Why is my heart still racing?
I storm down the hallway, barely registering my surroundings. My brain is stuck on an endless loop, replaying the moment over and over like a glitching record.
Jaxon Walker is annoying. Infuriating. Cocky beyond belief. He has spent years getting under my skin just for fun.
So why did it feel different this time?
Why did my stomach flip when he leaned in? Why did his words make my chest tighten instead of roll my eyes like usual? And whyâwhyâdo I feel like I'll be thinking about this for the rest of the day?
I stride into my classroom and drop into my seat, frustration buzzing beneath my skin. I need to get a grip.
I shake my head, forcing myself to focus, but my body betrays me. My leg bounces under the desk. My fingers tap restlessly against my notebook. And worst of allâmy stupid heart is still racing like I just ran laps in gym class.
This is ridiculous. This is Jaxon Walker.
And yet, as I sit there, trying and failing to pull myself together, one undeniable thought creeps in.
I am so screwed.
I successfully avoid Jaxon for the next few hours. I convince myself it's not because of the way my heart did a ridiculous somersault earlier.
By lunchtime, I'm finally starting to feel normal again.
Until I walk into the cafeteria.
Jaxon is already looking at me.
Leaning back in his seat, arms crossed over his chest, he smirks like he knows something I don't. Which, let's be real, is probably true.
I grab my tray and head toward my usual table with Ethan, determined to ignore him. But before I can sit down, a voice rings out.
"Carter!"
I freeze.
Not again.
Slowly, I turn toward Jaxon's table. The entire basketball team is sitting with him. And now, because Jaxon has once again made a scene, half the cafeteria is watching.
"What are you doing all the way over there?" Jaxon calls out, loud enough for everyone to hear. "You should sit with me. We're basically best friends now."
The words are casual, but the glint in his eyes tells me exactly what he's doing.
I feel my entire face heat up. I am going to murder him.
Ethan stiffens beside me. "Lena doesn't need to sit with you."
Jaxon just grins. "Come on, Carter. Don't be shy. You weren't last night."
The cafeteria erupts.
Whispers spread like wildfire, heads snapping toward me with wide eyes. Someone actually gasps.
I swear I might actually explode.
"Oh my god, I hate you," I mutter before turning to Ethan. "If I don't go over there, he'll just keep yelling."
Ethan looks furious, but I don't wait for his response. I march straight to Jaxon's table and drop into the empty seat next to him.
Jaxon leans in, clearly enjoying my suffering. "See? That wasn't so hard."
I glare at him. "I hope you choke on your sandwich."
He smirks. "You're cute when you're mad."
And just like that, I really regret sitting down.