***

Liz sighed loudly. "I can't believe she would actually go through with something like this."

"Mhm."

I unlocked my phone to check a new text that had just popped up.

Unknown: Miss me?

No.

Unknown: You're not that much of a talker, are you?

Me: I was hoping me not answering would give it away.

Unknown: Lucky for you I like feisty.

Me: You're disgusting, take a hint.

Unknown: :)

"I don't think she's anywhere in or around the gallery," Liz voice spoke up in front of me.

I looked up from my phone, annoyance must've been radiating off of me because her face instantly contorted into a concerned frown.

"Something wrong?" she asked.

I shook the expression off from mine and met Liz's worried stare. "No."

Liz arched her eyebrows up insinuatingly.

I rolled my eyes. "Everything's fine." I looked up to think and said, "In fact, it's getting a little boring."

She tilted her head in confusion.

A wicked smirk took over my expression. "Let's go find this bitch."

Liz mirrored my look. "There she is," she said like a proud mother.

***

We took our search party outside, seeing as the girl had fled the scene and was now MIA.

"Taking one of the final grade pieces?" I questioned. "That girl knew exactly to go for where it hurts the most, which means it's personal."

"It is, her name is Victoria, she's in my art class," Liz agreed. "I recognized her earlier and we got talking."

I still don't get it though.

"What could she possibly have against you?" I said as my eyes scanned the whereabouts for any sign of an evil blonde.

Liz sighed. "Honestly, I'm not sure but if I had to guess, she's seeking out the competition and taking it down," she stated. "I've had a brief look at her work and she's really talented, she probably thinks I'm a threat to her or something."

"Yeah but why take down the competition?" I was still confused. "She's already in an ivy league school, so it's not like she's in high school, fighting for a spot in a good college."

"Who knows." Liz stopped. "Ugh, I can't believe I fell for her act, what a rookie move."

I stopped too and tried to reassure her. "You couldn't possibly know that she was up to something."

"Whatever, she's started a war." Liz resumed her step, looking more determined than ever. "If that's how she wants to play, I'll show her the ropes."

***

When we got back inside, Jess and Millie were wrapping Liz's stuff up and putting it away.

"What are you doing?" Liz asked.

Jesse, who was crouching down, filling a box up, stood up straight and glanced at Liz. "Fair's over, almost everyone is packed up and ready to go."

"We thought you could use a few extra hands," a male voice resounded from inside the storage closet.

My eyes lit up. Brody is here too.

He came out of that room carrying a box filled with artwork, the veins in his toned arms noticeably popping out due to its weight, then smiled wide when his eyes met mine.

He was totally trying to get me to check him out-

Again.

Slowly, I took a few steps towards Brody, granting his wishes. I was well aware of Millie's look of disapproval but she killed it off the second I glanced at her and resumed her conversation with Jesse.

Where the hell did she come from?

I tilted my head, focusing back on Brody. "You can stop flexing now."

His grin died down and I hummed in amusement. "What's got you so shook?"

"That wasn't the reaction I expected," he told me with a curious smirk in the corner of his lips.

I plastered a startled frown on my face. "I'm sorry, was I supposed to swoon at the sight of you carrying a box?" I raised an eyebrow challengingly.

His lips formed a small O for a moment before quickly regaining his composure.

"Right, I guess I have little experience with - " he paused and then air-quoted, "- girls like you."

Clever.

"Oh and, by the way," he added as he referenced his own biceps. "These? I don't need to flex them to get your attention."

My eyebrows shot up.

"I got you here didn't I?" he said, his eyes hinting at the few feet that separated us.

A curious frown entrenched itself on Brody's face when he saw the wolfish smirk that had slithered its way up to my lips.

"What?" He questioned.

"You've got a good motto going on there," I simply replied.

"Oh yeah?" Brody moved closer to me.

I blinked and stayed silent, watching how his green eyes darkened by the second.

"And what would that be?" Now he was eager to know what I had to say.

"Fake it till' you make it."

