Jade chuckled, unwinding the scarf that hid her face. It was so typical of Frankie to be acting like this but she was not feeling the least bit guilty. She hasn't been around for some time and she missed annoying him. After all, he was a good friend before being the middle guy.
"Goodness me, Jade! Come in, come in!" He ushered her inside, "tea? Oh, but you're a coffee person aren't you? Well, it's late so hot choco it is," and proceeded to busy himself in the kitchen.
Jade took a look around her - the place looked the same as the last time she came by, about a month ago except for the broken vase that would most probably be the result of the crash she heard. Frankie reappeared holding two cups of hot chocolate with little marshmallow that bobbed up and down on the surface.
"Frankly speaking, I was getting a little worried about you Jade. You haven't been around much," he said while blowing his steaming hot chocolate.
"Yea, I know Frankie, but I'm a high school student after all and I do have exams. But I did make up for it," she replied, reaching for her knapsack and brought out the jewellery from the Willow's place.
"Well, well. Look who's getting back into business?" he said, examining the pieces Jade stole. They were beautiful pieces and obviously worth a lot. "My offer, $500,000. Best price just for you, Jade." Jade pretended to be thoughtful and that was an expression he was very well customised with. "All right, $550,000," he sighed while she grinned.
"Deal!"
"I'll bank it into your account as soon as I get the money," he said. "But you'd have better go back home since you still have school tomorrow."
Jade thanked him as she was leaving his doorway, waved him off and hopped onto her bike, speeding off into the night.
It was three in the morning when she arrived at her penthouse. She live alone, well that is, if you did not count the motherly maid and cook. Jade's parents died in a car accident 5 years back. The penthouse, of course, she inherited from her parents but what she also inherited was the financial problem her dad had at that time. When she managed to settle the debt with the money her parents left her with the help of her dad's lawyer, she was on the brink of bankruptcy. She refused to sell the penthouse as it was the only thing her parents left in her possession so, the old lawyer decided to help fund her education. Unfortunately, he died a short while later due to heart attack before anything could be done.
At that time, Jade couldn't work as she was too young and so, resorted to the last choice she had; to become a thief. She was part Chinese, thanks to the lineage of her dad. With the help of the martial arts her dad taught her, she became a thief so good she was never once caught. She funded her own education and lived on her own. So, naturally, everybody in the building assumed that her parents left a large sum of money to her and everyone who knew the truth were dead.
She staggered up the stairs and into her room. She undressed and climb into bed to what she hope to be a dreamless night.
"Wake up, Jade! You're going to be late for school," Tina said while pulling the comforter off of her.
"Hmm?" she mumbled and stretched before getting out of bed. Jade saw Tina pulling the curtains open and proceeded to head down to the kitchen to make her her breakfast.
"Omelettes okay?" Tina asked, receiving a meek nod from Jade.
Jade staggered towards her walk-in wardrobe that led to her bathroom. She showered, wrapped herself up in a towel and into the walk-in-wardrobe. Rummaging through her closet, she settled on her favourite distressed skinny jeans and a bright blue Ralph Lauren Polo-Tee. She brushed her long black hair as she stared into the mirror. It reflected a slim girl with high cheekbones that many models would actually pay for. Big almond eyes from her Asian lineage coupled with long lashes. Her dark hair silky and wavy.
As soon as she was done, she grabbed her bag and walked down the stairs. She entered the kitchen to see her all-time-favourite omelette with a side salad. She pulled a chair towards the counter and started gobbling them down. Once finished, she grabbed her car keys and jumped into her black, sleek Porsche and drove to school. Her school is located quite near the high-end residences so, it was not really surprising to see a few sport cars here and there.
Jade entered the school smiling as a few of them gushed or greeted her. She spotted who she was looking for and walked up towards her and her little group of bobbing cheerleaders. As though sensing her, Whitney turned around. Her eyes were puffy and red.
"Jade! My dad's de_dead!" she wailed, throwing her arms around Jade. "When he went to the b_bathroom, my mum heard a muffled groan followed b_by a crash and_and he was like d_dead on the f_floor! And the jewellry I hoped to be inheriting from my mom w_were stolen!"
Jade was shocked into silence. Yes, Whitney Willows is a rich little cheerleader snob and the reason why she could navigate her way through Whitney's house so easily is because she has been to Whitney's place for sleepovers. She had only managed to be one of her 'best friends' because she was, as Whitney and everyone else thought, rich. But sure, Jade wanted to steal the jewellery but she certainly did not want Mr Willows dead. She thought back to the boy last night. She had assumed that he was like her, a thief who was there a little later than he would have hoped for but she did not know he was an assassin. She didn't need to feign her shock and started to comfort Whitney.
When the bell rang, they parted and made way their way to their own classes. Jade slid into her seat.
"Hey there, pretty. Where were you last night?" Jade froze. But soon logic kicked in, he was talking about one of the parties he threw last night. She turned towards the hottest boy in school who has blond hair and grey-flecked with green eyes.
"None of your business Brett," she replied, smiling coolly at him.
Brett was, in Jade's opinion, one of the jerkiest human alive in school and even though he is not technically a jock, he made it into the 'It-Group' just because his family is filthy rich and because he often threw parties.
Just then, the homeroom teacher stepped in and behind her, was a really cute guy with dark brown hair and the greenest eyes possible hidden behind a pair of spectacles.
As Lance looked around the class, all he could think of was, "oh boy, here we go again," as his eyes fell on a big-breasted blonde sitting right in font of the class trying to sit in what was supposed to be a seductive pose. He shifted his gaze and made eye contact with a really pretty girl with long wavy hair before averting his gaze once more to stare at nothing in particular.
Jade stilled. She was sure of it the moment he stepped in. He was the boy in the Willow's residence!
"We have a new transfer student. This is Lance Night," the teacher announced.
Chapter 1
Start from the beginning
