Chapter 1
I hate Jayden Maxwell the founder of this stupid jungle of a school. Everyone praises him like he’s some kind of heartthrob, the ultimate campus crush, and of course, he’s rich. I hate people like him arrogant, boastful, and somehow still stupid. No wonder he doesn’t even attend classes, and yet he still passes.
Meanwhile, here I am, arranging books.
Yeah arranging books. I’m an assistant librarian for Ms. Collins. I work here and study here at the same time.
St. Max University is known as one of the best schools when it comes to academics and extracurriculars. The problem is, some students are actually good and some are definitely not.
So how did I end up here?
Well, my father is a farmer in Indiana, my mother is a full-time housewife, and there are three of us siblings. Of course I want to finish school. I don’t want to end up in the fields forever. I love farming but I also want a decent job. I want city life, real experience, maybe even a bit of luxury. I want my family to feel what it’s like, too.
“Hi, nerdy pants.”
I look up and see the one person I hate most Alexa. She’s the queen of the campus: those lips, those eyes, that fair skin. Of course she’s the queen. She always gets what she wants including Jayden. And why is she even here? She never gets tired of bullying me, even in my one peaceful place the library.
I feel like a punching bag. I stare down at my pants, shy, clutching my book. With my cardigan and this uniform, of course I look like the nerd.
And no I’m not even beautiful.
"What do you want again Alexa?" I sighed as I getting tired of her already, she is causing me headache and stress, in the whole time she is there get tripping my food and my bags. She even put me in the locker locked, thankfully I get save from best friend Sarah.
“I’m just bored, little pet. Anyway, you’ll be at my party tonight not as a guest, but as the clown.”
Her laugh annoys me so much. She always thinks her stupid jokes and bullying are funny. I hate her.
I tried to ignore her, but instead of leaving me alone, she grabbed the book I was holding and threw it out the window. I gasped, shocked. I almost cried. That was my new favorite book the one I bought yesterday and I hadn’t even finished reading it yet.
The anger inside me burned. I wanted to punch her, grab her hair, and smash her face into the wall until she begged me to stop.
But of course, all of that stayed in my head.
I can’t hurt her. I’m a scholar and I can’t risk losing everything.
"Don't you ever say no dirty bitch... remember I run to this campus too." Her threat was right, of course she is Alexa Macey.
“What’s going on here?”
A voice came from behind me. I didn’t turn around. I felt too shy, quietly wiping my tears with the sleeve of my cardigan. Then someone took my arm and gently turned me to face them.
It was Jayden.
I gasped. Seeing him this close felt unreal almost like a dream.
What am I thinking? No. There’s no way I like this guy.
“Well, Jayden!” Alexa said quickly. “She started it. And there’s nothing wrong here she’s just crying because she’s happy I invited her to my party tomorrow. You’ll come, right?”
Jayden just stared at me those eyes, those lashes, that perfectly shaped face. No wonder every girl on campus practically bows down to him. Even his voice has that annoying charm.
“You can’t force someone to go to a party, Alexa.” It was Adrian, of course Jayden’s best friend. He was different from Jayden. Calm. Smart. And he actually knew how to dress.
If you ask me, I like him. I’ve had a crush on him for years, because he’s decent, kind, and honestly, way better than Jayden.
The grip of Jayden gets tighten, he is scaring me, he is very serious and very a bad boy vibes. Well, of course he has that bad-boy vibe on campus, and girls like that.
He just ignored me after that and walked away like the whole drama never happened. Alexa left too, dragging her friends along so she could chase after Jayden.
I glanced at Adrian. My chest tightened. I felt nervous even a little flushed. But he ignored me as well, then left without a word.
I felt so small.
I like him… but I can’t confess. I’m just the quiet girl with no friends boring, invisible. I wish Sarah were here. But she’s still recovering from her fracture, and I have to visit her later today.
The bell rang.
I hurried out, already late for my next class. I found my desk by the window in the last row my favorite spot. Of course I don’t want to sit near people. I hate being surrounded by too much noise.
I wondered who my next seatmate would be. It was already second semester, and I hadn’t had one for a long time. I kept glancing at the empty chair beside me, curious about who would sit there.
The professor began introducing himself, and I pretended not to care. I took out my notebook and got ready to take notes.
Then the door slammed.
Jayden walked in white shirt, black leather jacket.
“Mr. Maxwell, you’re late again,” the professor said.
Jayden didn’t answer. He just stared. The professor froze for a second, his words dying in his throat.
Jayden’s eyes shifted and landed on me.
Our eyes met. My stomach twisted, and I looked away immediately. I hoped he didn’t remember what happened earlier in the library with Alexa.
My heart was racing. Please don’t come here. Please don’t sit near me.
He walked straight toward my row.
Then he slammed the desk beside me and sat down like he owned the place. No respect at all. He always looked annoyed, rarely talked, and never smiled. There was something scary about him.
He dropped his notebook onto the desk loud enough to make me jump. I tried not to look at him, tried to stay calm.
Of all the empty seats in this room…
Why did he have to be my seatmate?
Alexa, focus! Why can’t you concentrate? Stop staring at him… stop letting your eyes wander. Don’t look, don’t look!
I was so shocked with someone pull the chair and grabbed directly to the place to him I looked at him and shocked pushing him away from me.
“What are you doing?” I whispered, careful not to interrupt the class. His smirk… those cold, piercing eyes… made me shiver.
“Why, Ms. Kelly Rose August, are you afraid of me?” His husky, low voice sent another shiver down my spine.
“No—no, not at all… please, you’re too close.” I stuttered like an idiot, my face heating up. I couldn’t bring myself to look him in the eyes.
He smirked and started playing with the edges of my hair. I felt completely trapped by this guy. I tried to set boundaries, but he was too strong.
Finally, the bell rang. I barely heard anything else my attention only snapped back when the professor made an announcement: there would be a partner project. My heart sank. First day of school, and already this? I immediately thought of Sarah she needs to know.
I got up and started collecting my things, shoving them into my bag. He didn’t move. Just stared. And I knew he was watching me.
“Ms. Kelly, you will partner with Mr. Jayden for your project.”
My eyes widened. I opened my mouth to protest, but the teacher had already left. Suddenly, it was just Jayden and me in the classroom.
“So… Ms. Kelly, you’re my partner,” he said.
I hated him. All I liked was Adrian.
“Please… stop being such an asshole. And how do you even know my name? We haven’t even talked or introduced ourselves!” I glared at him, a mix of anger and anxiety bubbling up.
“Do you hate me?” he asked.
He was still following me down the hallway. Why does he keep bothering me?
“No. But I hate the way you act. You’re a jerk. No one around here is ever nice and suddenly you’re interested in me? Why? Because you’re bored? Just like your girlfriend, Alexa? So please… try acting decent for once.”
I walked away, leaving him there. But as I stepped forward, he called my name. I stopped. My chest tightened.
What is he going to say?
“Ms. Kelly Rose August… you will never get away from me.”
I turned back but he was already gone.
What is wrong with this guy?
