Chapter Three — A Dare and A Warning
985 Words
By the time I walked into school the next day, Cresthill felt different.
Like the air was heavier. Like people were watching me more than usual. The whispers weren’t even whispers anymore — they were everywhere, sharp-edged and cutting.
> “That’s her. The new girl he stood up for.”
“She must’ve done something to get Alexander’s attention.”
“She won’t last a week.”
Tessa slid into step beside me, chewing on a piece of gum like she wanted to spit it on someone’s face.
“They’re being brutal,” she said, glancing around. “Ignore them.”
I forced a smile. “I’m trying.”
She looked at me sideways. “You really should stay under the radar.”
“I wasn’t trying to get on the radar,” I muttered.
“Too late,” she sighed. “Once Alexander Kings touches you—even with words—you become part of his world. And trust me, Ava, no one comes out of that clean.”
---
In English, he didn’t even look at me.
He sat in the same seat, jacket half on, tattoos on full display. He acted like I didn’t exist. And somehow… that made it worse. I kept stealing glances at him, wondering why he’d jumped to defend me yesterday only to ice me out today.
At the end of class, I was packing my stuff when a folded paper dropped onto my desk.
I blinked.
No name. Just messy handwriting in dark ink:
> Meet me on the rooftop. Lunch. Come alone. — AK
My heart stuttered.
I looked up, but Alexander was already gone.
---
“Are you crazy?” Tessa whisper-shouted when I told her.
We were standing in the hallway by the lockers, the paper in my hand feeling like it weighed a thousand pounds.
“You can’t go up there, Ava. The rooftop? That’s where he takes girls. It’s kind of his… thing.”
I frowned. “His thing?”
“He messes with their heads. One minute he’s sweet, the next he’s a monster. It’s like he enjoys playing with people.”
I hesitated.
I should’ve thrown the note away. I should’ve ignored it. I should’ve listened to Tessa and run the other direction.
But I didn’t.
Because some part of me wanted to know why he wanted to see me alone.
And that part of me? That was the dangerous one.
---
The rooftop door creaked when I pushed it open.
The wind hit me first — cool and sharp, sweeping my hair across my face. The school rooftop was wide and flat, with high fencing around the edges and a few benches scattered under the sky.
Alexander was sitting on the edge of one, a cigarette between his fingers.
He didn’t look up when I approached.
“Breaking school rules?” I asked, trying to sound braver than I felt.
He blew out a slow breath. “Rules are for people who care about the consequences.”
I crossed my arms. “Why am I here?”
He finally looked at me.
His eyes were darker than usual, clouded with something heavy — something dangerous.
“I want to know what your deal is,” he said bluntly.
“My… deal?”
He flicked the ash off his cigarette. “Most girls like me for one of two reasons: the danger or the looks. You’re different.”
I raised an eyebrow. “So, what? You call me up here just to figure me out?”
“No,” he said, standing up and walking toward me. “I called you up here because I can’t stop thinking about you.”
My breath caught.
“You’re in my head, Ava. And that’s not good for anyone.”
“Then get me out of it,” I snapped.
He stepped closer. “I’ve tried.”
He was too close again. Too warm. My heart was thudding, and I hated that I wanted him to touch me. To grab me the way he did in the hallway. To ruin me like everyone said he would.
“I don’t play games,” I said quietly.
“Good,” he whispered. “Because I don’t lose.”
His hand reached up, brushing a strand of hair off my face. His fingers lingered on my cheek, and I swear my knees almost gave out.
“I could hurt you,” he murmured. “I will hurt you.”
“Then stay away from me.”
He laughed — low and raw. “Can’t.”
I swallowed hard. “Why me?”
His jaw clenched. “Because you’re the only girl who doesn’t look at me like I’m broken.”
I didn’t know what to say to that. So I said nothing.
Alexander leaned in, so close our noses almost touched.
“I want to kiss you,” he whispered.
My breath hitched. “Then why don’t you?”
He grinned — slow and wicked. “Because I want you to beg me to.”
I shoved him back, hard. “Screw you.”
He laughed again, shameless and wild. “Now that’s more like it.”
I stormed off, heart racing, head spinning.
But just before I yanked open the rooftop door, he called after me:
“Careful, Ava.”
I froze.
“Once I start with you…” His voice dropped. “I don’t stop.”
---
That night, I couldn’t sleep.
His voice echoed in my head, replaying like a cursed song. His smell still lingered on my jacket. My lips tingled from the kiss that almost happened.
Why was I letting him get under my skin?
Worse — why was I enjoying it?
Was this what people meant when they said he was dangerous?
Because now that I’d tasted that chaos — I didn’t know if I could ever go back.
- Writer
