Aria's POV

The school parking lot was quiet, just a handful of students dragging themselves toward the entrance, coffee cups in hand. I stayed in my car a little longer, Elara's book resting open on my lap.

The pages were full of enchantments, ancient spells, and strange potions—words curling around intricate illustrations, as if they could pull me deeper into another world. I traced one with my finger absentmindedly, landing on the section about enchantment songs. They were meant to lure people in, making them follow the singer. Dangerous stuff. Apparently, sirens used these songs to lead sailors to their doom on jagged rocks.

My phone buzzed from the seat next to me. I glanced down, already knowing who it was.

Jack: Morning, babygirl. Just wanted to remind you—you're stuck with me today. No disappearing acts, okay? I can see you're opening up little by little, and that's a good thing. Baby steps look good on you.

A grin tugged at the corners of my mouth, warmth unfurling slowly in my chest. Jack didn't send these kinds of texts often, but when he did, they always landed just right—steadying me in ways I didn't know I needed. I tucked my phone into my bag, feeling lighter than I had all morning.

I guess he noticed the baby steps. The thought both soothed and unsettled me. If I was going to help myself and not fall into the trap of relying on Jack for everything, I had to meet him halfway. No more hiding behind walls. Just... small steps. One at a time.

You're a pain in the ass, Jack Carter, I thought, shaking my head fondly.

With a small sigh, I closed Elara's book, slid it into my bag, and stepped out of the car. The cool November air nipped at my cheeks, and I adjusted the hem of my white knit sweater dress—a soft jumper that hit just below my knees. Paired with black boots and a beanie, it was one of my favorite fall outfits. For once, I'd skipped the glasses, swapping them out for contacts and light makeup that made me feel just a little more like myself.

As I walked through the front doors, I spotted Jack standing at his locker, mid-conversation with Eli and Brent. His eyes found mine immediately, that easy grin appearing like it was second nature. My heart stuttered—damn it, Jack—and before I could overthink it, I slid my hand into his.

Jack's eyebrows shot up for a beat, but his grin only widened. "Well, shit. Look who's making moves today."

Eli let out a low whistle, grinning. "Wow, Aria, look at you. Crawling out of that shell a little bit."

Brent crossed his arms, smirking. "Day two of Aria showing the world Jack Carter is off the market. Now that is a surprise."

Heat rushed to my cheeks, and I ducked my head, wishing I could hide, but Jack's thumb brushed gently over the back of my hand—steady, grounding.

"Fuck off," Jack muttered, but the corner of his mouth curved with amusement.

Eli nudged Brent, still grinning like an idiot. "Look at that blush. Damn, girl! Jack's got you real flustered."

Jack's gaze shifted, sharp enough to cut glass, though the smirk tugging at the edge of his mouth betrayed him. "Y'all are so fucking annoying. Can you not make my girl uncomfortable? She's taking baby steps, and I'm proud of her."

Before I could process his words, Jack turned toward me, catching me completely off guard with a quick peck on the lips.

Brent chuckled, arms still crossed. "You're whipped, man. Just admit it."

Jack ignored him, leaning down close enough that I could feel the warmth of his breath against my ear. "I'm proud of you, babygirl. Guess me calling you out that day really stuck, huh?" His voice was low, teasing, but there was a softness beneath it that made my heart skip.

I swallowed, cheeks still burning. He was right—because I had been pulling away so much that I hadn't thought about what it was doing to him. This, right now, was baby steps. Even if the insecurity from Brooke's words and the whispers at school still lingered, I was trying.

I squeezed Jack's hand a little tighter instead of letting go, my stomach fluttering in that annoying way it always did around him. Baby steps, I told myself. One step at a time.

Jack pressed a kiss to the top of my head, his lips lingering just long enough to throw me off balance. The gesture was easy, natural—like this was exactly where I belonged.

"You're adorable when you blush," he whispered, the grin in his voice unmistakable.

I groaned, trying to suppress my smile. "Babe, not you too."

Jack chuckled, clearly pleased with himself. "Can't help it, babygirl. It's too easy."

Brent glanced down at the book in my hand. "What's that? Looks ancient."

"Elara gave it to me," I said, flipping to the section on enchantments. "It's full of magic stuff—spells, potions, enchantments..."

Brent raised a brow. "And you believe any of it works?"

I shrugged. "There's one spell in here—an enchantment song. Supposed to make a guy follow you around, like... hopelessly smitten."

Jack's posture shifted instantly. His hand gripped mine just a little tighter. "You're not trying that shit."

I bit back a grin, tilting my head innocently. "What if I just test it out? You know, for science."

Jack's expression darkened into a scowl, lips tugging down in an exaggerated pout. "No. Not fucking happening."

