I sit outside on my front porch, waiting for Liam to appear. He agreed to meet me at my house to finish the conversation we began in the hallway at school earlier this morning. When he does show up, I'm not excited to see him. I feel bad for admitting that, though it's true. I can't see the future, but I know that whatever happens after Liam steps out of his car won't be good.

I meet him at the end of my driveway. I don't want to take him inside while Kendall and my parents are home, sure that the two of us will end up fighting.

"Why don't we go for a walk?" I suggest, craving motion. Liam merely nods his head in response, and we walk toward the street in silence.

Turning right, we pass Luke's house. It isn't until I actually can't take the silence between us any longer that I speak. "I'm sorry," I exhale. "I'm sorry that we've been fighting. I'm sorry I didn't tell you about the time Luke and I kissed. I'm sorry I didn't tell you I had Luke over yesterday. But I'm not sorry about what I said in the hallway earlier. It's clear you don't trust me. And that's a problem."

"It's not that I don't trust you," Liam is quick to say. "I just don't trust Luke."

"I get that," I tell him, as I do, on some level. "But—look. You have friends that are girls. You don't see me losing my head about it, do you? No. Because I trust you. I trust that you're faithful in our relationship and wouldn't do anything to jeopardize it. You don't have to trust Luke in order to trust me the same way I do you."

Liam is quite for a moment. "I'm sorry, but I'm just . . . I'm not comfortable with the two of you hanging out. It . . . bothers me."

"I'm still a person Liam. I'm allowed to hang out with whoever I want to. Just because someone makes you uncomfortable doesn't mean I have to stop seeing them."

"But, I'd prefer if you did," Liam says with no shame. "I don't like the thought of you and Luke alone together, Jade. I really wish you'd stop hanging out with him."

"Well, tough luck," I snap bitterly. "Luke and I are friends. Believe it or not, that's all we are."

Liam shakes his head, and I can tell that he's getting frustrated, just as I am. "What do you even see in him, anyway? I mean, Bradford's a douche. He's an ass to everyone he meets. Hell, he was an ass to you. Over and over again."

"He's not a bad guy," I defend Luke. "He has a hard exterior because he's afraid of letting people in. Maybe if you tried to get to know him—"

"Jade, are you hearing yourself right now? I do know Luke, and he's awful! Maybe you should open your eyes and see what's right in front of you!"

"You know what I see in front of me right now?" I cry, turning to face Liam. "A jealous, insecure, controlling boyfriend!"

"I'm not trying to control you!" Liam barks. "I'm just telling you what makes me uncomfortable!"

"Luke is a friend," I repeat. "If you respect me at all, you'd accept that. We've gone through a lot together."

"Trust me, I know," Liam snorts, tone hard. "I mean, must have been fun hooking up with him when we first started going out, right? Getting the best of both worlds?"

My face flushes with embarrassment and hurt, unable to believe Liam would say such a thing to me. "I never hooked up with Luke," I spit, shoving the words at Liam. Liam, who is supposed to be kind and sweet and understanding—the boy I fell for. Unfortunately, he has been unrecognizable to me lately. "We kissed. Once. Months ago. If that has you acting this immature, maybe you should try growing up."

Before either of us has a chance to say another word, a figure approaches. The person is coming from the opposite direction, slowly morphing into a recognizable person as they come closer. I notice the blond hair and blue eyes instantly.

Luke.

I know I should dread his appearance, as Luke showing up in the midst of Liam and I fighting is only bound to make things worse. However, that doesn't stop Luke's sudden presence from reassuring me, reminding me that even if things between Liam and I are rocky, there will always be a boy there for me.

I notice that Luke isn't alone. His golden retriever, Beatrice, walks in front of him on a long leash, tail wagging as she makes her way toward me and Liam.

"Bea!" I cry, and Beatrice soon runs at me, dragging Luke along with her. I squat down when Bea is perched in front of me, wagging her tail as she waits for me to pet her. I ignore the way both boys' gazes drift to my ass as I bend down, running my hand over Bea's golden fur.

"Just getting back from a walk," Luke tells me, and I look up to find his eyes already on mine. "Normally Alissa does this, but she's at volleyball practice, so . . ." Luke trails off, seemingly sensing the tension in the air.

