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"Yeah, what?" I thought hi in Jade like that had been low

"That you need to move that one hundred and ninety pounds with purpose Don’t shuffle around like so to advance you until I see soot hiet your first dan until you’re sixteen But if I don’t see you bring a pair to theit

A soft honk sounded and I looked outside the glass doors

I saw Jade was there in the driver’s seat of Andrea’s beat up pickup truck and could tasteSoon, I’d be picking her up

"That the girlfriend?"

I turned, giving him steady eyes He stared back "Yeah," I answered shortly

He gave me a speculative look "Remember this: she’s your weakness You have her around and you’ll never keep your focus" Then he s from behind clouds

"And God help the poor sucker that lays hands on her," he said, only half-joking

Yeah, no shit Sherlock

I bowed to Sensei Anderson, our gazes locked, taking the , I slipped onthe last of the late afternoon warmth on my face The sweat on e The first kiss of true autumn was in the air

I covered my broith my hands to see Jade better and a hoop of silver twinkled in the light that hit her face, her green eyes sitting like jewels in the face that I loved

Her face

CHAPTER 3

Three cars stood outside Kent Refuse now Mia’s, Bry’s (I know, can we say-unbelievable?) and Alex’s The J’s were sixteen, Jade too It was just Tiff and I that were the holdouts Even Sophie had turned sixteen last week

I watched Alex get out of his car It was hilarious, really He’d been a scrawny nothing with the Body ability and it had been a shocker, built like he was But now that ability had grown fangs and here he was before us, larger-than-life The pain of his growth spurt was on hiidity The doctors said it was noruys would love to be his size, there was no e’d want to go through the growing pains that were kickin’ his ass to pieces

He stoave hihten up on the greetings?"

John narrowed his eyes on Jonesy "He’s hyper-sensitive right now I explained that pretty thoroughly on like a hundred different occasions, right?

He had, actually

"Okay, so, I can’t give you a love tap without you going all girl on me?" Jonesy quizzed

"Hey, ya clown, speak for yourself," Tiffa stone with her shoe, her tie dye hoodie a screahtmare to the eye

Bry sorta hid a smile and Mia looked between Jonesy and Tiff with keen interest After all, half the fun of the group was Jonesy trying not offend and doing it anyway

"Speaking of clowns" I began and both Tiff and Jade gave ot to nomes at one of the houses we landscaped this summer" My eyebrows lifted and Tiff repressed a shudder

Jade wrapped her arly as I sucked her in againstup with Buddy

The whole group fell silent The biggest da a proven spawn of the enery lines and before he could rant Buddy chinomes in his yard" He looked expectantly at everyone and Tiff snapped a bomb-worthy bubble thateyes to Sophie "Listen Soph, this is for the group Our group You’ve obviously o awayhis arht the expression, regret etched where anger had been He’d let his ego ain, as Gramps would have said John dumped his forehead into his hands Alex and Bry looked around anywhere but at the two of thee of tears

"Stop slingin’

Jonesy was like a locomotive without a handbrake, he skidded to a reluctant stop in front of Buddy, their toes touching, their chests a

Alex walked over there and separated the two of theer on each chest Just that touch threw theave Alex a considering look

I watched his wheels turn sluggishly and decide against taking Alex on Good thinking

Alex used a finger to shove his glasses up on his nose and looked down at Buddy from his considerable six-four and said, "We’re not all wared his uys watched hilared and Sophie huffed Alex turned to Jonesy "You could do better with treating a feo away and Sophie can stay" Alex lifted an eyebrow at his equitable solution skills

Jones dropped his hand frolare, unrepentant

Jade stepped forward "Listen Jonesy, Sophie, let’s call a truce This is the place we’ve been hanging out at for aluys can et along with the group, right?"

Sophie and Jonesy looked at each other and finally Sophie gave a stiff nod and her Rock-with-Lips boyfriend sighed in frustration He whispered so aas I know it’s ’cuz the girls are the priority Not him," he pointed at Jonesy

"Don’t worry, baby He totally isn’t," Sophie said with a look and a smirk

Baby?

Even I could see that was for Jonesy’s benefit

Jade sighed against ood by far

Buddy leaned down and kissed Sophie on the lips and all us guys saw Jonesy tense

Brother

Buddy gave a roup that looked like its focus was all for Jonesy