Free In the Heart of Forever by Jo-Anna Walker Page A

don’t know how many times I hinted at wanting to go on a date with her. I then asked her if she wanted to go to the Valentine’s Day dance with me and she turned me down. Probably because of that jackass, Rave. I bet she’s going with him,” Jake replied, a bitter edge coating his voice.
    My eyes widened. He never once hinted. I couldn’t believe him. He just asked me to the dance not that long ago but never hinted before then. I had assumed we would go as friends if I did decide to go with him.
    “Well, I think you could do better. She’s kinda boring, anyways.” The other kid laughed.
    “Not to mention moody,” Jake added.
    A lump formed in my throat. Jake was supposed to be my friend. My best friend. Where did he get off saying this crap about me?
    “What did you hear about Rave what’s his face?”
    I turned to Rave and whispered. “Rave what’s his face?”
    He rolled his eyes and bent his knee, resting his arm on it. He was calm and collected while my nerves were jumping around in my body, like they were on drugs. “Apparently Black is hard for these douchebags to remember.”
    I curled my arm around his bent leg and linked our hands together. I kissed the back of his hand as we sat there and listened.
    “I heard that he was in juvie,” Jake told his friend. They sounded just as bad as the Triple M’s.
    “Did you hear about his sister?”
    I gasped. How the hell—
    Rave snarled behind me and pushed out of my grasp. He rose to his feet and stormed up to Jake and his friend. “What the hell did you hear about my sister?”
    Simultaneous yelps erupted from the other side and I had to smile to myself.
    “Hi Rave…I…uh…” Jake stuttered.
    Rave took a step towards him and fisted his shirt with both hands, pulling him towards him.
    Oh crap.
    I rose to my feet and rounded the corner just as Rave stuck his face in Jakes. Jake’s eyes widened when he saw me. “Jesse.”
    “Well Jake, I see you got this covered. Later.” The other kid ran down the aisle.
    “Nice friend you got there,” Rave growled.
    I placed a hand on his tense back. “Rave.”
    “What did you hear about my sister, Jake?” Rave asked him. His nostrils flared, the veins in his neck straining against the skin. His body was shaking under my hand. He was holding back. I knew he wanted to beat the crap out of Jake right then and there.
    “I…I didn’t hear anything.” Jake looked at me, his eyes wide, begging me to help him.
    Should I? I didn’t want to. A part of me wanted to let Rave pound him into the ground for the hurtful things he said about us. I gripped Rave’s arm and wrapped my other hand around his, attempting to release his grip from Jake’s shirt. “Rave, it’s not worth it.”
    Jake looked between us, his lips pressed flat.
    Rave’s gaze met mine, his eyes going warm. He released Jake and ran a hand through his shaggy hair.
    I stepped in between them and glared at Jake. “What did you hear about his sister?”
    “No…nothing,” he stammered, taking a step back.
    “How do you even know about his sister?” I asked him. The tension from Rave flew around me and I grabbed his hand.
    “Rumors…that she was in the mental hospital. Clearly, crazy runs in the family.”
    Rave took a step towards him, but I pushed against his chest, holding him back all the while keeping my eyes on Jake. “You’re very lucky that I am here, Jake.”
    He smirked. “Why’s that?”
    “Because if I wasn’t, I’m sure Rave here would beat you into the ground and not think twice about it.”
    Jake’s eyes flicked to Rave’s and back to mine. “I just wanted you to go to the dance with me.”
    A lump formed in my throat at the change in our friendship. It would never be the same. Jake was jealous and even if I were with a different guy, Jake wouldn’t be happy. “Jake, I’m so sorry.”
    He took a deep breath. “I just hope he doesn’t hurt you. Don’t say that I didn’t warn you if he does.”
    “Leave, before I