"Well, I'm glad to see you guys!" I say brightly, mostly speaking to Bea.

Of course, Liam doesn't miss the fact that my statement includes Luke. With a bitter snort, Liam mutters, "I'm sure you are."

I turn to glare at him as I snap, "You know that's not what I—"

"What did you say?" Luke interrupts me, glaring daggers at Liam. Too soon do I realize that a fight has been set in motion, and I hurriedly rush to get in-between their ego-brawl before things get too messy.

"I said of course Jade would be happy to see you," Liam repeats with no shame. "You two are just so cozy all of a sudden."

Luke's expression is murderous, gaze colder than the air around us. Liam stares back unflinchingly, expression stony.

"Liam," I try reasoning, stepping toward him. "Don't do this."

"Don't do what?" Liam blurts. "State the truth?"

"Oh, you want the truth?" Luke questions with a bitter laugh. "The truth is that you're a dick, Wellington. You're a dick to me, and you're an even bigger dick to your girlfriend. If you keep this douche charade up, you might just lose her. Jade deserves better, anyway."

"And I suppose you're talking about yourself, right?" Liam fires back, stepping toward Luke. "Because everything is always a competition to you, Bradford. I should have known that the second I had something you didn't, you'd try to take it from me."

Luke's glare unsettles me. "See, that's where you're wrong. Because Jade is a person. Not an object. Not something that can be controlled. You having a girlfriend has never been a competition to me. Even I know you can't win a person. They aren't someone else's for the taking."

"Look at you," Liam murmurs, shaking his head. "Playing all high and mighty. Trying to act like the good guy in front of Jade so she'll have her knight in shining armor to run off to after she gets in a fight with her big, bad boyfriend, right?"

"She wouldn't have to run to anyone if you knew how to treat her right," Luke argues. I know that I should say something to make all of this stop, yet it feels as if my throat is filled with cotton, preventing me from speaking.

"You know what, Bradford?" Liam snaps, fists clenched at his sides. "Fuck you."

In the blink on an eye, Liam swings his fist, aiming for Luke's face. I watch, frozen in horror, waiting for the punch to collide with Luke's cheek.

Only, it doesn't. Luke shoves Liam after dodging his fist, sending him staggering backwards.

"Nice try," Luke mutters, making no move to hit Liam. It seems that Luke understands that violence is never an answer; that only the weakest people rely on a punch to win their battles.

"Not nice enough," Liam retorts, lunging for Luke again. He manages to get a punch in to Luke's gut, which causes Luke to double over, though not for long. As Liam moves in for another hit, Luke regains his composure and grabs Liam's fist, knocking it to the side. Frozen in place, I somehow manage to notice the way Luke refuses to hit Liam back. It's as if Luke holds himself together the more Liam falls apart.

I snap out of whatever trance I'd been put under just as Liam pulls his fist back for another hit. The punch lands square on Luke's temple, dangerously close to his eye.

"Liam!" I scream, rushing forward. I'm standing between the boys in a flash, blocking Luke from Liam's fist. "Stop it!" I yell. "You hurt him!"

I turn my back to Liam and focus my attention on Luke. "Look at me." I try to sound gentle, but I'm scared. Scared of the side of Liam I just saw. Scared he might have hurt Luke badly.

Scared of what happens next.

"Luke," I soothe, cupping his face in my hands. "Look at me." He lifts his face slowly, revealing a bruise already forming in the corner of his eye. There's a cut on his temple, a little blood trickling down the side of his face. Other than these two injuries, Luke appears virtually unharmed. However, the sight of the blood angers me to no end.

I turn around to find Liam wearing a shocked expression, as if he can't believe what he's done. That makes two of us.

Voice trembling with emotion, I snap, "You should go, Liam."

"Jade," Liam starts, voice weak. He looks the part, too. Liam is the kind of person who thinks a fist can solve a problem, which makes him weak. And though he'd been provoked, Luke never fought back. That is what strength is. Knowing when to choose your battles, and how to fight them.

"I said go, Liam," I murmur. "I need you to go."

