LIFE WITHIN THE HALLS

Jayden

Tuesday, 10th February, 10:05 a.m.

I was the only one who could go head-to-head with Victoria, since the others were intimidated by her titles.

When I first enrolled, the old-timers told me about the unwritten rule: you can mess around with anyone, not with Victoria Hill. But as time went on, I made that rule a myth—on my terms.

"Dude, I saw you talking to Vic. What's going on?" Henry asked, plopping down beside me and tossing his legs onto my desk.

"What do you think? She's accusing me of posting that chicken head video of hers," I replied, rolling my eyes.

"Well, I wouldn't mind if it were a date, though," he said with a sly grin. "You know, instead of the accusation."

Victoria and I could never go on a date. She disliked me to the core and I had to reciprocate it to her. Sometimes I want to let go of our beef but when I remember how she accused me of something I didn't do and she made Principal Wilson spoke rudely to me in front of my mom, it hurts so much.

"Speaking of which, any ideas who AnonymousX is?" Henry said. "First, I thought AnonymousX was a guy, but with the mockery video of Vic, I'm convinced a girl is behind it," he added, his eyes on the doorway. "Every guy in school likes her, except for you, of course."

I smirked, my gaze following his. "Call the devil and she appears," I muttered under my breath as Victoria walked in.

Henry shot me a knowing look. "You can't hate her forever," he said. "Enemies do turn..."

Before he could complete his sentence, which I wasn't ready to hear, Ella strutted up to our desks with Olivia. They were both still in their cheerleading uniforms, which they and the other cheerleaders had worn to the late Hannah's tribute ceremony.

"Babe." Ella kissed Henry. It was like a punch to the gut, watching them be so cute together.

"Could you give Jay and us a minute?" she asked in her British accent, which she'd picked up during her childhood summers spent in London.

"Sure thing, darling," Henry replied, giving her a quick nod.

Ella hooked her arm through mine, and along with Olivia, we went outside into the corridor.

"Must be happy Daniel's back, and... Hannah's out of the way?" I asked Olivia.

Her expression turned wistful. "Yeah, but Daniel's still not going to be mine," she replied, "even if every new girl he gets dies." Her dark humor wasn't lost on me.

"Sort yourself out, girl," Ella said. "I know you still fancy Daniel, but don't be that desperate. He's not the only cute guy around, find another."

Daniel was Olivia's ex. They were the most talked-about couples when they were together. The reason Daniel had broken up with her was quite good. We all woke up one day to a screenshot posted by AnonymousX, which showed Olivia's chat with a stranger on Tinder. The chat consisted of creepy flirting conversations.

Olivia had sworn that the Tinder account was a catfish account and she wasn't behind it, but Daniel didn't trust her. I wouldn't have trusted her either if I were in Daniel's shoes.

"Daniel's not why we're here," Olivia said. "Ella needs you to do something for her."

"What? Tell me." I turned to Ella, and she leaned in, whispering into my ear.

"The new girl? Why her?" I asked after she whispered. "What has she done to you?"

"I simply can't stand her. Please, do this for me, Jay." She batted her eyelashes. "For my sake."

"Fine, I will do it," I agreed, though I didn't want to, and she hugged me before turning away with Olivia.

If Olivia had asked me alone, I would've refused her request. We weren't even in the same grade, and she was Victoria's sister—definitely not someone I would do a favor for. But with Ella, I couldn't say no. Our bond went beyond just cousins in the same class; she meant a lot to me.

Waving my hand in the air, I called over one of the freshmen standing by the stairwell. I gave him some quick instructions, and he took off. Then, I texted Henry to meet me in the school basement; there was something that needed to be done.

As I strode down the hallway, like always, the girls couldn't get enough of me. They swarmed around me, taking pictures and begging for autographs on their hands, diaries, and even phone cases. I was their superstar, and they made me feel like I was on top of the world, bigger than Noah Beck, even.

Being the center of attention at age seventeen was a rush like no other.

When I got to the basement, Henry was already there waiting, jamming out to music on his AirPods.

I removed one of his AirPods, asking, "Did you take the elevator to get here or what?"

"No, dude, you know I don't have many girls wanting to take selfies with me, that's why I beat you here," he playfully replied, and then asked, "Why are we here, anyway?"

I explained to him what we were there to do—or rather, what his girlfriend wanted us to do—and then I hid behind a stack of crates inside the basement to wait for the perfect moment.

The instant the new girl dashed into the basement, Henry did what I had instructed him to do. He flipped off the lights and slammed the door shut.

Sandra tried to open the door several times, but it remained closed. "Hello?" she called out in the darkness, receiving no answer.

From the shadows, I spoke, "Hello, Sandra Wilmer."

I couldn't see her face, but I could tell she was shaken.

"Sandra!" my voice echoed again, accompanied by a wicked giggle. Henry then flickered the light back on.

As the basement lit up, Sandra covered her eyes to block the harsh rays. She turned her back, slowly opening her eyes to find me standing before her. With my dreadlocks framing my face and my hands tucked into my pants pockets, I looked as handsome as ever.

"You?" She pointed at me.

"Yes, it's me."

"You're in my class, right?"

"Your class?" I chuckled. "You just got here yesterday. There's no 'my class' for you," I quipped with a shrug.

"What am I doing here? Are you the one who told the guy to lead me here? What do you want from me? I don't even remember your name."

I held up my hands, placating her. "One question at a time," I said. "But come on, you should know my name. I'm a celebrity. I introduced myself yesterday in class, and my fame has probably reached your phone."

"Wait... you're JS. The Jayden Scott!"

"Yes, you're right. Check the initials." I withdrew my hands from my pockets and pointed to the top of the school badge on my blazer, where "JS" was embroidered.

"Oh, I didn't see it," she glanced at it, then back at my face.

I began tracing her arms with my fingers, my voice low and smooth. "You're new here. I'd love to have you over at my place. What do you think about it?"

"Don't touch me in that way again!" she warned, pushing my hand away.

"Stop playing hard to get. Many girls would kill for my attention," I murmured, my fingers grazing her face. "You're not special, Sandra."

"Yes, I'm not special but I'm not like those girls," she protested. "If you have a shred of decency, let me go, or I'll report you to Principal Wilson."

"Screw Principal Wilson! Do you know who I am? I control the system here," I said, leaning in, my voice whispering against her neck. "I'm the one who makes the rules."

She angrily pushed me away, slapping me hard across the face. "You're not as great as you think you are," she spat, before turning and fleeing the basement.

I stood there in silence, my hand cradling my cheek. Her fingers had left visible marks on my skin.

Who did she think she was? Some kind of holy Mary? Please. I'd seen her cozying up to Daniel and that nerd, Gideon, in the cafeteria on her first day. Now she's playing the innocent victim?

"Dude, are you okay?" Henry asked from behind.

"I'm fine, don't worry," I replied, still nursing my cheek.

"Sandra's a total savage!" he said, laughing. "I didn't think she had it in her, but she just slapped you like it was nothing."

My lips twitched.

I was supposed to be furious with her, but instead, I found it funny. Maybe it was because she was the first person to ever slap me, or because I hadn't been the one to come up with the plan to harass her. Either way, she wasn't getting away with it that easily. Not now, not ever.