Chapter 2 Chapter 2

“Orion,” he said simply. “Orion Blake.” He jerked his chin toward the service gate. “My uncle works maintenance; I help sometimes when they need extra hands. You?”

I hesitated because giving my full name was always dangerous. "Jade," I said quietly.

He smirked, a crooked, dangerous thing that made something flutter low in my stomach. “Just Jade?”

“For now," I said.

He stepped closer, unbothered by the downpour. Up close he was taller than I expected; he was lean but wiry with the kind of muscle that came from real work, not personal trainers. There was a bruise fading along his jaw and a cut on his knuckles. Trouble, he looked like trouble.

“You shouldn’t be out here alone,” he said. “This part of the grounds isn’t exactly safe after hours. Kids from the city come through sometimes looking for easy targets.”

I lifted my chin. “I can handle myself.”

His laugh was low and rough. “Yeah? "Are you going to quote Sun Tzu at them?” he asked. Despite myself, the corner of my mouth twitched. It was the first real smile I’d felt in months. He lingered for a moment, the rain dripping from his hood. Then he shrugged. “Suit yourself, Just Jade. But if you’re gonna keep sneaking out here, at least pick a better book. That one’s too cynical for a girl with eyes like yours," he said before he turned and started walking away.

“Wait,” I called before I could stop myself. He paused, glancing back at me.

I didn’t know what I was doing. I only knew that for the first time in years, someone had looked at me and not seen the Holt name first. “What’s your favorite book?” I asked. He looked at me for a long while as something unreadable flickered across his face.

“The Outsiders,” he finally said. “Ponyboy gets it, being on the outside looking in.”

Then he disappeared through the trees, leaving me sitting in the rain with my heart beating too fast and a strange warmth spreading through my chest. I didn’t know it then, but meeting Orion Blake would be the best and worst thing that ever happened to me.

The next few weeks were weird. In a good kinda way. I kept sneaking back to that old oak tree every chance I got. Sometimes during free periods, sometimes after classes when I was supposed to be in study hall. I told myself it was just because I liked the quiet. But really, I was hoping to see him again.

He showed up on the third day. He came walking up with his hands in his pockets, wearing that same faded black hoodie, looking like he hadn’t slept much, and there was a fresh bruise on his cheek this time.

“You again,” he said, smirking as he dropped down beside me under the tree. The grass was still a little damp from morning rain.

“You again,” I shot back, trying to sound annoyed even though my stomach did a little flip. I closed my book; I’d switched to The Outsiders after what he said last time.

He noticed right away. “No way. You actually listened to me?” he asked.

“Don’t let it go to your head,” I muttered, but I was smiling a little.

We sat there for a while, not saying much at first. He pulled out a beat-up pack of cigarettes, then glanced at me and put it away without lighting one. I liked that he did that.

“So… Just Jade,” he said, leaning back against the tree. “What’s a girl like you doing hiding out here instead of being in one of those fancy clubs or whatever rich kids do?”

I shrugged. “I hate that stuff; everyone’s fake, and they only talk to me because of my last name.”

He raised an eyebrow. “And what’s your last name?” he asked

I hesitated. Telling him felt risky, but something about him made me want to be honest.

“Holt,” I said quietly.

He let out a low whistle. “Holt. Like… Holt Global? The big company?” he asked.

"Yeah," I said quietly, waiting for the change.

“Damn.” He looked at me differently for a second, but not in the greedy way most guys did, more like he was thinking. “That explains the fancy uniform, so you’re basically a princess," he said.

I rolled my eyes hard. “I’m not a princess. My dad’s an asshole who controls everything; I just want to run the company one day so he can’t push me around anymore.”

He laughed softly. It was a nice sound, rough, but real. “Fair enough. My life’s pretty much the opposite. Mom works two jobs; we move around a lot. Dad’s been gone since I was a kid. I’m just trying to graduate and get the hell out of this city," he said.

We talked for almost an hour that day. About stupid stuff at first: favorite movies, how much we both hated math class, the worst teachers. Then it got a little deeper. 

He told me about getting into fights to protect his little sister. I told him how my family expected me to smile and marry some rich guy one day like it was my only job.

When it started getting dark, he stood up and brushed off his jeans.

“I have to go; my uncle will kill me if I’m late again.” He paused, looking down at me. “Are you going to be here tomorrow, Holt?” he asked.

“Maybe,” I said, trying to play it cool.

He grinned. “Cool. See you around, Jade," he said before walking off.

After that, we met almost every day if we could. Sometimes we’d just sit and talk. Sometimes he’d bring cheap snacks he bought from the gas station: chips, soda, those gross honey buns. I started bringing stuff too, leftover fancy pastries from home that he made fun of but still ate.

One afternoon, about three weeks in, it was pouring rain again. We squeezed together under the tree, our shoulders touching, and I was shivering a little.

“You’re freezing,” he said. Without thinking, he pulled me closer and wrapped part of his hoodie around me. I could smell him, rain, soap, and something warm that was just him.

My heart was hammering. I looked up at him, and he was already looking at me, really looking.

“Jade…” he started, his voice quieter.

“Yeah?” I asked.

He swallowed. “I know I’m a nobody and you’re… you. But I like hanging out with you. Like, a lot," he said.

I felt my face get hot. “I like hanging out with you too, a lot.”

He smiled, that crooked smile that made my stomach flip every single time, and for a second I thought he might kiss me. But he just rested his chin on top of my head and held me while the rain kept falling.

That was the day I realized I was falling for Orion Blake, and I was falling hard. And I knew my father would lose his mind if he ever found out.

Things got serious pretty fast after that rainy day under the tree.