Chapter 2

Jake' s body twisted in the air.

A collective gasp went up from the crowd.

His eyes, wide with shock, met mine for a split second.

I didn't move.

He hit the ground hard.

But not as hard as last time.

He' d managed to twist, to lessen the impact somehow. He landed awkwardly, but not with the sickening thud I remembered.

People rushed forward. I stayed where I was.

He sat up, clutching his arm, his face pale but contorted in anger, not agony.

Then his eyes found me again.

They narrowed.

Later, after he' d been checked over – minor sprains, a few bruises – he found me by the refreshment stand.

"You just stood there," he hissed, his voice low and venomous.

"You saw me fall."

I looked him straight in the eye. "Yes."

A flicker of something unreadable crossed his face. Confusion? Or was it... recognition?

"You were supposed to... you always..." he stammered, then stopped.

"I was supposed to what, Jake? Ruin my life for you again?"

The words were out before I could stop them. Again?

He stared at me, his jaw tight. "What are you talking about? You' re acting crazy."

"Am I?" I kept my voice even. "You seemed to handle the fall well enough on your own this time."

"The equipment was faulty," he snapped, a little too quickly. "I told Chief Miller before I went up. I was testing it."

A lie. A clever, quick lie.

He was already trying to control the narrative.

And then he smirked, a chilling, familiar expression. "You should have been closer, Sarah. My lucky charm. My safety net."

The words hit me like a physical blow. Safety net. That' s all I ever was to him.

"I' m not your safety net anymore, Jake," I said, my voice firm.

"I have my own life to live."

He laughed, a short, ugly sound. "What life? Going to that stupid art school?"

"It's a pre-med program, actually," I corrected him, though in the first life it had been art. This time, I was aiming for healthcare. A different path, a different Sarah. "And yes, I am."

"We' ll see about that," he said, his eyes glinting. "This town needs its heroes. And heroes need support."

He was already trying to manipulate me, to pull the old strings of guilt and community pressure.

"I' m done supporting you, Jake," I said, turning to walk away. "Find another safety net."

His hand shot out, grabbing my arm. "Don't walk away from me, Sarah."

I pulled my arm free. "Don' t touch me."

The force of my own voice surprised me.

He looked taken aback, then his face hardened into a scowl.

"You' ll regret this, Sarah. You need me more than you think."

I walked away, his words echoing in my ears.

But this time, they didn't fill me with fear. They filled me with determination.

He was right about one thing. I did need something.

I needed to get away from him. Fast.