MY GANGSTER CRUSH

Chapter Two: Unexpected Encounters

The first class dragged on like molasses. Every second felt heavier than the last as I tried to focus on the lesson, but my mind refused to cooperate. His face kept appearing in my thoughts, the dark eyes, the smirk, the effortless way he’d handled those bullies. My chest ached with the memory, and every so often, I felt the sudden, inexplicable awareness that he might be somewhere nearby, watching, waiting.

I shifted in my seat, glancing out the window at the courtyard below. Students were moving in clusters, some laughing, some arguing. And there he was, or at least, I thought it was him. Leaning casually against the brick wall, hood pulled over his head, cigarette tucked between his fingers. My stomach twisted. No… that’s impossible. He can’t be everywhere.

The bell finally rang, and I practically bolted from the classroom, my bag bouncing against my hip. I wasn’t going to admit it, but I wanted, no, needed, to see him again. Just a glimpse. Just to make sure he was real.

The courtyard was busier now. I navigated carefully between groups of students, all whispering and pointing. I tried to ignore them, focusing on that familiar figure by the wall. But as I drew closer, he was gone. My shoulders slumped slightly, disappointment flooding through me. Great. He vanished like smoke again.

“Need help finding your way?” a voice said from behind.

I jumped, spinning around. A boy from my class was standing there, smirking. “Uh… no, I’m fine,” I stammered, adjusting my bag.

He raised an eyebrow. “Sure… you sure?”

I nodded quickly and hurried off, but my attention kept straying to the spots he had been moments ago. I had to remind myself: focus on classes. Survive the day. Blend in. And most importantly… avoid him.

But fate, apparently, had other plans.

By third period, I found myself in the library, desperate for solitude. The quiet smell of old books and polished wood calmed me slightly. I sank into a corner seat, opening my notebook, trying to pretend I was busy with class notes. My hands moved mechanically across the page while my mind wandered back to him.

I didn’t notice the shadow fall across my table until a deep voice spoke.

“Mind if I sit here?”

I looked up sharply. There he was. Cigarette-less this time, but with the same unreadable expression. His dark eyes scanned me like he was trying to memorize every detail.

“I… uh… sure,” I mumbled, hardly daring to breathe.

He slid into the seat across from me, careful not to touch the table, but close enough that I could feel the faint warmth of his presence. Silence stretched between us, filled with tension so thick I could almost taste it.

“Name’s Jace,” he said finally, leaning back slightly. “You’re the new girl, right?”

I nodded, words failing me. “Ava,” I whispered.

“Westfield Academy’s a… lot,” he said, a half-smile tugging at his lips. “Don’t let it swallow you whole. People talk… watch… judge. And sometimes they just… mess with the wrong person.”

I swallowed hard, my fingers tightening around my notebook. “I… I’ll be fine,” I said, though my voice wavered.

He studied me for a moment, then tilted his head, as if considering something. “You’re… different,” he said finally, voice low. “Most rich girls around here? They strut, they flaunt, they act like nothing can touch them. You… you don’t.”

Heat rose to my cheeks. Different? That’s not exactly a compliment. I opened my mouth to respond, but he held up a hand.

“Don’t overthink it,” he said, voice rough but not unkind. “Just… survive.”

And then, as suddenly as he’d appeared, he stood, gave a slight nod, and walked out. Leaving me, once again, dizzy and flustered.

For the rest of the day, I couldn’t concentrate. Every class, every hallway, every lunch period was a blur of whispers, glances, and the echo of his presence. Somehow, he had entered my world, and I didn’t know if I should be terrified or thrilled.

During study hall, I caught sight of him again, sitting alone under the shade of a tree by the basketball courts. The air seemed different around him, calm, yet dangerous. I wanted to go. I wanted to run. My mind screamed at me both options at the same time.

I made my decision impulsively. I grabbed my notebook and walked over, heart hammering.

“Hey,” I said softly, stopping a few feet away. “Uh… hi.”

He didn’t look up immediately, just tilted his head, watching me approach. Finally, he spoke, voice low. “You keep following me, princess?”

“I—uh… I didn’t mean” I stumbled over my words. My face burned, and I could feel my pulse in my throat.

He smirked, the corner of his lips curling up like he found me amusing. “Relax,” he said, motioning for me to sit. “I’m not gonna bite.”

I sat carefully on the grass, far enough to give him space, close enough that I could feel his warmth. For a few minutes, we just… existed in silence. The breeze moved through the leaves, the distant shouts of students playing basketball floated over, and yet, it felt like the world had shrunk to just the two of us.

“Why… do you help people?” I asked finally, unable to contain myself. “The freshman… the others… Why?”

He didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he kicked a small pebble across the grass, watching it bounce. “Does it matter?” he finally muttered. “Some things… people don’t understand. But if it’s worth protecting… I do it.”

His answer made my stomach twist. There was a softness beneath the rough exterior, a code he lived by that didn’t fit the image everyone else had painted of him. Dangerous, feared, untouchable, but also… kind.

I wanted to ask more, to get closer, to understand. But I stopped myself. My chest tightened with both longing and fear.

Before I could say anything else, he stood. “Class ends soon,” he muttered. “Be careful, princess.”

And just like that, he was gone, vanishing into the crowd once more.

I sat there long after he left, notebook open but untouched, heart racing, mind spinning. Every instinct in me wanted to follow him, to find out more. And yet, fear held me back, fear of rumors, danger, and the unknown.

By the time the bell rang for dismissal, I realized something undeniable: Jace had entered my life, and whether I wanted it or not, he wasn’t leaving.

A part of me was terrified. Another part… thrilled.

And deep down, I knew that this was only the start.