Unbreakable Love Read Free Page A

from her vulnerabilities, not to exploit them.
    “Yes,” he said keeping his voice perfectly level, “I would love to have you as a friend.”
    Jennie felt a great sense of relief from his words. They seemed to rekindle a tiny flicker of hope despite her sworn contempt for the opposite sex, and although she was unwilling to admit it to herself, she felt drawn to Nate.
    “Good,” she replied, “I could really use a friend right now.” As Jennie stayed fixed on his eyes, he could see that she was scared, probably hurt by someone before. He didn’t know who or why, but it didn’t matter. If he handled things well from here on out, she would allow the friendship to grow, but carefully. At least she was giving him a chance. He could accomplish his assignment, and Celeste would be proud.
    Nate and Jennie separated just beyond the gate. Jennie waved as she walked off. “Friends, then,” she called across the growing distance between them.
    “Yes,” he responded firmly. “Definitely friends.”
    As promised, at lunch Nate found Jennie waiting for him by her car with two other people. The girl was short with a thick head of jet-black hair and intense hazel eyes. The boy, who had his arm wrapped protectively around the girl, was much taller with short, no-nonsense light brown hair and unassuming light brown eyes. They both watched him arrive as if they were expecting him, yet didn’t completely trust him. By their distrust alone, Nate could tell that these friends cared about Jennie. He would have to prove himself to them as well as to her.
    Once he reached the car, Jennie opened the doors and they all crammed in. The lunch period was short so they couldn’t afford to waste any time. As Jennie drove, she introduced everyone.
    “Nate, this is Marissa, my best friend, and her boyfriend, Braiden.” Nate turned around in his seat to look at them.
    “Hey,” he responded.
    While they drove to Jennie’s favorite lunch spot, Nicolino’s Pizza, Nate listened to three friends chatter about their teachers and activities at school. He learned that Marissa was involved in the drama club and Braiden was the captain of the basketball team, but he learned very little about Jennie. After they quickly ate and were on their way back to school, the conversation turned to the upcoming weekend.
    “Hey, Jen,” Marissa called out over the music Jennie was blasting. Jennie turned down the volume but didn’t take her hand off of the button.
    “Yeah?”
    “Are you going to Ainsley’s house this weekend?”
    Nate decided now was the time to get involved in the conversation. “Who’s Ainsley?” He asked.
    Jennie finally gave up and took her hand off the volume button. “She’s a senior this year. Every year her parents throw this amazing back to school party.”
    “Really?” Nate said, obviously surprised that anyone’s parents would throw a party.
    “Yeah, man,” Braiden chimed in from the back seat. “They have this monster infinity pool that overlooks the valley. Every year they do this thing where they blow a whistle and everyone at the party tries to get into the pool at once. One time we counted and there were 211 people packed in there.”
    “Do her parents stay during the party?” Nate asked.
    Jennie laughed. “What?” Nate asked, starting to feel uncomfortably naive. Jennie glanced at him as she was pulling into the school parking lot and then turned her focus back to finding a parking place.
    Marissa spoke up this time. “Of course, they supply the alcohol.”
    “Wow,” was all Nate could come up with.
    Jennie pulled into a space near the back and everyone piled out. As they walked toward school, Nate turned to Jennie. “Are you going to the party?” he asked.
    Jennie looked at Marissa before answering, and some unspoken communication passed between them. “Yeah, I think so…you know, for awhile, anyway.”
    “You’ve gotta go, Nate,” Marissa broke in, “if nothing else, just to see the pool and the