The Drive Back

The second they got into the car, Grace let out a deep sigh and sank into the passenger seat. The flashes of cameras still danced behind her eyelids, even though they had finally escaped.

Jax climbed into the driver's seat, not even glancing at her as he started the car. His grip on the steering wheel was tight, his knuckles white.

Grace turned to him, exhaling sharply. "What the hell was that?"

Jax let out a short, humorless laugh. "What was what?"

She scoffed. "You seriously just told the entire world we're together."

Jax shrugged, pulling onto the road. "Yeah, and?"

Grace's mouth fell open. And?!

"What do you mean and? You could've at least given me a warning before just—just announcing it to the whole damn planet!"

Jax didn't even seem bothered. "Relax, princess. It had to be done."

Grace crossed her arms. "Oh, right. Had to be done. Because God forbid Jax Riot actually explains something before opening his big mouth."

Jax smirked. "You're cute when you're mad."

Grace shot him a glare. "Don't."

His smirk widened. "Don't what?"

"Don't try to charm your way out of this," she said, her voice firm. "I'm serious."

Jax sighed dramatically. "Fine. You want an explanation?"

"That would be great," she snapped.

Jax tapped his fingers against the wheel. "If I hadn't said something, they would've followed us all night. Trust me, it's easier this way."

"Easier for you," Grace muttered.

Jax side-eyed her. "It's easier for both of us."

She scoffed but didn't argue. Because maybe he was right.

The silence in the car stretched, thick with tension. The city lights blurred past them, a reminder that nothing about her life was normal anymore.

And she couldn't take it back.

She chose this.

Finally, Jax sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "Look, I didn't mean to throw you into this so fast. But this is the reality. You're in it now."

Grace let out a slow breath. "So what happens now?"

Jax smirked slightly. "Now? Now you get to experience what it's like to be my girlfriend."

Grace rolled her eyes. "Oh, lucky me."

Jax chuckled but didn't respond.

His phone suddenly buzzed against the dashboard.

Jax groaned. "What now?"

He picked up his phone, his smirk instantly fading. His jaw tightened.

Grace noticed how his grip on the phone tensed.

"What is it?" she asked cautiously.

Jax sighed and turned the screen toward her.

A gossip website was open.

And there—clear as day—was a headline:

"JAX RIOT'S NEW GIRLFRIEND: IS SHE JUST A GOLD DIGGER?"

Grace's stomach dropped.

The article was already filled with comments. Hundreds of them.

She's clearly using him.

Why would he go for a nobody?

I give it two weeks.

Another fame-hungry girl trying to get rich.

Grace's throat tightened.

Her hands curled into fists in her lap.

Jax must've noticed because he locked his phone and threw it in the cupholder. "Ignore them."

She turned to him, stunned. "Ignore them?"

Jax's jaw clenched. "Yeah. Ignore them. It's what I do."

Grace stared at him. "Is that seriously your solution to everything?"

He didn't answer.

Because they both knew the truth.

Ignoring them wouldn't make them go away.

And this? This was just the beginning.

The Gas Station Incident

Twenty minutes into the drive, Jax pulled into a gas station.

"What are we doing here?" Grace asked.

"Getting gas," Jax said flatly, stepping out of the car.

Grace sighed and leaned back in her seat. She just wanted to go home.

She glanced at her phone, half-expecting texts from Finn freaking out.

He did not disappoint.

"GRACE WHAT THE HELL OMG YOU'RE FAMOUS NOW WTF WTF WTF"

"CALL ME RIGHT NOW OR I'M GONNA DIE"

"IM SO JEALOUS BUT ALSO TERRIFIED FOR YOU"

Grace sighed. So much for ignoring it.

A sudden knock on the window made her jump.

A guy stood outside, grinning wide. His phone was already out, recording her.

Grace's stomach twisted.

Crap.

She rolled the window down slightly. "Uh... can I help you?"

The guy smirked. "So you're Jax Riot's new girl, huh?"

Grace's body stiffened.

He kept recording. "Damn, how'd you land that?"

Before she could respond, the passenger door opened.

Jax slid back into the car, eyes immediately landing on the guy. "The fuck do you think you're doing?"

The guy grinned. "Just saying hi, man."

Jax's jaw tensed. "Turn off the camera."

The guy laughed. "Dude, chill. It's just a video."

Jax leaned forward slightly. "I said. Turn it off."

Grace could feel the anger radiating off of him.

The guy held up his hands. "Alright, alright, damn." He put his phone down. "Just trying to say hi to your girlfriend, man. You don't have to be an asshole about it."

Jax's hands clenched into fists.

Grace could tell he was about two seconds away from losing it.

So before he could say something he'd regret, she grabbed his arm.

"Jax," she murmured softly. "Let's just go."

Jax's jaw clenched, but after a moment, he nodded.

He threw the car into drive and sped out of the gas station.

Silence filled the car.

Then—

Jax ran a hand through his hair, exhaling sharply. "Fucking idiots."

Grace looked over at him. "Do you get that a lot?"

Jax let out a dry chuckle. "Every goddamn day."

She hesitated. "...Does it ever stop bothering you?"

Jax's hands tightened on the wheel.

"No."

Grace swallowed.

Because this was her life now, too.

And she had no idea if she was ready for it.