The Bad Boy's Obsession

Chapter One The air smelled like rich cologne, textbooks, and drama. Cresthill High was nothing like my old school. Here, everything was polished and expensive — even the students. Girls with flawless makeup and boys who looked like they stepped out of a magazine. I tugged at the hem of my sweater, suddenly aware of how plain I looked. “Ava Albert?” the lady at the front office looked over her glasses. “Your schedule. Welcome to Cresthill.” I muttered a thanks, grabbed the paper, and walked into the lion’s den. --- First period: Advanced English. As soon as I stepped in, I felt it — eyes. Everyone turned. Some whispered. I tried to ignore it, my fingers tightening around my notebook. That’s when I saw him. He sat at the back, legs spread, leather jacket draped carelessly over his chair. Tattoos snaked down his arms — black ink, sharp edges, and temptation. His dark hair was messy, his eyes unreadable. But they were on me. Alexander Kings. I didn’t know who he was then. Not really. I only knew that the moment his lips curled into a lazy smirk, something dangerous inside me stirred. --- I found a seat near the front, avoiding eye contact, but I could feel his stare burning into my back. The teacher started talking about Shakespeare, but all I could think about was him. After class, as I rushed out, someone blocked my path. “New girl,” a voice drawled. I looked up — straight into those wicked, dark eyes. “Y-yeah?” I tried to sound steady. “You’ve got pretty eyes,” he said, brushing past me with a smirk. “Too pretty for this place.” My heart slammed in my chest. And that was just the beginning. --- Second period: History. I made it to my seat, trying to keep my head down, when a girl with bubblegum pink nails sat beside me. “I’m Tessa. You’re Ava, right?” she said, eyes sparkling. I nodded, relieved. “You just met Alexander,” she whispered. “And girl… that’s not a good thing.” I blinked. “Why?” She gave me a look. “Because he doesn’t just notice people. He devours them.” My stomach twisted. “He’s that bad?” “He’s worse,” she said. “He doesn’t date. He ruins.” --- Lunch was chaos. I sat with Tessa and her group — they were loud, funny, and a little too curious about me. From across the cafeteria, I felt it again — him. Sitting with his crew, the king of this messed-up castle. He didn’t eat. He just watched me. It wasn’t sweet. It was obsessive. And when I got up to leave, he followed me out. “You always run away from people who compliment you?” he asked, cornering me near the lockers. I leaned back, heart racing. “Do you always stalk girls you just met?” He grinned. “Only the ones I want.” My breath caught. “And what if I don’t want you back?” He stepped closer, lowering his voice. “You will.” And just like that, Alexander Kings decided I belonged to him.