Read Online Forgotten by Sarah J. Pepper - Free Book Online

Jace
side-stepped behind me and pulled out the seat in front of him. I
was about to sit when he kicked my leg to the side. I fell clumsily
into the chair that he conveniently pushed out next to my spot.
Sliding me over, he sat down in the vacant chair my backside had
been aiming for all along.
    Mrs. Briggs continued with her lecture
and left us to achieve whatever it was we were supposed to be
accomplishing with the clay. I crossed my arms, seething about how
I was going to counter-attack. Not just because Jace stole my chair
but because he somehow made a mess of my intentions.
    “ You just declared war,
Jace,” Ryker warned.
    “ You know nothing of war,
do you, Gwyneth?” Jace said. When I couldn’t think of anything to
say or do, he continued. “No, you’re just a little girl, mad at the
world.”
    “ Little girl now?” I asked
smugly. Reaching for my old ball of clay, I re-formed the edges so
it began to resemble a bowl. “Not your dearest anymore? Have you gotten the
hint that you shouldn’t be gunning for the role of my boyfriend?
Because, you’re definitely not my type.”
    Despite everything that just happened,
Jace grinned. I don’t know how I knew he was smirking at me, I just
did. “In all the years I’ve searched for a lady like you, there’s
one thing I’ve learned. The ones who fight the hardest are worth
the chase.”
    With everything that just happened, I
wanted him to read the flashing neon sign flickering above my head
that read ‘NOT INTERESTED’ rather than misinterpreting my
actions.
    “ Riddle me this, Jace. Why
go through this whole charade to get my chair if you don’t want a
war between us?”
    “ It’s closer to the
door.”
    “ Meaning?”
    “ That he’s got a fast
escape route,” Ryker chimed.
    “ You’re not a part of this
conversation, Ryker,” I said, wishing Bree would get a clue and
ditch Ryker so he wouldn’t find a reason to be around me all the
time.
    I glared up at Jace. He didn’t even
pretend to work with his assignment. That he put that much effort,
just so I couldn’t have my spot, didn’t make sense. If he was
interested in me, stealing my chair wasn’t the smartest move to win
me over. Therefore, he wanted nothing to do with me at all. Perhaps
he was simply trying to make some other girl jealous. The whole
“dearest” bit was surely an act.
    “ Why bother stealing my
spot, only to act like you can’t stand me? I’m sure a vacant spot
would open up next to the cheerleaders.”
    “ Cheerleaders?” Jace asked,
and looked in the general direction I nodded. Jace let out a long,
lazy breath. “You wouldn’t like it if I hung out with
them.”
    Before I could comment, his white
silhouette blazed brighter; my mouth went dry when he leaned close
to me. I swallowed – hard. He took a slow, deep breath and said
that I didn’t have a chance.
    “ A chance of
what?”
    “ Of not falling for me,” he
said as if I’d broadcasted my feelings. “I’ve spiked your interest.
You want me – need me.”
    “ Let’s set some ground
rules, I do not want you,” I hissed. “You’d better learn fast, that
I take care of myself.”
    “ If only,” Jace muttered,
losing himself in his thoughts. A heavy sigh escaped. “If
only…”
    ***
    Leaning against the brick wall outside
McKesson High stood Jace’s oversized friend. Every so often he’d
twitch. A steady stream of students walked passed me as I held onto
the cold metal railing and watched him. The afternoon sun shimmered
against his figure enough that I knew that even if he wasn’t very
strong, he had enough sheer body weight to throw around. He was the
type of guy who probably had a few fights under his belt. Closing
my eyes, I looked in the general direction of where he stood. I saw
nothing until I started to open my eyes. His silver outline
dissolved into nothing.
    “ Why do you close your eyes
when you look at us?” Jace asked, standing a couple steps above
me.
    Stalk much?
    Even though Jace