Chapter 9: Confrontation ,plans and unfinished businesses
1334 Words
1. Savannah Confronts Jace (And Gets Nothing in Return)
Savannah found him after school, leaning against his car like he didn’t have a single care in the world.
Jace barely spared her a glance.
That infuriated her.
“Jace.”
His eyes flicked to her. “What?”
Savannah planted a hand on her hip. “You seriously expect me to ignore what’s going on?”
Jace exhaled, looking bored. “What’s going on, Savannah?”
Her nails dug into her palm. He was playing dumb.
"Lexi Carter? Really?" She scoffed. "Are you actually interested in her, or is this some kind of joke?"
Jace tilted his head. "Why do you care?"
Savannah blinked. He did not just say that.
"Why do I—Jace, people are talking. About her. About you." She stepped closer. "About us."
Jace’s jaw tightened. "There is no ‘us.’"
Savannah froze.
That stung.
But she wasn’t about to let him see that.
She forced a laugh. "So that’s it? You just ditch me for—"
Jace pushed off the car.
"I didn’t ditch you, Savannah. We were never a thing."
Savannah opened her mouth, but no words came out.
Jace’s gaze flickered past her, toward the parking lot.
Lexi.
His entire posture shifted.
Less tense. More… interested.
Savannah’s stomach twisted.
She refused to turn around. Refused to give Lexi that satisfaction.
Instead, she lifted her chin. "You’re making a mistake, Jace."
Jace didn’t even look at her.
"Maybe. But at least it’s my choice."
Then he walked away.
Right past her.
Straight toward Lexi.
Savannah stood there. Furious. Humiliated. And for the first time… actually worried.
Because maybe—just maybe—she wasn’t the main character of this story anymore.
---
2. Lexi Sees It All
Lexi had zero intention of stopping.
She was two steps from her car when she heard it—
"Hey, Carter."
Her heart jumped.
She turned, and there he was. Jace Callahan, walking toward her like he had all the time in the world.
Lexi sighed. “What do you want, Jace?”
He smirked. "Relax, I just saved you from Savannah’s death glare. You could at least say thanks."
Lexi rolled her eyes. "Right. Thanks for making my life a thousand times harder."
Jace leaned against the hood of her car, arms crossed. "You blaming me?"
Lexi folded her arms right back. "You sat at my table. You followed me into the hallway. And then—"
Her words caught.
Because then was when he had cornered her.
When he had almost kissed her.
When she had let him.
Jace’s smirk deepened. "Go on."
Lexi hated him.
And even worse?
She hated that he knew she didn’t.
---
1. Savannah’s Revenge Plan (Because of Course She Has One)
Savannah was not going to sit back and watch this happen.
Not when Jace was hers.
Not when some nobody like Lexi Carter thought she could step into her world and take her place.
Savannah had power. Connections. Influence.
And she was about to use all of it.
She pulled out her phone and started typing.
Savannah’s Girls’ Group Chat:
Savannah: Time to remind everyone where Lexi Carter belongs.
Ava: Uh oh. What’s the plan?
Bri: I mean… do we really care?
Savannah: Yes, Bri, we do. If she wants attention, we’ll give it to her.
Savannah: I hope she likes being famous.
Savannah smirked as she hit send.
She knew exactly how to ruin Lexi’s life.
And it was going to be so. much. fun.
---
Lexi needed to stay away from him.
She told herself that ten times a day.
But Jace?
Didn’t. Get. The. Message.
Like right now.
Lexi was grabbing books from her locker, minding her business, when suddenly—
"Hey, Carter."
She knew that voice.
Lexi sighed, shutting her locker. "Do you seriously not have anyone else to bother?"
Jace grinned. "Why would I? You’re the most fun."
Lexi scoffed. "And you’re the most annoying."
Jace leaned in slightly. "Admit it. You like it."
Lexi’s stomach flipped.
No.
No, no, no.
She was not going to fall for his stupid charm.
