Fallen Crest Public (Fallen Crest High, #3)

by Tijan

He nodded, getting the message and then his lips came down on mine, and I melted. Home. He was home. Logan was home. No matter all the changes, no matter where he was going, I was home for now.

Logan added, “She thinks that if she destroys Sam, you’ll go back to her. Doesn’t she?” “Yeah.”

Logan thought this was going to be fun, but he had no idea. It was going to get ugly. I knew it, and I was ready for it.

She didn’t mean to, but she oozed sexuality. I had a feeling Heather Jax would look provocative in a grocery bag and she had no idea.

There were no thoughts in my head. No concern. No fear. There wasn’t even love. When I ran, I was just being.

Logan shrugged. “We’re cool, an inspiration to others.” A smattering of laughter started again. Principal Green drawled, “I highly doubt that.” “It’s true. We’re like a walking Hallmark card, full of quotes and bible verses. We make people feel like they’ve been touched by an angel.”

“That’s the only thing she wants—you. Kate’s obsessed with you. She’ll do anything for you, even hand over a video she used to blackmail your best friend.” “Kate’s obsessed with power. She’ll go through anyone to get it, even my friends.”

Sam was strong. I knew that. I’d seen it and it was one of the things that drew me to her in the first place, but she was fragile too. I could see her nearing the line of too-much.

A part of me knew that Sam was different. I could tell her, and she wouldn’t use it against me, but I didn’t know for certain. I was too scared to find out, so I kept quiet. She knew I loved her. She just didn’t know how much.

She had no idea just how rare she was. She had no fucking clue, and I didn’t have the words to tell her.

I shook my head at the mass chaos. “I feel like we go to school with a pack of wolves. It’s everyone for themselves.” Heather grinned. “Only the strong survive here.”

Being loved and protected by Mason and Logan was like holding a loaded gun. I could pull the trigger at any moment, but the consequences could be disastrous.

“Mark’s mom is nuts.” I gave him a pointed look. Did he not know who he was talking to? Mason shrugged. “So’s your mom, but this one…she seems nice and…genuine. I don’t like it.”

Sometimes family hurts you more than they could ever love you. That’s a truth a lot of people don’t want to hear, but sometimes people get the opposite. They get the families that love you more than they could ever hurt you. Those people are the luckiest in the world. You know what pisses me off? Is that they probably don’t even know it. They don’t know how lucky they are, but, Sam, you’re one of them.”

Those two will never leave you.” She tapped my chest. Once. Twice. “You. You’re the one that’s going to hurt them. You have that power, and you don’t know it. You could rip those two apart in a second, and they’re the ones who are scared of you. Not the other way around. You need to recognize the real situation.”

“You got beat up. Bones and bruises heal. Those girls didn’t win because they didn’t do what they wanted. They wanted to break you.” I was already broken. “You’re not broken at all.” I held my breath at her words. She added, “Those two boys have healed you. They took you in. They protected you. They continue to love you because they’re your family and both of them know it. They love you for the same reasons they don’t love anyone else. You’re pure.

Being loved and accepting love are two completely different things. It’s my job to continue to show it to you. All you have to do is accept it, little by little.

Frankie Pailor ran Frisco how we ran Fallen Crest. We played sports against each other, but that was our only rivalry with them. Since Frisco territory touched on both sides of Roussou and Fallen Crest, much like a triangle, we understood Frankie’s dilemma. He kept a friendly alliance with the Broudous as well.

Mason wasn’t an angel. That was obvious, had always been obvious, but when he loved, he truly loved. It was beautiful,

“money is just padding. It can be used to shelter you from some things, but there’s no sheltering from other things like love and kindness. Money has no effect on the real stuff.”