The Alpha In My Class

Chapter 4 - Everyone Saw

Max

“My best friend and my cousin… seriously?!” Gabby groaned as she dropped her tray onto the table and plopped into the seat across from me. “Max, this is worse than walking into class with your skirt tucked into your underwear. Worse than sending your mom the ‘you up?’ text meant for your situationship. This is trauma.”

“Can you please shut up?” I hissed, ducking my head as a few people nearby turned to look. “You already made me yell in class earlier. Now everyone’s staring again.”

“How am I supposed to shut up when you—of all people—went and banged Nathan freaking Draven?” she shot back, tossing her hands in the air.

I glared at her. “Gab, I didn’t know he was your cousin, okay? If I had known… maybe I wouldn’t have…” My voice trailed off as the memory of last night flashed in my head. “…Okay, fine. I still would have. Because have you seen that boy? That body? That face? That—”

“Stop. Stop it right now,” she said, sticking her fingers in her ears. “I am begging you. Stop making heart-eyes while talking about my cousin. He is not meant for you. You cannot handle him, Max.”

I smirked, stabbing a fry and popping it into my mouth. “Oh, but he sure knows how to handle me.”

Her jaw dropped and she slapped my arm across the table. “MAX!”

Before she could launch into another lecture, the cafeteria doors swung open and the room went quiet, like someone had cut the sound.

And there he was.

Nathan walked in like he was stepping onto a runway, black leather jacket hanging loose, his smirk just as cocky as ever, and his hair catching the light perfectly.

Heads turned. Girls started whispering. Boys started glaring. Even I froze, my breath catching when his eyes swept over the room—

—then stopped on me.

For a second, it was like everyone else vanished.

Then, of course, she appeared.

Nathalie slinked in front of me like a snake, hooking her arm through his before I could even process what was happening. She tugged him to the cheerleader table, and the entire squad pounced like hyenas, shoving their lunches at him and laughing too loudly at his every word.

I groaned, stabbing at my salad. “Wow. What was I even thinking? Like he’d even remember me after last night.”

“Oh, trust me, girl,” Gabby muttered around a bite of sandwich, rolling her eyes at the scene. “He remembers. Guys like Nathan don’t forget when someone rocks their world.”

But as Nathan chuckled at something Nathalie whispered in his ear, my chest tightened in ways I didn’t want to admit.

And I wasn’t the only one who noticed—across the room, the basketball guys were watching too, glaring at Nathan like he’d just stolen the championship trophy.

Something told me this was just the beginning.

….

It was gym class, and everyone was already gathered in the room for practice.

I sat off to the side, stretching my legs, trying to distract myself from the sight of Felix and his teammates practicing drills. They dribbled and passed the ball back and forth, shouting at each other and running plays like they owned the court.

The cheerleaders, of course, were off in the corner, busy recording another t****k dance or whatever it was they did.

Gabby was nowhere to be seen — she’d gotten called away to help her mom, the principal, with something.

And then… he walked in.

Nathan.

Wearing black gym shorts and an armless jersey that showed off his arms and shoulders.

My heart stuttered. My breath caught.

And — oh God — just looking at him made my p***y ache, heat pooling between my thighs before I could even stop myself.

The cheerleader girls immediately squealed and rushed over to him, dragging him toward the mirrors to take pictures and giggle in his ear.

But I noticed something else.

Across the court, Felix and his teammates stopped what they were doing.

Felix shot a look at Pete, one of his buddies, who nodded subtly.

Then — wham — Pete hurled the basketball straight toward Nathan.

It happened so fast I barely even saw it.

Nathan — who hadn’t even been looking — snatched the ball out of the air at the last possible second like it was nothing.

“Wow,” Pete called out, forcing a laugh. “My bad, man. Good thing you caught it.”

Nathan just smiled coolly and walked toward them, holding the ball.

For a moment I thought he was going to throw it back hard — or say something sharp — but instead he just stopped in front of Pete, smile still in place, and handed him the ball.

“It’s okay,” Nathan said calmly. “Just… be careful next time.”

“Yo,” Felix chimed in from behind Pete, his tone mocking. “He said it was a mistake, bro. Chill.”

Nathan turned his head just slightly, his blue eyes glinting.

“Well,” he said, still smiling faintly, “he should be more careful when trying to ‘pass’ the ball.”

The smirk on Felix’s face vanished.

He snatched the ball from Pete, turned on his heel, and threw it hard at Nathan’s chest.

But Nathan caught it. Effortlessly. Again.

“Now that was on purpose,” Nathan said, still smiling.

Felix scowled, stepping closer and grabbing for the ball.

But Nathan didn’t let go.

Instead, he held the ball firmly with one hand while Felix tugged, pulling with both hands, his jaw tight, his muscles straining.

But no matter how hard he yanked, the ball didn’t budge. Nathan didn’t even flinch.

Felix’s face turned red as everyone started watching — whispers and laughter spreading across the room.

Finally, Nathan gave the ball a sharp twist, and Felix stumbled backward, empty-handed, looking like he wanted to punch something.

The gym erupted in applause and cheers.

The coach blew his whistle and stepped forward, grinning.

“Wow, new kid,” he called. “How about you join the basketball team? We could use those reflexes.”

I couldn’t help it — the look on Felix’s face was priceless. That flash of embarrassment in his eyes… it was more satisfying than I expected.

But then… Nathan turned.

And looked straight at me.

His gaze locked on mine, and for a second it was like no one else in the room existed.

Then — without a word — he walked over to where I was crouched, tying my shoelaces.

I froze as he knelt down beside me, brushed my fingers away, and tied the lace himself with steady hands.

I could feel everyone’s eyes on us — the cheerleaders staring, the basketball guys watching. Even Nathalie’s jaw dropped.

And then… Nathan stood, took my hand in his, and without a word…

…dragged me right out of the gym.

Everyone saw.