Free Perfectly Hopeless by Holly Hood

friends. They were Jake and Tatiana’s.
     
    The day of gossip and sleepovers soon was a memory. And the only friends she had were her family. And Maggie wasn’t the greatest at relating to her. Maggie hated her for being sad all the time.
     
    Henri took her hand. “Then I guess they weren’t very important after all.”
     
    She smiled. “No, they weren’t.”
     
    “ I know the feeling.” He stopped walking. “When everyone in Tennessee found out I was sick they suddenly forgot how to call. Nobody wanted to invite me out because they were afraid I was going to drop dead.” His own girlfriend had bailed. Someone he thought cared about him. She stuck around for a week, but soon the medications and testing became too much of a burden and that’s when he found out she was dating one of his close friends. It was also when he decided he had enough of Tennessee and moved to Georgia. His parents were upset. They just wanted to take care of him. But he was tired of the disappointment—he was also tired of feeling like a disappointment.
     
    Maven tugged his hand, bringing him back to life. “What are you thinking about?”
     
    Henri smirked. “I am thinking about how pretty you are.”
     
    Maven laughed. “You so are not.”
     
    “ I so am.” They fell silent. Henri pulled her close, his hands resting on her shoulders as he stared into her eyes. “How could I not?”
     
    Maven lifted her head, kissing him on the chin. Henri dropped his head, placing a soft kiss on her lips. He pulled away, wiping at the lip-gloss now coating his lips.
     
    “ That’s so your shade.” She teased, finally they started walking.
     
     
     
    Jake Summit blindly painted a wooden sign with white paint, watching Maven and Henri talk to Ms. Lisa. He had caught the tail end of their kiss. He dropped his brush into the paint tray, dropping down from the step ladder. He drug the back of his hand against his forehead wiping the sweat away before approaching the three of them.
     
    “ Henri you can come with me and I’ll show you what there is to work on,” Miss Lisa said leading Henri away. This was perfect timing.
     
    Jake slung his shirt over his shoulder and tapped Maven on the shoulder. She spun around and gasped. “Jake.”
     
    “ Hey there, Maven.” He grinned. “Didn’t think you would have it in you to come.”
     
    She couldn’t believe he was bothering her. She had hoped the day went well, but already it was proving to be horrible. “Don’t let me keep you.” She shoved past, but Jake grabbed her by the arm.
     
    “ Oh, don’t be like that.” He brushed her hair from her shoulder, his fingers grazing her skin. “This used to be our thing. You always looked so cute painting in your little dresses.” His gaze fell to her dress. One she wore several times on dates with Jake. Now she wanted to burn it.
     
    “ Isn’t Tatiana wondering where you are by now?” She bit her tongue before she said any more.
     
    “ Tatiana wasn’t allowed to come. She’s grounded.” He ran a hand through his hair, his tan torso gleaming with sweat. Maven looked past his fit physique disgusted at the sight of him anymore. At one time she found herself lusting over his body, but not anymore. It meant nothing to her.
     
    “ That’s right, she’s a junior,” she said under her breath. Jake and she were officially out of high school and he was dating Tatiana who would be a junior when they were off at college. He sure knew how to pick them.
     
    “ Her parents sort of walked in on us. You know…bad timing.” He stepped closer whispering in her ear. “Remember that night you snuck me in your bedroom and your parents almost found out?”
     
    Maven looked away, pushing into Jake. “No, I don’t.” She lied. It was now nothing more than the biggest mistake of her life—the night she slept with Jake and many times thereafter. She turned away before he could see how upset he was making her.
     
    “ Those were great times,