit and quit the team. He enjoyed football, so I did not want to ruin that for him.
“T. Thought you were busy tonight,” Brian said as he sauntered up to the table with his two bimbos in tow.
“I am. I had plans with Jae which we are still currently doing,” he said matter-of-factly.
Brian’s gaze wandered over to me, and I did not miss the way his eyes drank me in. If he was not someone who could kick Thad off the team, I would beat the shit out of him for looking at me like a piece of tail.
“You always have plans with her,” the blonde said with a pout. “Why not join us? We would have so much more fun together.”
I was fighting the deep urge to rip her hair out because of her damn insinuation. She held no authority over his spot on the team, so I was free to do whatever I pleased with her. My hand clenched around his. I was just about to lay into her when Thad spoke up.
“Yes. I always have plans with Jae because she’s the only girl I desire to spend time with. I refuse to spend time with assholes who are fake as hell and don’t understand boundaries. So, let me make this abundantly clear to you three. I don’t have time for you because you are disrespecting my girlfriend. Even you Brian. We’ve talked about this, but let me remind you, back the fuck off of her. She denied you Freshman year, and she will deny you even now. She deserves better than you. She deserves better than me. She is a Queen, and that Queen is mine for as long as she will have me. Now, run the fuck along before I show you what I would do to protect what’s mine from bitches like you three,” he said without even looking up at them.
He kept eye contact with me the entire time. He knew. I should not have even been surprised because he always knew what was going on in my life. He always looked out for me no matter what it regarded.
The three of them stared at Thad for another moment before leaving without a word. They sat a few booths down, and I could hear them muttering angrily to one another. They apparently did not appreciate Thad talking to them like that.
“I didn’t realize you knew. I didn’t want you to risk your spot on the team because he was an asshole. Sorry for not telling you,” I said awkwardly.
Thad switched his seat to my side of the booth. His arm wrapped around me and pulled me into his side before leaning his head on top of mine.
“There’s absolutely no reason to apologize, Jae. You were just trying to protect me like I try to protect you. I overheard Brian telling Pauline that you wouldn’t bite the next day. I made sure to lay into him and define boundaries that he should not cross, or I would just quit the team. Jae, you are what’s always been important to me. I like football, but you mean more than it ever could. You, and you alone, are my priority, baby girl.”
I leaned nodded and leaned into his body. Thad said that I deserved better than him, but I knew he was mistaken. I did not deserve someone like him. He deserved better than me if anything.
Harold brought over the food and we both eyed our steakburgers with hungry eyes. Harold’s food was superb. He was a great cook, and the diner food was always fantastic. We dug in and made small talk while we ate. It was great to just hang out with Thad after not seeing him all summer. I was thankful that we were able to reclaim our relationship. He made me incredibly happy and fulfilled me. I could not imagine standing anywhere but next to him in life, and I never wanted to find out what that would be like.
I spent time that night looking up at the stars and wondering about what the future would hold. That dark cloud still hung over me, but I could not let that deter me from enjoying myself. My life was what I made of it.
JADELYNN Pauline had been avoiding me like the plague since Monday. It was now a glorious Wednesday, and I felt great about it. She realized that she was treading dangerous waters with me. Perhaps others would not fall underneath her boots anymore. It was too much to hope for, but who knew what the future held. Pauline used the same tactics to get others to follow her rules: intimidation, fear, and bullying. I became the voice for those who were too afraid to speak up against her, and I would never give up being the voice for those who needed it in life. “World peace,” Thad said with the best Miss America voice and a smirk. The past hour was spent on interview prep, but I felt no closer to being prepared for it. You would think that I would feel more prepared but nope. We were nestled on the couch at the Java Javs since I was not scheduled to work until Monday. My head was in his lap while he played with my hair. It was something he knew relaxed me which I needed right now with th
THAD Jadelynn’s declaration of her feelings for me really made me happy. I waited patiently for her because I knew that she needed time, and she was worth every moment of that wait. She put up a strong front up for everyone else, but she was not completely hardened to the bitchy rumors and sneers from those who were threatened by her. Jadelynn was the shield for everyone else, but she refused to let anyone shield her but me. I would never push her past her limits and respected her decision to pause things last year. It sucked, but I respected her wishes because I always would. Until today, she was unaware that I knew about the crap that Pauline fed her. I had not made a move sooner because I was not sure how Jadelynn would react. We were extremely close, but I feared that she would never see me the way that I saw her. I would rather be in her life as her best friend than not in it at all. I could not lose her from my life. Jadelynn was fucking gorgeous inside and out. Her heart was