Brody's eyes sparkled as if he'd just encountered a challenge which was threatening to draw him in.

He let out a deep chuckle as his face inched even closer to mine. I could feel how his presence radiated heat out into my body.

I parted my lips open and was leaning in to whisper something in his ear, when I made out the faint sound of Millie's voice.

"Maybe we could go watch the football game this Friday."

"That's a great idea," I voiced as I used my hands to spring away from her brother's chest.

Millie's attention shifted towards me, while Jesse stood there by her side, wearing a clueless smile like the innocent little thing he is.

I suppressed a sneer when I heard Brody cough nervously behind me. "We should all go," I added.

Before Millie could react, I directed my gaze to my best friend. "Liz, are you down?"

Liz drifted her's from the few art pieces that were left hanging on the wall to me. "Sure, why not," she answered with slight suspicion.

She knows me too well.

I fought the anticipative smirk that was dying to come out and take over my expression and twirled around swiftly.

"Brody?" I questioned with a flirty smile.

Millie's hard visage dropped to the ground.

"I would love to," he answered, to which I reacted with a victorious grin. "But I already have plans for that day."

That's a bummer.

Fortunately enough, I don't need Brody on my side to push Millie's buttons.

I glanced briefly at the light brown- haired boy beside her.

I can just switch my aim to a different spot. I might be lacking in a lot of things but resourcefulness is not one of them.

"That's too bad," I said with a fake pout as I addressed Brody. "I was hoping I could swoon some more over your non-flexed biceps."

Watch him say something back like, I'll make it up to you, don't worry.

Brody jerked out a laugh. "I guess I'll have to make it up to you, then," he said as he settled down.

How predictable can boys be?

"I guess you do."

There it was again, that baffled look in his eye. When will they learn that I'm not a puzzle waiting to be solved? Are boys not taught not to play with fire when they're little?

"Here's my number," he said. "I'll see you around Jade." Brody looked me dead in the eye, yet he wasn't really seeing me.

It's a good thing the best way to learn is from your mistakes...

"That you will."

***

A/N

Millie is succeeding a drifting Jesse away from Jade, I miss their conversations... 😭❤️ If she doesn't do something soon, I fear the worst.

"You talk about him like he's my long lost love or something."

*The author turns around harshly* "How do you just pop out of thin air!"

*Jade raises her brows* "You should know, you wrote me."

*The author narrows her eyes* "You're as evil as they come."

"Did I hear long lost love?"

*The author rolls her eyes* "Sure. You guys just keep barging in whenever you want, it's not like I was in the middle of anything."

*Jesse wiggles his eyebrows* "Am I your long lost love, Jade?"

*Jade's blank look stays put* "If that's what will help you sleep at night, then sure, Jessica."

*Jesse mocks her* "Does Jade have an itty bitty tiny crush?" *He laughs*

*All the while, Jade smirks*

*The author has materialized a bowl of warm popcorn and a reclinable chair and is now watching amusingly*

*While Jesse is still wheezing, Jade silently crawls her way to him and before he knows it she's right in front of him*

"I have been outed." *Jade looks at him through her lashes, her hazel eyes piercing as ever*

*Jesse's laugh dies down quickly*

*Jade sends him a bewitching smile* "And now I won't be able to keep my hands off of you."

*Jesse watches in awe as the girl opposite him wraps her arms around his neck*

*The author chews loudly on her popcorn, making the pair glare in her direction*

*The author stops abruptly* "Oh, don't mind me..."

*Jade turns her attention back to her prey and bats her eyelashes* "Do you feel what I feel?"

*Jesse's mouth opens for air* "I- I- "

*Jade gets close to his lips, their breathing intertwining* "You..."

*Jade smirks and pulls away all of a sudden* "-Are the easiest guy I've ever met."

*Jesse shakes his head out of that trance state* "I hate you." *Jade produces a cruel smirk*

*The author scowls at her* "WAY TO RUIN A MOMENT."

Anyway, I'm done with these guys, I don't even remember what I was saying.

Cya!

***

***