Eli grinned like the little shit he was. "Damn, you're already jealous? And she didn't even cast the spell yet. Aria, you have to try it out—just to see how fast Jack loses his shit watching some guy get all smitten with you."

Brent tilted his head thoughtfully, stroking his chin as if it was the most serious question in the world. "Come to think of it, when have we ever seen Jack be all smitten over Aria?"

Jack shot both of them a look that could incinerate them on the spot. "Both of you are such fucking assholes. Say that again, and I'll make sure your next workout leaves you puking."

Brent doubled over, clutching his sides as laughter wracked through him. "Oh, this is fucking gold! You're screwed, man. Your girl is out here thinking about enchanting someone else 'cause you can't even manage to look smitten."

Jack rolled his eyes, ignoring them both, his full attention locking on me. "No enchantment songs, Aria. I'm dead serious." His voice was low, steady, but I caught the flicker of something else—protectiveness mixed with that familiar annoyance.

I tried to keep a straight face, but the laughter bubbled out of me, uncontrollable and bright. It felt so damn good to laugh like that, like I wasn't lugging the weight of the world around with me for once.

Jack let out a groan, dragging his hand over his hair in mock frustration. "You're such a fucking pain in the ass," he muttered, his voice softening with affection. "I thought you pulling away drove me crazy, but this shit? This is just ridiculous."

I leaned into his side, still grinning. "Okay, fine. I guess I'll just pass you along to the next mermaid in line who wants you."

Jack froze, and the glare he shot me could've killed on impact. "Babe," he growled, his tone dead serious. "That's not fucking funny. Don't say shit like that."

It was adorable how pissed off he looked, his brow furrowed, lips pursed in the cutest annoyed pout.

I smirked up at him, not bothering to hide my amusement. "Okay, okay. No spells, no mermaid lines. I promise."

Jack let out an exasperated sigh, his hands sliding around my waist. "You're impossible," he muttered under his breath, pinching my nose just to annoy me before pulling me closer.

Then he kissed me—longer than expected, slow and deliberate, like he was making a point. The teasing vanished the second his lips met mine, replaced by something deeper. When he pulled back, his breath brushed against my cheek, his voice low and rough.

"That's how I do smitten," he whispered, his eyes flicking toward Brent and Eli, who were practically doubled over in laughter.

"Now, shut the fuck up," Jack told them with a smirk, but his arm stayed wrapped around me, his hand resting firmly at my waist.

Brent was still gasping for air, wiping a tear from his eye. "Oh man, you're so fucking whipped."

Eli grinned. "I didn't think I'd live to see the day."

Jack shot them both a warning glare but didn't let me go. "Laugh it up, assholes. I've got Aria. And I'm keeping her."

The rest of the school day drifted by in a blur—half-listened lectures, hushed gossip swirling in the hallways, and lingering glances I ignored. All I could think about was the next moment alone with Jack.

By the time the final bell rang, I felt Jack's hand wrap around mine, tugging me gently toward the parking lot.

"Skip the Cozy Corner today?" I asked, raising a brow as we reached his car.

Jack's gaze flicked to mine, the corner of his mouth quirking up. "Got a better idea."

I tilted my head, curious. "Oh?"

He gave me a sly grin, opening the passenger door for me. "The moon pool. Just us."

Heat rose to my cheeks, and I looked away, suddenly shy under his gaze. "So... you want to come with me?"

Jack's eyes softened as he leaned down, brushing a kiss over my temple. "Yeah, babygirl. If you want me there, I'll be there."

The flutter in my stomach intensified, and before I could lose my nerve, I nodded. "Okay."

Jack grinned, satisfied. "That's what I thought."

As we settled into the car, the familiarity of his presence made it easy to relax. The engine hummed softly beneath us, and the quiet stretched comfortably between us as we drove toward the coast.

We reached the hidden cove just as the sun began to dip below the horizon, streaking the sky with shades of pink and gold. Jack pulled the boat to the shore, cutting the engine as I slipped into the water with ease.

The cool ocean welcomed me, and with a flick of my tail, I sped toward the moon pool, the water rushing past me in soothing waves. I surfaced at the edge of the pool, resting my arms against the rocky ledge.

Jack parked the boat and joined me, his steps slow and relaxed as he sat down on the sand near the edge of the pool. He leaned back on his hands, eyes following my every move with quiet appreciation.

"So," Jack murmured, his voice low and playful. "I've got my mermaid all to myself now."

I rolled my eyes, but a grin tugged at my lips. "You're ridiculous."

"Yeah," Jack said, brushing some sand off his hand, "but you like it."

I let out a small laugh, the water rippling around me. "Unfortunately."

He leaned closer, his expression softening as the teasing faded into something more genuine. "Thanks for letting me come with you, Aria."

I rested my chin on my arms, feeling the tension of the day finally begin to unravel. "I figured you earned it."