I can't look at Liam's crestfallen expression, so I turn back to Luke. He's wincing, glancing down at his blood-stained fingertips. I watch Liam turn to go out of the corner of my eye, slowly becoming a receding figure that morphs into absolutely nothing.

It's only after Liam is gone that I risk asking, "Are you okay, Luke?"

He braves a smile, though I see pain in his eyes. "I'm fine, Jade."

I don't believe him, and he must sense this. "You're coming with me," I say, looping my arm through his and holding tight to Bea's leash, which had come into my grasp when the boys first started fighting. The amount of blood dripping from Luke's cut unsettles me.

"Really, I'm okay," Luke assures me, forcing a smile. "Don't worry about me."

I glance at the time on my phone, noticing it's already five. I was supposed to attend a play with my family around four-thirty. Judging by the fact that none of them have bothered to contact me, I'm assuming they went ahead without me.

"I don't care. You're coming with me. You're bleeding, Luke."

"It's not that bad," Luke mumbles, though a trail of blood has already drifted to the side of his cheek.

"I'm so sorry," I say as we start walking. "This is my fault. I should have stopped Liam sooner. I don't know what was wrong with me. I should have—"

"What Liam does is not your fault," Luke cuts me off, shooting me a pointed look. "You didn't hit me. It's not your fault."

I purse my lips, feeling immensely guilty over what happened. The rest of the walk to my house is made in silence, both myself and Luke seemingly lost in thought. I'm glad to find that Liam's car is gone when we reach my driveway.

"You're coming inside," I tell Luke before he can protest.

"What about Bea?" Luke questions.

"She can come inside, too," I decide, opening the front door for the both of them. Luke enters my house hesitantly, and I can tell that he doesn't want to make things between Liam and I any worse by doing so. I don't tell him that things with the two of us are already past the point of no return. After seeing Liam hit Luke like that . . . I don't know how I'll ever forgive him.

"Follow me," I tell Luke, leading him into the kitchen. Bea perches down next to the fireplace, laying on the carpet. Luke follows after me wordlessly.

"Sit." I point over to one of the chairs, which Luke doesn't hesitate to lower into. I rummage around the medicine cabinet, grabbing Aloe Vera cream, rubbing alcohol wipes, and a band-aid.

I walk up to Luke, studying the damage that's been done to his face. The bruise above his eye has gotten slightly darker, and I know nothing I can do is going to change the fact that Luke will soon have a black eye.

"Does it hurt?" I ask, gently pressing a finger to the bruise.

Luke winces as he says, "No."

"Liar," I whisper as I try not to smile.

I focus my attention on the cut to his temple, using the alcohol wipe to clean the blood from his face.

"This is going to sting," I warn Luke.

"Yes, doctor," he teases, an attempt to lighten the mood. As carefully as I can, I clean the wound. Luke winces slightly as I do so, pressing the band-aid to his forehead lightly.

I turn my attention to the bruise next, uncapping the lid on the Aloe Vera cream and applying a little to the mark. "This should help with the healing process, but you're definitely going to have a black eye. If you apply some of this everyday, the bruise should fade a little faster."

"Thank you," Luke says softly, his words a whisper against my skin. When I'm done attending to his injuries, I stand before him, pursing my lips. Even though he has a Hello Kitty band-aid on his forehead and a bruised eye to match, he's still hands-down one of the most attractive people I've ever seen.

"You didn't hit him back," I mutter. "Not once. Why?"

Luke sits in silence for a moment. His eyes roam my face before settling on mine, and I wonder if he gets as lost in my fields of green as I do in his oceans of blue.

"I didn't want to hurt him," Luke admits finally. It's not the answer I'd been expecting, though I suppose I don't know exactly what I'd been expecting to hear.

"Why?" I persist. I need an answer, as the entire time I've been caught in this Luke/Liam/Jade love triangle, I've told myself over and over that Luke is the bad guy, not Liam. I've convinced myself that Luke is the manipulative, scheming, unfeeling one. That Luke is the guy I shouldn't want and can't have; that Liam is the boy I'm supposed to be with. Yet what just happened moments earlier proved the opposite, and I can't believe I'd been so blind beforehand.

