Define Normal

Chapter Twelve (Duplicate)

I smiled. “It’s nice to meet you Georgia.”

It was nearly three in the morning when Grant dropped me off at home. Georgia and Chris went back to their motel to prepare and we planned to meet at the school before heading out. Chicago was only a half hour drive so we didn’t have to leave too early.

I sighed, sitting on the edge of my bed, looking down at the small bag in my hands. I’d lived out of the bag or one like it for pretty much my entire life. If we approached Lemon and were outnumbered, would I be able to go back to that lifestyle?

I picked up my phone, flipping through the contacts. There weren’t many but the few that were on there were precious. I stopped at Jackson’s name, feeling my heart clench at the way I’d hurt him earlier when suddenly the phone buzzed. Expecting it to be Georgia, Chris or Grant, I answered it immediately with a short, “Yes?”

“I’m outside.”

I blinked. “Jackson?”

“Yeah,” he said, his voice a little gruff.

“You’re outside where?”

“Outside of your house. Can we talk?”

I forgot to breathe for a second as I launched myself towards the window that looked out over the front yard. Jackson was leaning against his car, parked at the curb. “Um, yeah,” I croaked. “I’ll be right out.” I hung up, feeling a strange mix of emotions, excitement being the most noticeable.

I raced down the stairs silently, jumping from about halfway and landing at the bottom without a noise. I rushed to the door and squeeze the door knob before I froze, twisting my lips into a wry smile. “What is wrong with me?” I muttered, taking a deep breath before heading out of the house more calmly.

“Hey,” he said when I approached him.

My heart was beating ridiculously fast as I looked at him, his dark hair falling over his eyes as he looked at me, still leaning against his car. “Hey,” I replied. “You do know it’s three in the morning right?”

“Three thirty actually,” he muttered, straightening from his car and running a hand through his hair before facing me. “Jade, I don’t know what’s going on with you but I don’t want to fight. I was thinking about it all day and then Grant called me─”

“What!” I half shouted. “Why did he call you?”

He frowned. “He told me you were going away and you might be gone for a while, that I should come say bye.” He gave me a puzzled look, stepping closer and gripping my arm. “What was he talking about, Jade?”

I swallowed, his grey eyes looking deep into mine. I took a breath, feeling tingles run up and down my arm from where he was holding onto me. “I’m going away for the weekend and it might turn into a longer trip,” I said quietly.

He frowned. “What does that mean?” he asked, shaking his head. “That doesn’t make any sense.”

I felt my heart clench as I looked at him, remembering the first time we’d met when he handed me that headphone and accepted me as a friend immediately. “I’m sorry, Jackson but I really can’t explain it.”

“Jade, are you in some sort of trouble? I can help you.” His voice was low, sincere as he continued to look me in the eye. “Just don’t leave. We can still be friends, even if you want to be with Tally,” he said, scowling.

I smiled softly, pushing his hand away from my arm. “I don’t want to go out with Tally, Jackson.” I swallowed, taking a deep breath. I placed my hand lightly on his chest. “Can I ask you for a favour?” He nodded, frowning. “Could you kiss me?” I whispered, feeling my cheeks flame in a blush.

His eyes widened and for a second he just stared at me, shocked. “What?” he asked, his voice hoarse.

I cleared my throat and pulled my hand away from his chest. “Nothing. Forget I said it.” I stepped back, avoiding his gaze.

His hand shot out and gripped my forearm, pulling me firmly against him. His other hand came up to cup my cheek, pushing my hair to the side as his face came closer to me, his head bending towards me.

My heart raced frantically, my stomach was flipping with butterflies and my whole body felt like it was on fire from his touch. His lips brushed mine lightly, barely even touching before he pulled back and looked me in the eyes, not letting me go. The corners of his lips quirked slightly as he leaned in again.

I stiffened, something catching my attention and my arms wound around him, spinning us just as I felt a sharp pain in my side, making me let out a low hiss.

I broke away from Jackson, whirling to face my attacker. He was wearing black from head to toe, a mask covering his face. If I wasn’t so well trained I would’ve thought he was just a shadow moving amongst the shrubs. “Get down,” I said, pushing Jackson back as I moved swiftly towards the shadow.

He burst out from behind a tree, his fists at the ready and only a sliver of skin showing around his shocking light blue eyes. The pigment was so faint that they almost looked white in the moonlight but I didn’t have time to examine before he was on me. He was fast. Faster than anyone I’d ever fought before and it shocked me because he wasn’t a small man. His shoulders were wide and his arms were beefy but as I landed a couple blows, he didn’t even show that they had any effect. My fist was stinging from where I’d hit the solid wall of muscle that was his body.  

Suddenly there was a blur to my right and Jackson came in with a flying fist, connecting with the attacker’s cheekbone. He dodged the returning blow and stepped back to stand beside me, his fists raised and his eyes staring at the guy in determination.

We fought him together, delivering blows, weakening the man all in black slowly. I launched a flying kick at him but he grabbed my leg, tugging it painfully but before he could break the bone, I delivered a chop to his throat, making him gasp as Jackson delivered a solid straight kick to his chest, making the guy stumble back.

The attacker used his momentum to fling himself into a surprisingly graceful back handspring, landing in a low crouch. He looked between Jackson and me before turning to jump over the hedge, disappearing into the night.

“Are you okay?” I asked, Jackson when the guy had disappeared. My breathing was heavy and I felt a strange panic in my chest when I thought of him hurt.

“Yeah,” he said, dragging his gaze away from where he’d last seen the attacker and planting his eyes on me. “What the hell was that?” he asked.

“It really seems like crime is going up in the city. We should repo─”

“That’s not what I meant, Jade. I’ve never seen anyone fight the way that you do before. Where did you learn how to do that? And that guy was not a mugger. He came here with a purpose and it seemed like he was after you.” Anger and frustration flared in his gaze as he ran a hand through his hair. “Are you going to tell me what’s going on here?”

I took a massive gasp of air, feeling panic choking me as Jackson looked at me with accusing eyes. The air wasn’t doing a damn thing. I felt like I couldn’t breathe. The world around me felt like it was made of saran wrap and it was suffocating me slowly. My vision started to swim and I frowned. Was I having a panic attack? I shook my head to clear it and took a step closer to Jackson, intent on trying to explain things to him when my legs gave out, sending me to the ground. My hand moved to my side where I’d felt a sharp pain earlier and when I pulled my hand back, it was covered in blood.

“Jade,” Jackson said, his voice filled with panic as he knelt beside me, his hand resting beside the shuriken that was embedded to the left of my bellybutton.

“Seriously, another shuriken? We’re not ninjas,” I muttered as darkness started to cloud my vision. “Call Grant,” I said, my voice weak.

Then everything went black.