Ashes and Ice by Rochelle Maya Callen Read Free Book Online Page B

like being invisible?” She says, sitting upright and taking another bite of her apple.
    Ouch. Just because it’s true, doesn’t mean people should go around saying it aloud. She doesn’t say it harshly though, so I pause before responding. “I..uh…well…”
    “Oh look at what we have here.” Dominic’s voice oozes over us. His body casts a shadow, Jared and Phil close behind him. Nausea knots my gut. Dom slaps my shoulder. “Our little celebrity has a girlfriend.” Dom’s other hand goes to pat Jade on the back. Her hand shoots out and twists his wrist the wrong way. A very brief look of surprise and pain twitches across his face before his easy smile replaces it. “Easy girl.” He pulls his hand away. “Feisty little thing, aren’t you?”
    “Dom?” Courtney’s nasal voice drags out the “o’s”. She aligns herself beside him and grabs his arm. “Let’s go! I thought we were going, to, you know…” She lets her voice hang as she walks her fingers up from his abs to his chest. She stiffens as she realizes the huddle of people grow quiet with her intrusion. She flicks her eyes to me then to Jade, and then rolls hers, exasperated. “Oh my god, Dom. Do we really have to waste time on the loser and…” Her gaze shifted up from Jade’s boots to her face and crinkled her nose in disgust, “the new town freak?”
    My muscles tighten angrily. I don’t know why I feel so protective of Jade especially when Jade sits still, relaxed, one hand with an apple, her mouth casually chewing as she returns Courtney’s stare.
    “Now, now, Court. Don’t be mean.”
    “Why not? She made you all look like jackasses on the track today. And, just look at her!” She pointed flamboyantly. “She’s like, is just, so, you know…”
    “You are very articulate.” All eyes shoot to Jade chewing her apple.
    “What did you say?”
    “ARTICULATE. Would you like me to fetch a dictionary?”
    Jared laughs.
    “Whatever. Shows what kind of chick you are. Hanging out with this stupid loser over here.” Courtney tilts her head in my direction.
    I feel like life is a leaking balloon.
    “He’s been even more pathetic since his dad dropped dead.”
    My knuckles whiten as I clench my teeth and dig my fingers into the lunch tray.
    “If you had any sense,” Courtney says brushing her hair back, “you’d be trying to hang out with us.”
    “I’m sorry,” Jade’s voice is calm, almost monotone. “I did not realize I was welcome to sit with the whores and perverted bastards of the school. The invitation is noted.”
    I gasp. I gasp so loud it sounds like air has been sucked from a tire. A few people look toward us sensing the tension. Blonde-boobs, I smile inwardly thinking of Jade’s nickname for Courtney, sharply inhales. I brace myself.
    “Excuse me?”
    I look up to see Dominic’s black eyes boring at Jade. I expect an angry glare; instead, he seems completely amused.
    “Well you see,” Jade eases back against the cafeteria table and takes another bite of her apple. “I prefer to spend my time with decent, intelligent human beings,” Jade waves her hand in my direction and I feel myself flush. “Not with dumb wenches who open their legs to whatever male walks by—”
    “You bitch!”
    Jade smirks—a devious and oh so sexy look.
    “Or,” Jade eyes Dominic head to toe with half-open, bored eyes before continuing, “Sorry excuses for men that only know how to think with one head—and not the one above their shoulders.”
    I know flies could use my mouth as a landing pad, it gapes open so wide.
    That’s when it happens—a wild rush of action.
    Courtney reaches for Jade’s hair and in one swift motion Jade ducks, pivots and snatches Courtney’s neck and slams her against the table face-down. Jade seems equal parts bored and disgusted, as if she had just killed a mosquito and had to wipe its remains from her windshield.
    Courtney screams, trying to flail away. Everyone gasps and a few tables around us