classes setting out everything we now knew about Heartache High’s relationship with the real world.
But how would everyone take being told that the people they loved were probably being slowly devoured by succubae and incubi?
Only a carefully chosen few were initiated into the new findings.
Even so, rumours will always circulate.
‘Excuse me; Stephanie?’
‘Yes?’
It was the girl I’d seen wandering around outside the school’s porch when I’d first studied the list of classes.
I hadn’t realised then just how beautiful she was.
She had been in a bewildered, miserable daze.
Now, when she smiled, she looked as if she could be posing for a Vogue cover.
How could a girl like this have her heartbroken?
How could any boy resist someone so impossibly gorgeous?
‘I’m Gillian,’ she says, offering me a perfectly formed hand. ‘I wondered if you knew any way I could help my boyfriend – the boy I’d wanted to be my boyfriend – as I think he’s in trouble.’
‘Gillian,’ I say firmly, resolutely determined to tell her the truth.
Then I relent, saying instead, ‘Sure, let’s have a chat shall we?’
How can I tell her the truth?
How can I tell that no one ever leaves Heartache High?
*
Thing is, I’m luckier than most students at Heartache High.
Because at least I now have Iain here with me.
And sometimes, you know, as we walk hand in hand across the lawns, or kiss beneath the shade of the trees, I wonder if I could wish for anything more.
Was that against the rules of Heartache High?
That you should find happiness here after all?
You know what?
I don’t think there is a rule against it.
End
Available soon!
Be sure to read:
Heartache High: The Primer
Heartache High’s Primer for Students,
as written by Stephanie Johnson,
Heartache High Permanent Student
Chapter 1
At some point in their lives, most people enrol at Heartache High.
But anyone who enrols can never leave.
Chapter 2
You know how it is; you fall for a guy, you work out the wonderful times, the amazing future you’re going to have together.
You know; nights out at the movies. Or staying in, watching that sitcom you both fall about laughing at. Weekends spent down the mall together, or out with a group of friends who think, wow, are they the real item or what?
Oh yeah, but you forgot one thing, didn’t you?
You forgot to check it out with this guy if all this was all right with him.
The big flaw in your plan, yeah?
Don’t worry; we’ve all been there.
We all understand.
Sure, we get it; you just sort of haven’t got around to asking him yet.
But you’re meaning to ask him, right?
Any time now, in fact.
Or maybe you’ll just drop him a few hints.
Hoping he’ll pick them up.
Knowing he won’t.
But then, why should you be the one doing the running?
Why is it you that has to drop the hints?
That’s not how it’s supposed to work, is it?
The girl asking the boy.
It’s gotta be the boy asking the girl!
We can’t just go turning that old tradition around now can we?
Ah, but there’s the problem, see?
What’s a girl got to do if a guy’s too shy to get around to asking?
Or worse, what’s she gotta do if a guy’s way too confident?
That’s far far worse, yeah?
Because, let’s face it, he’s not really shy, is he?
Not when it comes to other girls, anyway.
Thing is, you’re not really getting the vibes that he’s in too much of a hurry to ask you out, are you?
Fact is, he’s not really even talking to you on the sort of level that might mean he’ll even get around to it.
No, it’s more on the level of, ‘Hey, you; you seen Jemma/Chrissie/Kassy around?’
Thing is – we’re sure you’ve noticed – is that when it comes to these other girls, he doesn’t even seem to have to actually ask them anything, right?
You can’t quite work out how it works, but, hey, what do you know, it just seems to happen between this guy and these other girls perfectly naturally.
Ouch!
You just wish it would work that way for you too, yeah?
Chapter 3
You’d be surprised just how many girls who enrol for Heartache High actually enjoy being here.
They don’t think they do, of course.
The think they’d rather be anywhere else but here.
But really, they’ll accept the agony just so they can enjoy those odd flashes of joy when, their imaginations working overtime, they dream of how it all might have been if only, if only…
They enjoy feeling sorry for themselves sometimes, too.
So you see, Heartache High is a very happy place, in its way.
How else do you explain all these people who leave each semester, only to come back the next?
Excerpt End
If you enjoyed reading this book, please remember to click that you liked it on the Kindle Rating icon.
You may also enjoy (or you may know someone else who might enjoy) these other books by Jon Jacks.
The Caught
The Rules
Chapter One
The Changes
Sleeping Ugly
The Barking Detective Agency
The Healing
The Lost Fairy Tale
A Horse for a Kingdom
Charity
The Most Beautiful Things
The Last Train
The Dream Swallowers
Nyx; Granddaughter of the Night
Jonah and the Alligator
Glastonbury Sirens
Dr Jekyll’s Maid
The 500-Year Circus
P
The Endless Game
DoriaN A
Wyrd Girl
Coming Soon
Heartache High: The Primer
Heartache High: The Wakening
Table of Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Table of Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3