How did I not see what was right in front of me?

"Because you care about him, Jade," Luke says, refusing to meet my gaze. "You care about Liam, and you were standing right there. I couldn't hurt him. Especially not in front of you. More than that, all I could think about was all the time I've wasted fighting with him. And I realized that I just didn't want to do it anymore. I'm tired of the fighting. I couldn't hit him. It just . . . wasn't right."

Tears spring to my eyes as I realize how wrong I'd been. Forcing myself to fall for Liam, trying so hard to push the feelings I had for Luke into oblivion. I wanted to love Liam's fire, wanted to believe he's the one for me. But it isn't Liam's easy rage and heated anger that I need, as I have enough of that on my own.

What I've been missing—what I really need—is Luke's icy exterior and cold attitude that can balance my fiery personality. I need the boy with the ocean eyes to help extinguish my flames. Because when you mix fire with fire, everything goes up in smoke. Ice and fire are polar opposites, but that is what makes them go hand in hand. Just like magnets, Luke and I attract. No matter how many times I try to get rid of him, he always comes back.

I realize now that I never should have tried outrunning him. Instead, I should have been running toward him.

"I'm sorry," I choke through my oncoming tears, taking Luke's hands in mine. "I am so, so sorry." I'm not just talking about what happened with Liam. I'm talking about everything: all of the times I was too blind to see what was standing before me. Yet Luke is in front of me now, and he's all I can see.

"Jade . . ." Luke trails off. The air between us is charged with electricity, waiting to create sparks.

I lean down and tenderly press my lips to the bandage on Luke's temple. Pulling back, I study him for a moment. Part of me has always longed for the boy I'm looking at now, but I've only just realized that maybe he's exactly what I've needed all along.

I don't think as my lips meet Luke's. It isn't a frenzied kiss, like the first we'd shared. It's slow and tender and full of emotion, reflecting everything I feel in this moment. For a second, Luke kisses me back, and for that one second everything feels right.

However, seconds don't last long.

Luke pulls away from me all too soon, shaking his head as he breathes heavily.

"Jade," he whispers. "I can't."

Before I'm able to ask him what's wrong, he speaks again.

"I can't," he repeats, merely an inch away from me. "This is wrong. You're . . . you're still with Liam."

"I don't want to be," I tell him, meaning the words. "I'm done. I'm done pushing what I feel for you away. I'm done running. I'm ready, Luke. I want you."

"I know," Luke assures me, looking me square in the eyes. "I know, because that's what I want, too. But not like this. You're with Liam. Don't give him a reason to believe everything he accused you of was true."

I purse my lips as I exhale slowly, nodding. Luke is right. If we're going to be together, it can't be like this.

"One day," Luke tells me softly, "when you're done with Wellington, we can go there. Until then, we can have this." He uncurls my hand that holds his, raising it slowly to his lips and pressing his lips to the back of my palm. As if deciding that's not enough, Luke turns my hand and kisses my palm, the gesture making my heart flutter.

"I should go," Luke mutters as I whisper, "Don't go."

Luke's gaze lifts to mine again, and we seem to come to some sort of understanding. He rises from his chair, hand still in mine. I lead him to the living room, falling onto the couch together before the fireplace. We don't say much, hardly touching. We merely watch the flames that dance in silence, existing together.

After a moment, I curl up by his side, head resting on his chest above his heart. My eyelids become heavy, and I feel warm and safe as Luke's arm wraps around me, holding me to him tightly. I'm drifting off before I know it, listening to the steady rhythm of Luke's heartbeat.

»»----- -----««

"We need to talk." Considering what I am about to do, I feel oddly calm as I stand on Liam's front porch, enveloped in the dark and crisp night air.

"And I mean talk," I add out of pettiness, "like civil people. I don't mean yell. Don't bother trying to swing any punches at me, either."

Liam glances down at the ground, shame evident on his features. He purses his lips as he grabs the jacket hanging by his front door, stepping outside to join me and closing his house door behind him. The fact that he doesn't invite me inside only makes all of this feel more real.

"I shouldn't have hit him," Liam admits, eyes on anything but me.

"You're right," I agree stiffly. "You owe him an apology."