Chapter 3 Chapter 3

We started texting on burner phones I bought so my dad couldn’t track anything. Orion called me "Princess" as a joke, and I started calling him "Trouble." It was stupid and cheesy, and I loved it. Our meet-ups moved around so we wouldn’t get caught. Sometimes still at the oak tree, but mostly at this old abandoned playground a few blocks from the academy or behind the big warehouse near his neighborhood. 

I’d sneak out after dinner, telling my parents I was studying at a friend’s house. They never checked as long as I kept my grades perfect and smiled at family dinners; they didn’t care what I did.

One Friday night, about a month after we met, Orion told me to meet him at the usual spot.

“Bring a jacket,” he texted. “I want you to meet some people.”

My stomach flipped the whole way there. When I showed up, he was waiting with his hands in his pockets, looking nervous for once.

“You sure about this?” I asked.

“Yeah. But only if you want; there is no pressure," he said.

I nodded. He took my hand, our first time really holding hands like that, and led me through some sketchy streets until we reached a small, run-down apartment building. He knocked twice, paused, then knocked once more. The door opened.

“Orion! You’re late, bro,” a little girl’s voice said. She looked about ten, with the same dark hair and stormy eyes as he, but way skinnier. She stared at me with big curious eyes. His sister.

“This is Mia, my sister," he said, squeezing my hand. “Mia, this is Jade.”

“Hi,” I said softly, smiling at her.

“You’re pretty,” she blurted out. “Are you Orion’s girlfriend?”

My face burned, and he groaned. “Mia, behave.”

A tired-looking woman stepped out from the kitchen. She had dark circles under her eyes but a kind smile. “You must be Jade. I’m Clara, Orion’s mom. Come in, honey. Don’t mind the mess," she said.

Their apartment was small and old, but it felt warm. There were drawings Mia made taped to the walls and the smell of spaghetti cooking. We ate together at their tiny table. Clara asked me about school and didn’t push when I stayed vague about my family. Mia kept stealing glances at me and giggling whenever Orion looked my way.

After dinner, Orion and I slipped out to the fire escape so his mom could get Mia to bed.

“Sorry if that was weird,” he said, leaning on the railing next to me. “I just… I wanted you to see the real me, not just the guy who hangs out at your fancy school," he said.

I turned to face him. “I like the real you a lot. Your mom and Mia are awesome," I said with a smile.

He looked at me for a long moment, then stepped closer. The city lights were glowing behind him, and my heart was pounding so loud I was sure he could hear it.

“Jade,” he whispered. “I’ve been wanting to do this for weeks.”

He cupped my face gently with both hands and kissed me.

It was soft at first, kinda hesitant, like he was scared I’d pull away. Then I kissed him back, wrapping my arms around his neck, and it got deeper. His lips were warm and he tasted like the cherry soda he’d been drinking. My first real kiss felt like fireworks going off in my chest.

When we finally pulled apart, both of us breathing hard, he rested his forehead against mine.

“Damn,” he muttered with a little laugh. “I’ve been wanting to do that since the first time you called me out on my bullshit under that tree.”

I smiled so big my cheeks hurt. “Took you long enough, Trouble," I whispered.

After that night, everything felt more real. We took bigger risks; he’d sneak onto the academy grounds sometimes. I’d go to his place when his mom worked late shifts. We’d make out on his tiny bed while Mia played in the other room or drive around in his beat-up old car listening to music and talking about running away together one day.

But the fear was always there. I knew if my father ever found out I was seeing a guy from the wrong side of town, especially a guy like Orion, it would be bad. Really bad. Still, I couldn’t stop. For the first time in my life, I felt like someone saw me. Not Jade Holt, the heiress; just Jade and Orion loved that version of me.

I was falling hard. We both were.

The next couple of months were the best and scariest time of my life.

We got way better at sneaking around. I started lying more smoothly, saying I had group projects or volunteer stuff after school. Orion would wait for me a few blocks from the academy in his beat-up Honda, and we’d drive somewhere quiet. Sometimes we just parked and talked for hours; other times we’d go to his apartment when his mom was working nights. That’s when I really started seeing how bad things were for them.

One night I showed up and Clara looked exhausted, sitting at the tiny kitchen table with a pile of bills. Mia was in the other room doing homework by the light of a lamp that kept flickering because the electricity was acting up again.

“Rent’s late again,” I heard Clara whisper to Orion when they thought I was in the bathroom. “And Mia needs new shoes for school. I’m picking up extra shifts, but it’s not enough.”

Orion’s jaw was tight. “I’ll get more hours at the auto shop, don’t worry, Ma.”

But I could see the worry in his eyes. He was only eighteen, trying to help keep the family together while going to a crappy public school and dealing with his own shit.

That night after Clara went to bed, I pulled out some cash from my bag. I’d taken it from one of my secret stashes, money I’d been slowly skimming from my allowance and shopping trips so my dad wouldn’t notice.

“Here,” I said, pushing a few hundred dollars into his hand. “For the rent and some groceries.”

Orion stared at the money like it burned him. “Jade… no. I’m not taking your money," he said.

“It’s not a big deal to me,” I whispered. “I have more than I know what to do with. Please? For Mia, she shouldn’t have to worry about this stuff.”

He looked torn. I could tell it hurt his pride, but eventually he hugged me tight and took it. “I’ll pay you back one day. I swear," he whispered.

“You don’t have to,” I said, kissing his cheek. “I just want to help.”

After that, helping became our thing. I started bringing bags of groceries when I visited, stuff like fresh fruit, real meat, and cereal that wasn’t the cheap generic kind. I bought Mia new sneakers and a cute backpack, telling her it was an early birthday present from Orion.