The pain was searing and unbearable.

Jade gritted her teeth as hard as she could, and her fists clenched involuntarily as she kicked the toe of her combat boot against the wall with all her might.

She couldn't believe him. She couldn't believer her.

Images of betrayal swam through her mind and she raised her hands to her head, raking her fingers through her hair. She tried to push the pictures out of her head, tried to focus on the throbbing pain that soared through her foot.

She was going to kill her.

"Jade."

The voice was soft and tentative, and came from the corner of the Hollywood Arts gym. Jade turned in the direction of the double doors, where Andre Harris stood, hands in pockets.

He was gazing at her in a way that was hard for her to read; in a way that no one has ever looked at her before.

"What?" she shrieked. "Go away!" She turned away from the door and focused her attention on the wall, forced herself not to kick it again.

Her mind was blurring, making it hard to think. She wished the floor would open up so she could disappear.

"No."

This time, the voice was rougher. In control.

Jade whipped her head in his direction, her violent eyes finding his. A fire she didn't recognize gleamed in his eyes and she had to force herself not to look away. She narrowed her own eyes and matched his resilience, a challenge. She waited for him to glance away, to back down.

But he didn't.

Instead, the fire in his eyes grew, and Jade watched, mesmerized, as it grew closer and closer, until it was right in front of her and she could feel the heat that radiated off his body in waves.

Suddenly, as his hand touched her face, hot against her skin, the pain was bearable.