Dangerous Obsession

HIGH IV

~•~•~•~•~•JORDAN's POV~•~•~•~•~•~•~

I didn’t wait for anyone to follow me.

The second I hit the edge of the pool, the cold air on my skin felt better than the heat of everyone’s eyes. My face was still burning. Not from embarrassment. From rage. From the way Alexander had said my name like it was a secret he’d already figured out.

“Spin,” he’d said. Like it was nothing.

Like I hadn’t felt my pulse jump when his fingers brushed my hair.

Coward. I was the coward for not throwing the bottle at his head.

“Jordan?” Sara’s voice pulled me back. She was already in the pool, water up to her shoulders, watching me like I might jump in fully clothed. "Are you coming in or what?”

I glanced back at the table. Angela was dragging Taylor and Tyler toward the changing rooms, whispering too fast and too low.

I knew Rachel's face whenever she was about to commit a sin, just like the day we had used her mom's perfume without her permission.

Darren and Damien were arguing about who had better cannonballs. Kevin was still by the counter, pretending not to stare at me.

And Alexander—

He was sitting there, phone in hand, legs spread like he owned the place. He didn’t look at me. But I knew he was watching.

I hated that I knew.

“Jordan?” Sara said again, louder.

I kicked off my boots and let myself drop into the water. Cold shocked my system, wiped the heat from my face, and for three seconds, I could breathe.

“Hey,” a voice said above me.

Damien. He floated over, grinning like he hadn’t seen me snap at Angela five minutes ago. “You alright? You look like you’re about to kill someone.”

“Funny,” I muttered, treading water. “I feel like I already did.”

He followed my gaze without trying to hide it. Straight to Alexander.

“Careful,” Damien said quietly. “He doesn’t play games he can’t win.”

I laughed bitterly. “Neither do I.”

Damien studied me for a second, then nodded. “Good. He needs someone who doesn’t flinch.”

Before I could ask what that meant, Angela’s voice cut across the pool, sharp and sugary.

“Okay everyone! Water volleyball! Teams of three! The winner gets to pick the next game!”

Taylor and Tyler were already pairing up with Rank A girls I didn’t know. Rachel hovered near Angela like a shadow.

Sara swam over to me. “We’re a team. You, me, and… Darren, if he’s not a douchebag.

“I’m not, dawg." Darren snickered.

I loved their sister-brother relationship.

I wished I had a sibling like Darren who wasn't horny at all times, though.

Sara, Darrem, and I made up the first team; Kevin, Damien, and Rachel made up the second team, while Taylor, Angela, and a girl called Lucia made up the third team. Yet, refusing to get in the water, I would have teased her but am not them.

Random guys from the same class but different arms joined us.

"Jordan catch!" Sara yelled at me as I passed the ball to Darren.

Our heads clashed, and we laughed out loud; unfortunately, Kevin had snatched the ball and passed it to Damien.

I didn't know if it was me being too sensitive, or I could feel heat burning down my neck and a feeling something bad was about to happen.

The whistle hadn’t even blown, but our team was already down 3-1.

“Jordan, focus!” Sara splashed water in my face.

Darren scored again. Kevin whooped loud enough to echo off the tiles.

And that’s when Angela killed the vibe on purpose.

“Okay! Game over! ... It's getting boring." She clapped twice, water dripping from her hair, eyes gleaming like she’d been waiting for this. “You’re all getting out. Now.”

“Of course she always spoils the fun," I muttered. I was really enjoying this and didn't even get why we were obeying her.

Rachel groaned. “Ang, we were in the middle of—”

“Middle of nothing,” Angela cut her off.

“New game. Never Have I Ever. By the fire pits. Clothes on this time, unless you want Principal Hale on speed dial again.”

A few people groaned. Damien just grinned. “Finally. Some real talk.”

Sara was already climbing out, grabbing a towel. “Jordan, come on. You’re not allowed to sit out and stare at him all night.”

I followed, slower. The cold air hit me instantly, and I wrapped the towel around myself, but it didn’t help. Alexander was already moving, phone tucked away, stretching like he’d been bored for hours.

He didn’t look at me. But I felt it anyway—that slow, deliberate drag of his attention finding me when I wasn’t ready.

We regrouped by the fire pits. Someone had already dragged over a cooler; someone else had a bottle of something that definitely wasn’t soda. The chairs formed a rough circle, wet towels, damp skin, and too much proximity.

I sank into a chair, towel tight around me, and watched Alexander lean back, elbows on his knees, waiting.

He wasn’t nervous. He never was.

And that pissed me off more than anything.

Angela sat in the middle like she was hosting a talk show. “Rules are simple. Never have I ever, if you've not done it, drunk from your tequila; if you have, you don't…I'll start. Never have I…kissed someone here.”

