Chapter 7 — Aiden POV: Cracks in the Armor
1357 Words
Everyone thinks being “the hottest guy in school” is a blessing.
It’s not.
It means pressure. It means expectations. It means pretending things don’t bother you.
But today… everything bothered me.
Noah’s words to Elena were still echoing in my head — every calm sentence, every sharp truth he spoke like a blade coated in silk. The cafeteria had gone silent yesterday, but my mind never stopped replaying it.
He defended me. He protected me. He saw me.
And now I can’t stop seeing him.
---
Morning. The Storm Starts Quiet.
The morning corridors buzzed, filled with chatter and echoing footsteps. Faces turned — like always — but their looks had changed. There was a new type of whisper.
Not “Aiden the athlete.” Not “Golden boy.”
Now it was…
“That’s the guy Noah defended.” “That’s the one with the strict dad.” “That’s the one failing…”
Their pity poisoned the air.
I hated it.
But when I saw Noah walking ahead of me…
AirPods in. Calm walk. Hoodie resting softly on his shoulders. That serene expression that somehow carried sadness and strength in the same breath…
Something in me softened.
The sight of him grounded me.
Or maybe it shattered me.
I don’t even know anymore.
---
The Announcement That Shook the Class
Classroom doors slammed. Chairs scraped. Teachers droned.
I couldn’t focus.
Math figures blurred. Letters twisted. The ticking clock mocked me.
Then the classroom door opened.
“Class, attention.”
Our teacher stepped aside… and in walked trouble.
Or beauty. Or danger. I’m not sure yet.
Tall. Sharp jaw. Soft eyes but with that quiet arrogance like he already knew we’d look at him. Uniform perfectly worn. Cool confidence in every step.
He scanned the room slowly…
Then his gaze landed on Noah.
His lips curved.
Oh no.
“Introduce yourself,” the teacher said.
“My name is Liam Hartfield,” he said smoothly. “Transferred from Eastridge Academy. I’m good with numbers, physics… and…” he paused, eyes glinting toward Noah, “…people.”
The girls giggled. Some boys rolled their eyes. My jaw tightened.
Teacher smiled.
“Take the empty seat beside Noah.”
Of course.
Of course.
Liam walked, slow… calculated… like every step had intention. He slid into the seat beside Noah and leaned a little too comfortably close, whispering something.
Noah actually smiled.
Something inside my chest twisted painfully.
Jealousy is not supposed to feel like this. It’s not loud. It’s not dramatic.
It’s sharp. Quiet. Suffocating.
I hated it.
---
Rumors Reloaded
Within minutes, the class was buzzing.
“Liam is so handsome.” “He looks rich.” “He looks dangerous.” “He already likes Noah?” “I ship them already.”
Ship who??
My pen almost snapped in half.
I tried to focus on the board. I couldn’t.
Every second, Liam leaned closer. Every second, Noah listened. Every second, my blood heated.
And before I could stop myself…
I leaned forward slightly from the seat behind them.
“Noah,” I whispered.
He turned slowly, eyes meeting mine.
Calm. Soft. Dangerously beautiful without realizing it.
“Yes?”
My throat dried.
Say something normal. Say anything normal.
“You… forgot your… uh… pen… yesterday.”
Why did my voice shake?
Noah blinked. Then his lips curved just a little.
“Oh. Thanks, Aiden.”
And the way he said my name — soft… gentle… like it mattered —
I swear my heart forgot how to beat correctly.
He reached his hand back to take it. Our fingers brushed.
A spark shot through me.
Real. Alive. Unexplainable.
He didn’t pull away fast.
Neither did I.
Then Liam turned slowly…
Eyes narrowing slightly. Smile fading.
Oh.
He noticed.
And he didn’t like it.
Good.
---
The Conversation We Weren’t Supposed to Have
Class continued. Lessons dragged.
But the storm was building.
I couldn’t sit still. I couldn’t ignore the heaviness pressing on my chest anymore.
I leaned forward again.
“Noah… we need to talk,” I whispered slowly.
He looked surprised. Teacher’s back was turned. Class was quietly copying notes.
“Now?” he whispered back.
“Yes.”
He stared at me for a second like he was reading me, then he gave the softest nod.
We talked like silent rebels.
Only whispers. Only breaths apart.
“What’s wrong?” Noah asked gently.
Everything. Everything is wrong.
“My dad came yesterday,” I murmured. “He wants answers. The principal wants a solution. Everyone wants me to be something I don’t know how to be anymore.”
Noah’s face softened.
“Aiden…”
“I don’t get math. I don’t get physics. I don’t understand why my brain shuts down every time I look at exams.” I swallowed. “It’s like I’m running out of air and nobody sees it. They just keep shouting ‘breathe’ like it’s that easy.”
Silence.
Then Noah whispered…
“I see it.”
My heart clenched.
Of course he does.
He always does.
“And I’m not letting you drown,” he said quietly, voice strong despite its softness. “You’re not alone in this anymore.”
His words wrapped around me like warmth in winter.
Then Liam cleared his throat.
We both turned slowly.
He smiled politely at Noah. Ignored me.
“So… Noah,” Liam said smoothly. “You never told me your schedule. I was thinking we could study together later. I catch onto things pretty fast. Maybe I can help you out too.”
Help him out?
Really?
Noah blinked.
“That’s nice, but I’m—”
“He already has a tutor.”
The words left my mouth before I could stop them.
Both of them froze.
Noah turned to stare at me.
The class grew suspiciously quiet.
Liam raised a brow.
“Oh? And you are?”
I straightened.
“I’m the reason he’s not going to fail,” I said evenly. “So whatever plan you came with… rethink it.”
The challenge in the air was heavy.
Liam’s charming smile sharpened.
“Oh. So you finally started trying to care about something that isn’t a ball?”
That one stung. But I didn’t flinch.
“You can flirt later,” I said coldly. “Right now he needs stability… not a pretty distraction.”
The class gasped under their breaths.
Noah’s eyes widened slowly.
Liam leaned forward, expression unreadable.
“Interesting,” he muttered softly. “Didn’t know athletes could feel threatened.”
“I’m not threatened,” I lied.
I was. Deeply.
Noah gently placed his hand on the desk like he wanted to calm a storm.
“Aiden…”
Just my name.
And suddenly I wasn’t angry at Liam. I wasn’t angry at school. I wasn’t angry at pressure.
I was terrified.
Terrified of losing something I didn’t even fully understand yet.
Noah.
---
The Bell Rings… But The War Begins
The bell cut through the tension.
Everyone exploded into movement. Chairs scraped. Books shut.
But Liam wasn’t done.
He leaned closer to Noah and whispered — but loud enough for me to hear.
“I like you already. So I won’t back down.”
Then he stood…
Flashed me one last smug glance…
And walked away.
Noah exhaled slowly, pressing his palm to his forehead.
I stared at him.
“I’m not letting him take you,” I said quietly.
Noah froze.
His breath hitched lightly.
“Aiden… you can’t ‘own’ me,” he whispered.
“I don’t want to own you,” I whispered back. “I just… I don’t want to lose you.”
The honesty burned coming out.
Noah didn’t respond. Didn’t pull away. Didn’t move.
He just stared at me like he was trying to decode something inside my chest.
And for the first time…
I realized the truth:
I didn’t just want Noah near me.
I needed him.
And Liam?
He wasn’t just a transfer student.
He was a threat.
To my grades. To my sanity. To my heart.
And this…
This was only the beginning.
- Writer
