Define Normal

Chapter Twelve (Duplicate)

“Where are you going?” she asked, narrowing her eyes at me.

“Chicago,” Char said, making my gaze swing to her.

“So close,” I muttered.

She just nodded at me.

“Well, I’m not doing anything this weekend, can I come?”

I whipped my head towards Elle. “No!”

She scowled at me and took a few quick steps, pointing her finger in my face. “Tell me what’s going on, Jade,” she said severely, pulling her hand back to rest both of them on her hips, her eyes clouded with anger and concern. “Something big is going on, isn’t it? Does this have to do with the way you and Grant can fight?”

I swallowed, looking at her concerned green eyes and felt grateful to have her as a friend. “I can’t really tell you, Elle. There are a few things about me that you don’t know.”

She frowned, obviously wanting to question me ruthlessly but something in my eyes must have stopped her because after a bit, she nodded. “Okay. Just be back by Monday, okay?”

“Okay,” I murmured past the lump in my throat.

“I’m not going to hug you,” she said with a look of distaste. “You look like you’ve been rolling around on the ground.”

I let out a little chuckle, looking at my dirty outfit. “I kind of have.”

She rolled her eyes and moved to the door of the apartment. I walked with her, holding the door while she paused and turned to face me, giving me a stern look. “Promise you’ll be back on Monday.”

I met her gaze steadily. “I can’t promise that, Elle.”

Her face fell and for a second I thought I saw moisture in her eyes. “How dangerous is this?”

I swallowed. “Pretty dangerous.”

She nodded, taking a deep breath and pulling me in for a quick hug before turning to leave without another word.

I stood at the closed door for a second, wishing that I really was just a normal girl who could have normal friends. I straightened my shoulders and went back to the others.

“Is he really going to be okay?” Char asked, kneeling next to Chris who was still groaning on the floor.

I knelt down and ran my hands over his back, hitting pressure points along the way that made his muscles relax.

“What the hell did you do to me?” he snarled, sitting up and glaring at me.

“I temporarily disrupted the blood flow between your spine and your brain.” I shrugged, moving out of his reach just in case he decided to get revenge.

He blinked at me as he stood up. “With one little pinch?” I nodded. “Teach me.”

My lips tilted up. “Okay.”

For the rest of the night we went over our plan, discussing the layout of Lemon’s place and possible escape routes if things went bad. I was starting to feel a little scared. If Char and Chris didn’t make it out alive, it was because of me.

“Stop looking at me like that,” Char said, glaring at me.

I blinked. “Sorry.”

She looked me steadily in the eye. “This is my choice. I want this too. I’ve always wanted this.”

“Okay,” I said quietly.

She cleared her throat and her gaze slid to the side as her cheeks flushed. “My name is Georgia Frost.”