Lexi straightened, eyes hard. "I don’t like you, Callahan. I don’t even like talking to you."
Jace’s grin didn’t waver. "Then why haven’t you walked away yet?"
Lexi opened her mouth.
Closed it.
Damn it.
Jace’s victorious smirk made her want to punch him.
Or maybe—
Something worse.
And that was exactly the problem.
---
Jace was enjoying this way too much.
Lexi was fighting it.
Hard.
But he saw it—the hesitation, the way her eyes flickered, the way her breath hitched just slightly.
And he wanted more.
So, after school, he waited.
Right outside the entrance.
And when Lexi walked out, looking tired and completely unaware—
Jace fell into step beside her.
Lexi jumped. "Jesus—what are you doing?"
Jace grinned. "Walking with you."
Lexi glared. "Don’t."
Jace ignored her. "You going to pretend we didn’t almost kiss?"
Lexi froze.
Jace loved that reaction.
Lexi swallowed. "That was an accident."
Jace smirked. "Was it?"
Lexi turned so fast he barely had time to react.
Her finger jabbed his chest. "Listen, Callahan. I’m not one of your little games, okay? I don’t fall for guys like you. Ever."
Jace tilted his head. "Then why are you still standing here?"
Lexi’s jaw locked.
She didn’t have an answer.
Which meant—
He was winning.
---
1. Savannah’s Revenge Goes Live
Savannah smiled at her phone.
The video was already spreading like wildfire.
Lexi Carter and Jace Callahan. Making out. In full HD.
Students were reposting it, commenting, tagging.
Some were shocked. Others? Loving the drama.
And Savannah?
She was about to make it worse.
Savannah’s Girls’ Group Chat:
Savannah: Oh my God. This is insane.
Ava: They look like they’re about to—
Bri: This is kind of bad… I mean, for her.
Savannah: Exactly. And now… time to help it go even further.
She opened an anonymous school gossip account and uploaded the video with the perfect caption:
“Looks like our favorite nobody finally made a move. How long ‘til Jace gets bored?”
Post.
And just like that?
Lexi Carter was about to have the worst day of her life.
---
2. Jace and Lexi’s Moment (Before It All Falls Apart)
Jace had no idea what had come over him.
One second, they were arguing.
The next?
His lips were on hers.
And Lexi?
She didn’t pull away.
She kissed him back.
Hard.
Jace’s hands gripped her waist, pulling her closer, as her fingers curled into his hoodie.
Her lips were soft. Addictive.
And when she let out the tiniest gasp against his mouth?
Jace was gone.
Completely, utterly gone.
She wanted this.
Just like he did.
But then—
A notification sound.
Then another.
And another.
Lexi pulled away, breathless, dazed.
Jace barely had time to process before—
“Oh. My. God.”
A voice.
From behind them.
Lexi turned.
Mia. Madison. Ryan. Staring at her phone, eyes wide.
Ryan looked up. “Uh… guys? You need to see this.”
Lexi’s phone buzzed in her pocket.
She pulled it out.
And there it was.
The video.
Of them.
Every student in school had seen it.
---
Lexi felt sick.
Her face flamed as she scrolled through the comments.
@KyleB: Damn. Didn’t see that coming.
@Taylor_GossipQueen: Jace moves fast lol
@RealSavannahM: Some girls just don’t know their place.
Lexi’s stomach dropped.
She looked at Jace. “Did you know about this?”
Jace’s jaw tightened. “No. But I have a good guess who’s behind it.”
Lexi swallowed. “Savannah.”
Jace exhaled sharply. “Yeah.”
Before Lexi could respond, her phone buzzed again.
A new message.
From a blocked number.
Lexi’s blood ran cold.
Blocked Number: That was just the beginning. Get ready, sweetheart.
Lexi’s fingers shook.
This wasn’t just Savannah.
Someone else was watching.
And they wanted her to know it.
---
- Writer
