My body floated and spun, rolling as if I were strapped to the wings of a wounded bird. Plunging to the harsh terrain below. For one moment it was beautiful, like I was flying, soaring high and free.

Then I dropped from the sky.

Glass splintered, metal crunched and wailed. Pain stole my breath and ripped away my senses like plucked feathers.

Then…nothing.

No sounds.

No taste.

No feeling.

No me.

Only darkness.

 

 

A Month Earlier

 

“Jaymerson!” My name rang down the hallway. I smiled but did not respond to the voice as I opened my locker. “Hey.” Arms circled my waist and pulled me into the athletic form behind me. A kiss landed on my neck. “You still need me to take you home after football practice?”

I swiveled around in his arms, my five-foot-four frame dwarfed by his six-three height. I stared up into vibrant, playful blue eyes. My eye color was more steel blue, like an ocean in a storm.

Colton Harris embodied the stereotype of the popular boy: wealthy, gorgeous, a football star in a town where people worshipped the game beyond reason. Everyone in town treated him like a celebrity. The whole team was. And if they won another state championship, I was sure the governor would build a statue in their honor. I didn’t help with the cliché. The football star dating the cheerleader.

“Yeah. My dad had to take the car.” I wrapped my arms around his neck. “I have cheerleading practice, then I’ll come over and wait for you.”

His full lips spread into a huge smile, lighting up his face. He leaned down to kiss me. “And then…” His lips found mine again. “Tonight we are going to McKee’s party.” Senior year had just begun. McKee had a lot of parties, but his welcome-back-to-school ones were notorious.

“Sounds fun.” I tipped my head back and our kiss deepened. I didn’t want the year to end. I enjoyed school and my life: Colton, cheerleading, friends, parties. I got top grades and knew I would be nominated for homecoming princess because of Colton. Life was good.

“Get a room,” a guy said behind us, slamming his hand down on Colton’s shoulder. “Or a shower. And can I watch?”

“Keep wishing, Adam.” Colton snorted and turned to his friend. Adam was about five-eight, thin but built. What he lacked in height, he made up for in speed on the field. He had been Colton’s best friend since grammar school. “The only one watching my girl in the shower is me.”

I stepped away, my back pressing into the lockers. My gaze darted to the side, embarrassment heating my face.

“Too bad.” Adam grinned. He had one of those huge smiles, which encompassed his face, causing an irresistible need to grin back. His dark skin highlighted his contagious smile. He patted Colton again. “See you in a few minutes. Heard Coach is on a rampage today after finding out McKee and Speedy got pulled over by the cops last night. Again.”

Colton groaned and dropped his head forward.

In our small town everyone knew each other. Because members of the football team were treated with celebrity status, I had no doubt they’d been let off with merely a warning.

“Okay, I’ll be there in a few.” Adam nodded and walked away. I gave him a small wave.

Colton’s hands came down on my waist, turning my attention back to him. He reached up, sliding his fingers through my long ponytail. The summer left my normally chestnut-brown hair streaked with golden blonde and caramel. “If Coach is in a mood, practice might go longer.”

I pinched my lips together. I hated not having a car of my own. Colton never had that problem. He came from one of the wealthiest families in the town. He had a brand-new car waiting on the day he turned sixteen.

“I’ll wait.” I shrugged.

Colton’s phone buzzed, and I couldn’t keep a small sigh from rising. I teased him all the time that he had a closer relationship with his cell than me. It was always buzzing, beeping, and singing, no matter what time of day. Everyone wanted a piece of the golden boy.

I watched him pull it out of his pocket. “Who is it this time?”

His face was unreadable as he looked at it then shoved it in his pocket. “Uh. Hunter.” Colton brushed a hand over his dark hair. He kept it short and perfectly styled.

I wrinkled my nose, a sour taste filling my mouth at the sound of his twin’s name. Hunter Harris was someone I tried to avoid at all costs.

“I know he’s a freak, but he is my brother.” Colton leaned his head against mine. “Can you pretend to like him?”

“Does he pretend to like me?”

Colton laughed. “Fair enough.”

“I am the cuter one.” Colton pressed me into the lockers, his hands sliding over my shorts and tank, up to my face. He nuzzled my neck.

“You’re twins.” I planted my hands on either side of his face, pulling up his head. “Identical.”

They were clones of each other, down to the dimple in their left cheek. But even though Hunter and Colton were physical clones, their personalities couldn’t have been more different. Colton’s looks were GQ while Hunter’s scruff and tattoos would have been more at home in a motorcycle gang. Hunter hung out with the losers, getting high under the football bleachers, if he decided to show up for school at all. He passed his classes because the teachers were afraid of failing him, undoubtedly because his family practically owned this town.

We had two classes together last year, and we had been paired up in English to do a project together. He barely talked, and when he did, it was to disagree with me on everything. It had been a long, hellish week. Thank goodness I only had one class with him this year, and he sat in the back. Our dislike of each other was the one thing we both agreed on. We stayed away from each other. Far away.

“Not completely identical.” Colton’s eyes sparked, his eyes dipping to his pants. “Maybe something you can fully discover tonight?”

My shoulders tightened, and I glanced away.

Colton let out an irritated growl, and he stepped away from me. “We can’t even tease about this anymore? Will you just think about it? We’ve been together for a year.”

My family moved to town the year before, and I had only been in school a week when Colton shamelessly started flirting with me. By the following weekend we were together. I went from having no friends to a built-in group, which came with Colton. The girls in his crowd talked me into trying out for cheerleading. Within two weeks my life was set and everything in place. Simple and perfect.

“I told you I’m not ready.” Anger shot through me, and I clenched my hands into balls. Sex was a sore subject with us.

I turned to my locker and grabbed my bag, slamming my locker door before heading for the exit. The students had mostly dissipated after the last bell, leaving a few stragglers wandering the hall this Friday afternoon.

“Jayme,” Colton called after me. His hand clutched my elbow, turning me as I walked out the main doors into the afternoon sun. “I’m sorry.” We faced each other on the top stoop. “Really sorry. Forgive me?” He cocked one eyebrow, the dimple in his cheek showing. “Pleeeeaaasse?”

“Damn you.” I shook my head, fighting back the smile tugging at my lips.

“You can’t be mad at me.” He circled his arms around my waist and kissed my nose.

“No.” I went up on my toes, pressing my mouth to his. “I can’t.”

His lips opened mine, kissing me hard, before he stepped away. A grin smothered his face. “See you later.” He winked and jogged off toward the field. He turned toward me, running backward. “Love you.” His goofy grin ate up the last bit of my irritation.

Colton turned, running faster when a whistle blew from the far end of the field, not waiting for me to say it back.