Rachel choked on her drink. Taylor laughed too loud.

I was the only one who drank from my tequila.

“Your turn, Damien,” Angela said.

Damien glanced at me, then at Alexander, and smiled slowly. “Never have I ever… wanted to punch someone in this circle.”

Half the circle groaned. My stomach dropped.

“Is he always this stupid Sara?” Tyler asked with bored eyes and her usual cold voice.

Sara chuckled lowly but didn't reply. I think she was annoyed; I saw her jaws click and her fingers shake.

"Okay, okay… Never have I ever f****d a threesome." Darren smirked, and I looked at him in disgust.

I stared around; I was part of the only people that took their drink alongside Sara and some other guys.

I turned to Taylor and Tyler with wide eyes. Taylor sneered, but Tyler kept her eyes away.

An idea came into my head, and I smiled.

I noticed Alexander hasn't even touched his drink.

I muttered an "ewww" in my head.

"Jordan, have a go, will ya?” Angela mocked.

I turned to Sara and stared at the fire.

All eyes were on me, including Alexander's.

"Ummm—" I stuttered, looking at the floor. “Never have I ever…wanted to kiss someone in the circle."

The words slipped out before I could drag them back.

Stupid and reckless.

And I said it while staring straight at Alexander.

The fire cracked. That was the only sound for three whole seconds.

Sara choked on her tequila.

Rachel’s jaw actually dropped. Taylor and Tyler exchanged a look like I’d just set the cooler on fire.

Damien let out a low whistle. “Damn, Jordan.”

Angela didn’t even try to hide it. She leaned forward, eyes gleaming like I’d just handed her the season finale. “Ooooh. Someone’s brave tonight.”

Alexander didn’t move. Didn’t blink. He just held my gaze, jaw tightening once, slow, like he was deciding whether to laugh or ruin me. Then he lifted his shot glass, swirled the clear liquid once, and knocked it back in one go.

The muscles in his throat worked their way out, moving slowly like they caught a prey.

He didn’t look away.

Heat crawled up my neck. I hated that he could do that to me with one swallow. Hated that I felt it too—like I’d won something and lost something at the same time.

“Bold move,” Damien muttered, not quite under his breath. “Real bold.”

I should’ve been embarrassed. I wasn't.

My pulse was doing that traitorous jump again, the one it always did when he was close and I knew the tequila was working in my brain because I didn't feel embarrassed.

Angela clapped once, sharp and loud. “Okay, okay! That’s enough tension for one round. My turn.” She grinned.

"Never have I ever…snuck out after curfew to meet someone.”

Kevin drank. Darren drank. Rachel hesitated, then drank.

I didn’t. Sara didn't

Alexander didn’t.

The pattern was obvious now, and I hated that I noticed. Hated that he noticed I noticed.

Sara elbowed me hard enough to bruise. “You’re playing with fire, Jordan.” She whispered

“Good,” I said quietly. “Maybe I want to get burned.” I muttered.

"You're drunk, Jordan." She whispered and I laughed. She was looking double in my eyes. Like two people were standing beside me.

Across the circle, Alexander’s mouth twitched. Not a smile. A warning.

The firelight caught in his eyes, dark and patient, like he was waiting for me to say the wrong thing again.

I stood up instinctively and walked out.

My eyes burned with tears that I didn't know the cause of, and my throat was on fire. I had taken about 5 shots.

shit! Couldn't remember and my sight was blurry.

Sara called out to me, but I was gone.

I overheard Angela telling her to let me go.

I sniffed; I needed to use the bathroom badly.

Running upstairs, I opened the first door. "f**k!! …. Can't you knock?” The guy yelled and the girl jumped from his d**k.

I banged the door without an apology; the second door, the same thing.

The third door was even worse; the guy was banging the girl from behind as she sucked another guy's d**k.

Their faces weren't clear, but it sure looked like Jane's own.

I walked down the hall, moans coming from all sides. Where the hell were the principal and the people in charge?

I inhaled and opened the fourth door.

Quiet, calm, and clean.

I walked to the bathroom, turning on the lights. I wavered, almost falling beside a guitar. At least this person should learn how to keep his instruments even if he/she was neat.

I scoffed and found my way to the bathroom.

Turning on the tap, as water rushed quietly, I splashed water on my face and stared at the girl in the mirror.

Flushed and breathing like she just ran a marathon, yet looking different.

What's happening to me?

I quietly turned off the tap and stepped out of the room.

Beautiful.

Posters of guitars and anime everywhere. This person had a sense of design using just dark colors.

A recent one, though, I walked to it as it was partially covered.

Creak!...