The Locker Slam
The hallway smelled like cheap perfume and teenage sweat.
Arabelle Collins kept her head down as usual, oversized hoodie pulled over her head, fingers gripping her books like a lifeline. She prayed she could make it to her locker, grab her calculus notes, and disappear.
But prayers didn’t work in Blackthorn High.
Not for girls like her.
Not when he was around.
---
She reached her locker and fumbled with the lock.
Spin left. Spin right. Click.
> "Hey, Four-Eyes."
Her heart dropped.
His voice.
Low. Cocky. Infuriating.
> Aiden King.
Arabelle turned slowly, already bracing for the humiliation.
He stood there like a devil in a varsity jacket — smirking, arms crossed, perfectly messed-up hair, and that mocking tilt to his mouth that made girls blush and her blood boil.
> "Still pretending you don’t hear me, nerd?"
He took a step closer.
She tried to keep her voice steady. “Leave me alone.”
But her words were paper-thin.
He grabbed her locker door and slammed it shut beside her head — hard enough to make her flinch.
> “Why would I? You’re way more fun when you look scared.”
---
Her throat tightened. The hallway had students, whispers, eyes. No one helped. No one ever helped when Aiden cornered her.
He leaned in, his face too close, voice too low.
> “You wore lip balm today. For me?”
She turned her head, trying to shove past him.
Big mistake.
He grabbed her wrist — not hurting her, just holding her. Stopping her.
> “Aww. Look at you. Acting all innocent. Still blushing like I didn’t catch you staring at me during gym.”
“I wasn’t—”
> “You were.”
He smirked. “Kinda cute, honestly.”
---
He stepped even closer, breath hitting her cheek.
She hated him.
She hated how he made her feel seen — even if it was to mock her.
She hated how her body betrayed her, how her stomach twisted when he stood this close.
How her thighs clenched under her skirt when his eyes dropped just low enough to be indecent.
> “Wanna know a secret?” he whispered.
She didn’t answer.
> “I think about what you’d sound like begging.”
Her breath caught.
> “In that little hoodie. On your knees.”
Her eyes widened.
> “Bet you’d taste sweet. Like vanilla and fear.”
She shoved him.
He let her.
Only laughed, dark and low, as she stormed away — cheeks burning, heart thudding, thighs shaking.
---
🔹 Later That Day — Detention
The note was already taped to her locker.
“Detention. Room 3C. Don’t be late.”
No name.
But she knew who.
---
She walked in after the bell.
Aiden was already there. Feet on the desk. Lollipop in his mouth.
A storm behind his eyes.
> “Shut the door, nerd.”
And Arabelle knew — whatever this was?
It was only just beginning.