JADELYNN “Mom,” I called out once I got home from school. I had completely forgotten to let my parents know that I had a date tonight. It was a date that I was thoroughly excited for. Thad and I were able to slip back into our normal routine as if there had not been a break last year at all. We were giving ourselves a clean do-over, and it was exactly what we needed. I found her in the kitchen, furiously typing away on her keyboard. She worked her ass off to get where she was today, and I could not have been any prouder of her. I really looked up to her and longed to be even half of the badass woman that she was. Mom was a PR guru for a tech company. Most people expected her to fall on her ass, but that just made her work even harder to prove that she had what it took to get the job done properly. It did not take long before everyone was eating their assumptions. “Hey, baby. What’s up?” she asked, pausing what she was doing to give me her undivided attention. I grabbed a water fro
THAD We walked up to her room quietly. I knew she was freaked out. I heard her voice when she whispered that she felt it again. She was scared. Tonight, was the first time that it occurred with us being together, so I had no idea how she dealt with all of this on her own. I felt horrible to know that she ever had to deal with that by herself over the summer. “Why don’t you go get ready for bed while I go steal something of your father’s to sleep in?” I asked her. She hesitated for a moment before she nodded and went into closet and headed into her bathroom. She looked back at me for a minute with a pained expression that she was trying to keep off her face, but I still saw it clear as day. “Mind if I keep the door open?” she asked quietly. I saw the worry on her face. She knew something was really wrong, but she also trusted me to keep her safe. I would do every single thing in my power to keep her safe. “Not at all, Jae. I will be right here when you get out.” I smiled reassu
JADELYNN It was oddly satisfying to float along a ribbon of reds, blues, and yellows. The colorful ribbon could extend on for eternity, but sadly the end drew nearer. My body began dropping, that feeling right between dreaming and wakefulness. That feeling that everyone hated before their body was plunged into reality. It took a minute for the feeling to subside before I could open my eyes. I must still have been sleeping because the walls in the room were white instead of lavender. Confusion swept through me when my body refused to take me back to my room and back to my own reality. I fell asleep in Thad’s arms as he held me tightly and ensuring that everything would be okay. Thad was not here. That was when I remembered him explaining to me about the warnings that the feelings were. I had them so intensely. Now, I was not with him. My body sprang up quickly, causing my head to spin. Everything was different. It was not just the walls. A plain white bedspread replaced my silver on
THAD My parents came out to talk with me after I calmed down as much as possible. In reality, I was not much calmer because my girl was missing, and something dangerous had been after her this entire time. I never should have fallen asleep last night. It was true that whoever it was had to have knocked me out, but that did not change how I felt about it. I still blamed myself because I could have saved her if I was awake, or I would have died trying because my life meant nothing without her in it. I would gladly lay down my life to save hers. Where was she right now? Was she okay? I hung my head and balled my fists together tightly. Jadelynn was the strongest person I ever met, so that would have to be my focus right now or else I would just completely lose it. I did know one important truth out of all this. Whoever took her had another thing coming if they assumed that Jadelynn would just cower to them. My girl had a fire inside of her that would burn all of her enemies down. That
CAMDEN Dominique used a portal to place Dent and I a couple of towns over from the Murphy’s home. It was possible that Vanosti was still keeping tabs on their house, so this was to minimize standing out. We needed to keep him in the dark about our involvement in order to protect her. That was why it was only Dent and I going in. If anything, we looked like the average people who would be checking in on a worried family. Dent was kind enough to drive while I reread the case notes from the initial sweep of the premises. There were many interesting details in it that did not fully add up to paint the picture that I needed. Two places had traces of his magical essence. Magical essence was the calling card which showed the specific DNA of his magic and was just as unique as his actual DNA was. The power that he collected simply enhanced the magical essence instead of altering it. It was the same way that Dominique’s was specific to her as well. A fingerprint of the essence was left behin
THAD “Today will be very hard, but we need to keep up appearances for Jadelynn’s sake. The man who has her might still be watching here to see what we know or suspect. Unfortunately, we would never be able to tell, so we just have to be vigilant,” Mom said. Today would suck like hell, but I would get through it. No matter how hard it would be here without her, it would not compare to whatever she was dealing with. My parents briefly filled me in on who has her. Some douche named Vanosti. He was the one they had been hiding her from. She had overheard ‘Drechen’ in one of her parents’ conversations, and that was what he was apparently. They collected things. This one in particular collected power. He was going to attempt using her to collect some power or other from the Dreamworld. They did not want to worry me too much. Even though I begged them to tell me everything, they insisted that it could block some of my ability to find her because I needed to be able to push past my emotions