Chapter Nine

I barely made it through my next class before Ryan found me again. This time, I don't have Jaxon at my side, and somehow, that makes it worse.

"Lena," Ryan's voice is smooth as he falls into step beside me like we're friends. "Come on, just give me a minute."

I tighten my grip on my books, keeping my gaze forward. "We don't have anything to talk about, Ryan."

He exhales through his nose, his frustration barely contained. "I just wanted to clear the air, okay? You looked surprised when I bid on you."

I scoff. "Oh, you mean when you tried to publicly claim me in front of the entire school? Yeah, Ryan, that was a shock."

He stops walking, forcing me to turn and face him. "I wasn't trying to claim you."

I cross my arms, my pulse drumming. "Then what were you trying to do?"

Ryan hesitates. Just for a second. Just long enough for me to know he's reaching for an excuse.

"I thought it'd be fun," he finally says.

I let out a bitter laugh. "Right. Because making a scene is your idea of fun."

His jaw tightens. "I was just trying to remind you of what we had."

My stomach twists.

What we had.

Memories come rushing back—his hands gripping my waist too tightly, his voice low and coaxing, telling me, "Come on, Lena, stop making this a big deal."

I shove them away, clenching my jaw.

"There was nothing to remind me of," I say, my voice flat. Unshaken. "You crossed a line. More than once."

Ryan's expression flickers. Just for a second.

Then, he schools his face back into something familiar—that same easy confidence, that same infuriating smirk.

"Lena, you're overreacting. You always did."

I take a step back.

"That's the difference between us, Ryan. I set boundaries. You ignored them."

His lips part, like he's about to argue, but then—

A voice cuts in.

"Everything good here?"

I don't need to turn to know who it is.

Jaxon leans against the lockers like he doesn't have a care in the world, but his eyes—sharp and locked onto Ryan—say otherwise.

Ryan scoffs. "Oh, great. Here comes your personal bodyguard."

Jaxon smirks. "Funny. I was just thinking how good I'd look in a security uniform."

Ryan rolls his eyes. "Whatever." He looks at me one last time. "Guess we're done talking."

I nod. "We were done a long time ago."

Ryan walks away, and I let out a breath I didn't realize I was holding.

Jaxon steps closer. Not too close, but close enough.

"So..." His voice is lighter now, teasing. Trying to cut through the tension.

I shake my head. "Don't. I don't want to talk about it."

His gaze lingers on me, longer than it should. But to my relief, he just nods. "Fair enough."

For once, he doesn't push. And for once, I appreciate it.