CHAPTER 10: When everything burns
1073 Words
The Video Spreads Like Wildfire
Lexi’s hands shook as she refreshed the screen.
The video was everywhere.
People were commenting, reposting, dissecting.
And the worst part?
The comments weren’t just about the kiss.
@QueenSavannah: Desperate much?
@JayTee12: Didn’t Jace just say last week that he wasn’t interested? LOL
@RealSavannahM: Poor girl thinks this means something. How embarrassing.
Lexi’s chest tightened.
Madison grabbed her wrist. “Lex. Stop reading.”
Mia was already typing furiously into her own phone. “Who the hell is running this page?”
Ryan frowned. “It’s anonymous.”
Lexi swallowed. “We all know who did it.”
Savannah.
Of course, it was Savannah.
But then, another notification.
One that made her blood run cold.
Blocked Number: I told you that was just the beginning.
Lexi’s breath caught.
This wasn’t Savannah.
This was someone else.
And they weren’t done with her.
---
2. Jace Loses His Cool
Jace found Savannah near the lockers, giggling with her friends.
His blood boiled.
He didn’t give a damn about the video—he could handle a little attention.
But Lexi?
She wasn’t used to this.
And Savannah knew that.
Savannah’s smirk widened when she saw him. “Jacey.”
His jaw tightened.
Savannah always did this. Acted like she had some kind of claim on him.
Not anymore.
Jace stepped forward, voice low, sharp.
“You think this is funny?”
Savannah pouted. “I think it’s entertaining. And, honestly, a little pathetic. You could have anyone, Jace. And you choose… her?”
Jace’s fists clenched.
The hallway fell silent.
People were watching. Listening.
Savannah was expecting him to defend her. To deny Lexi meant anything.
But instead—
“Yeah, I did.”
Savannah’s smirk vanished.
Jace leaned in slightly, voice dangerously low.
“And you just made the worst mistake of your life.”
Then he turned and walked away.
Leaving Savannah completely, utterly humiliated.
---
Lexi couldn’t breathe.
Walking through the halls felt like walking through fire.
Everyone was staring. Whispering.
Some looked impressed. Others looked jealous.
But most?
They looked like they were waiting for her to fall apart.
Lexi kept her head high.
She wouldn’t give them the satisfaction.
But then—
Her phone buzzed.
Another message.
Her heart pounded.
Blocked Number: You think Jace can protect you? That’s cute.
Lexi’s fingers trembled.
Mia noticed. “Lex? What’s wrong?”
Lexi showed her the message.
Mia’s face darkened.
Ryan’s jaw clenched. “That’s not Savannah.”
Madison exhaled. “We have a bigger problem.”
Lexi swallowed hard.
Yeah.
She was starting to get that.
---
Jace slammed the ball into the end zone, his breathing heavy, sweat dripping down his neck.
Coach blew the whistle. “Good hustle, Callahan!”
Jace barely heard him.
His mind was still on the video. The texts. Lexi.
He jogged to the sidelines where Bryan was grinning.
“Dude, you need to just own this.”
Jace grabbed a water bottle. “Own what?”
Bryan scoffed. “The Lexi thing.”
Jace tensed.
Bryan shook his head. “Bro, it’s already out there. You and Lexi. The whole school saw that video.”
Jace ran a hand through his damp hair. “Yeah. And?”
“And, instead of letting Savannah and that creepy texter control the narrative, why don’t you just… go public?”
Jace froze.
Bryan continued. “Think about it. If you make it clear Lexi’s yours, people will stop seeing her as some random girl caught in drama. She’ll be untouchable.”
Jace frowned.
He didn’t like the idea of Lexi being dragged into his world.
But Bryan had a point.
The only way to protect her… was to make sure no one questioned where she stood.
Jace exhaled. “I’ll think about it.”
Bryan smirked. “No rush, bro. But, uh… you might wanna decide fast. ‘Cause the school’s eating this up.”
Jace already knew that.
The question was… what was Lexi going to say?
---
Lexi sat in Madison’s room, staring at the screen.
Another message.
Her stomach knotted.
Blocked Number: You’re getting too comfortable. That’s a mistake.
Mia cursed under her breath.
Ryan crossed his arms. “This is different.”
Madison nodded. “The other texts were just taunts. This?” She tapped the phone. “This feels like a warning.”
Lexi felt a shiver crawl up her spine.
Someone was watching her.
And they weren’t happy.
Ryan exhaled. “We need to figure out who’s behind this before they do something worse.”
Lexi hated that he was right.
Because something told her—
Worse was coming.
---
Savannah had never been more furious.
Jace had humiliated her.
Lexi had humiliated her.
And now? Everyone was laughing at her.
No.
She wasn’t going to let this slide.
She paced her room, fingers tapping against her phone.
Then she smiled.
If Jace wanted to make Lexi his little princess, fine.
But Savannah knew something he didn’t.
Something that would make Lexi wish she’d never crossed her.
Savannah opened her messages and started typing.
It was time to ruin a reputation.
---
Lexi was still processing everything when Jace found her by her locker.
She barely had time to react before he grabbed her hand. “We need to talk.”
Her stomach flipped. “About?”
Jace leaned in, his voice low. “Us.”
Lexi’s pulse skipped.
Jace glanced around. People were watching. Whispering.
The video had changed everything.
Jace Callahan didn’t sneak around.
So when he said, “Let’s go public,” Lexi knew this wasn’t just about damage control.
It was about her.
And it was about them.
Lexi’s breath caught. Could she handle that?
---
Mia grabbed Lexi’s phone.
Another text.
Blocked Number: You can’t hide behind Jace forever. And soon, he won’t want you to.
Madison cursed. “What the hell is that supposed to mean?”
Lexi’s heart pounded.
This wasn’t just someone messing with her anymore.
This was personal.
Ryan was already checking the student directory. “We have to figure this out before it gets worse.”
Lexi swallowed hard.
Because something told her… worse was already here.
---
Savannah stared at the email draft.
Her fingers hovered over the keyboard.
One click.
And Lexi’s entire world would crumble.
Savannah smirked.
This wasn’t about Jace anymore.
This was about winning.
And in the end?
She always did.
---
- Writer
