Free Labeled Love by Danielle Rocco Page A

address for me?” She does that thing that I love when she’s confused. She scrunches up her cute nose. I don’t want her to know why I’m asking for her address. I want to surprise her. “I just want to know where you live.”
    “Can I have yours, too?”
    Shaking my head, I tell her no about wanting to know where I live. She frowns, but scribbles down her address. I take her chin in my hand. I want her to look at me. “It’s not that I don’t want you to know where I live… It’s just…”
    “It’s just what?”
    I hesitate. “It’s not good enough for you.”
    “Jace…”
    Her hand finds mine again on my lap. I give it a little squeeze, trying to reassure her. She drops the conversation. I hate making her feel bad. I just feel really protective of her, and I can’t let her in that environment.
    We spend the rest of our time together making cards with the little kids. It is the best Valentine’s Day I’ve ever had. When I get home, I go into my room and open the white paper bag. I smile immediately.
    Inside, there are two peanut butter and jelly sandwiches cut into the shape of a heart with a little note attached.
     
    You have all of my heart.
     
    For the first time in a while, I don’t go to bed hungry. At this moment, I know what I feel for Shay will be protected. My love for her is real and unending. Shay is the only girl I will ever give my heart to.
    I fall asleep with a smile.

 
One year later…
     
    LARGE, SWEATY HANDS surround me. I fall back with the force of his strong body. He really is starting to bulk up. Even through his sweatiness, light cologne lingers on his skin. Warm breath fills my ear, tickling me as I try to get out of his chokehold.
    “Play with me, Starkie,” he whispers.
    “I don’t want to,” I say.
    He moans, and then he says it again. “Come on. Please… I miss playing with you.” Finally, I remove his strong arms that were pretty much crushing me. I turn around and face him. “I don’t want to play, Cole.”
    “What’s the deal, Shay?” He looks angry.
    I see Jules ahead, getting ready to walk into chemistry. “There is no deal. We’re in high school. We don’t have recess anymore if you haven’t noticed.”
    “Don’t be like that, Shay.” He lowers his voice. “I just miss you.”
    “Really, Cole? I think you have plenty of girls that can take my place on the field.”
    He turns away. “I only like to play football with you.” As he walks away from me, he yells over his shoulder, “I guess I got replaced.”
    I chew on my bottom lip. I’m sure every girl in the school thinks I’m crazy for turning Cole away. They all beg for his attention, but the only attention he wants is mine. I love Cole as a friend; I always have. It’s just sometimes I wish we didn’t go to the same school. I begged my parents enough since I was in the sixth grade to let me go to public school for my high school years. Without much convincing, Jules and I enrolled in the same school together. But, Cole and Brett followed us.
    When it comes to the opposite kind of feelings, there is only one boy I have any of those for. I only have eyes for Jace. I try hard not to hurt Cole, but he has to start respecting the fact that I’m not interested in him in that way. If Jace knew Cole touched me the way he just did, he would not be happy.
    Walking into class, I see Jules checking her phone. Cole is sitting a few seats away from us. He glances at me, but I act like I don’t see him. Jules leans over. “Saw Cole mauling you in the courtyard.”
    “I know. He just doesn’t stop,” I tell her. She looks back at her phone then sets it on her desk.
    “How’s your bad boy doing? I bet he’d be pissed if he saw Cole all over you.”
    “First off, Jace is not a bad boy.”
    “Oh my God, Shay. Don’t get your panties in a tiff. You know I’m just kidding. He just has that whole sexy bad boy look,” she says. I will give her that, but there is nothing bad about my