Jack smirked. "Damn right I did."

For a moment, we sat in the comfortable quiet, the only sounds the gentle lapping of the water and the distant call of seagulls.

Jack's gaze drifted toward the darkening sky, his voice softer than usual. "You ever think about the future?"

His question caught me off guard. I propped my chin on my arms, studying him. "Yours or mine?"

"Mine, I guess," Jack said, rubbing the back of his neck like he was figuring out the words as he went. "It's always been football for me. School. Just... doing what I'm supposed to do."

I waited, sensing there was more he wanted to say.

"My family's great. Supportive. They've always been there, and I love them for it." Jack's voice was steady, but there was an undercurrent of something heavier. "But there's this expectation—be a good guy, get good grades, go to college for football. It's like there's no room for anything else."

He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees, the vulnerability in his expression something I wasn't used to seeing. "I used to dump girls the second they got too close. It felt easier—like they wouldn't complicate the life I had planned."

I floated closer, resting my arms on the ledge of the pool, quietly absorbing his words. This side of Jack—open, raw—was a side he didn't show often.

Jack leaned back slightly, his gaze drifting across the shimmering water. "And then you came along." He glanced at me, a half-smile playing on his lips. "You were... different. And it drove me fucking crazy. When Ms. Daniels paired us for that project, I didn't really notice at first. Just the quiet girl in graphic tees, hoodies, and jeans. You were this shy, bookworm who barely wanted to talk to me. And that? That really got under my skin."

A laugh slipped from me, soft but genuine. "So, let me get this straight. You dumped every girl who got close... but hated that I wouldn't let you in?"

Jack's grin deepened, a flicker of tenderness slipping beneath the teasing. "Yeah. Pretty fucked up, right? But maybe it's because we're kind of opposite. I don't let girls get too close on a deeper level... and you? You make it impossible for people to break through your walls. It was like you were giving me a taste of my own medicine—and, damn, I hated it."

His smirk softened, and he ran a hand through his hair. "But then Eli told me... told me about your crush—how you'd admired me from afar since freshman year. It started to make sense. No wonder you tried to keep that shit low key."

We slipped into an easy silence, the moon pool's waters glowing softly, casting a quiet serenity over us. It was the kind of silence that didn't demand anything from either of us—just... being.

"I thought I'd just get through high school without drama," I admitted, my voice low. "Graduate, go on with my life. I told myself this thing with you—it was just a harmless crush." I hesitated, my heart tightening. "But then you kept finding ways in—through my walls. And somewhere along the way... it wasn't just a crush anymore."

Jack's gaze didn't waver. He didn't push, didn't rush me, just... waited. Like he always did. And that patience made it harder to keep the walls in place.

"My parents are never around," I whispered, the admission cutting deeper than I expected. "I learned early not to expect much from people. It's just... easier that way. If you don't expect anything, you don't get hurt."

Jack's expression softened, his eyes holding something that made my chest ache—a kind of quiet understanding that felt heavier than words.

"And with you..." I trailed off, struggling with the weight of it all. "It's hard. I feel like... I need you too much. Like the love I didn't get from my parents—I started craving it from you. And when things got real, it scared the hell out of me. That's why I pushed you away."

Jack shifted closer, his knee brushing lightly against the edge of the pool. "Needing someone isn't a bad thing, Aria. It's okay to need people." His voice was low, steady, like he believed every word. "You just don't have to do it all on your own."

I lowered my gaze, tracing idle patterns along the water's surface. "I don't even know how to ask for help. I've never had to."

Jack's hand grazed my arm, a small but grounding touch. "You don't have to figure it all out right now. We've got time. Baby steps, remember?"

The warmth of his touch seeped through me, calming the storm inside just enough to make me feel... steady. For the first time in a long time, I didn't feel like I was holding everything together on my own.

A small smile tugged at my lips, hesitant but real. Jack's eyes lit up at the sight, his grin softening in response.

"You're not as scary as you think, Carter."

Jack chuckled, the sound low and warm. "Yeah? Well, don't go spreading that around. I've got a reputation to maintain."

I leaned forward a little, resting my arms on the edge of the pool. The tension between us shifted—lighter now, easier to manage. The unspoken weight that had lingered between us felt a little less insurmountable. Maybe not fully gone, but... easier.

"Thanks," I whispered, the words carrying more weight than I expected. "For being patient with me."

Jack leaned down, brushing a kiss to the top of my head. "Anytime, babygirl."

We stayed like that for a while, talking about everything and nothing, the conversation flowing as naturally as the water around me. The walls between us were still there, but they felt thinner now—just a little easier to break through.

And maybe—just maybe—that was enough for now.

<>

A/N: Awh, progress, right? Please comment, vote, and criticism are appreciated.