CHAPTER FIVE
1146 Words
I didn’t sleep well that night.
Every time I closed my eyes, I saw Jack. His smile. His eyes. The way his hand brushed mine like it was nothing, like it didn’t matter. But it mattered to me. It mattered too much.
I kept telling myself to stop thinking about him. I told myself he was just being friendly. That boys like him didn’t really notice boys like me. That rich boys didn’t fall for poor boys with broken homes and sick mothers.
But my heart didn’t listen.
When morning came, I felt strange. Nervous. Excited. Scared. All at the same time.
I went to school early, hoping to avoid him.
I failed.
Jack was already there.
He stood near the lockers, laughing with his friends. They were loud, confident, perfect. When he saw me, his eyes locked on mine. He smiled slowly and said something to his friends.
They all turned to look at me.
My stomach dropped.
Jack walked toward me like he owned the hallway.
“Morning, Alex,” he said casually.
“Morning,” I replied quietly.
He leaned close, too close. “You look tired.”
“I didn’t sleep much,” I said.
“Thinking about me?” he teased.
I froze.
He laughed like it was a joke, but his eyes stayed on my face, watching my reaction. I looked away fast.
“Relax,” he said. “I’m kidding.”
But it didn’t feel like a joke.
In class, he sat beside me again. Always beside me now. Like it was his place. Like he decided it.
During math, he passed me a note.
You trust me, right?
I stared at the words.
I didn’t know how to answer.
I folded the paper and wrote back.
I guess.
He smiled when he read it.
That smile made my chest warm and scared at the same time.
During lunch, he didn’t sit with his friends. He sat with me.
People noticed.
Whispers followed us everywhere.
“That poor boy thinks he’s special.” “Jack is definitely playing him.” “Give it a week.” “Maybe less.”
I heard them. I pretended not to.
Jack heard them too.
“People talk too much,” he said, biting into his food.
“Doesn’t it bother you?” I asked.
He shrugged. “Why should it?”
I hesitated. “Because… they’re talking about me.”
He leaned closer. “Let them. I like when people are jealous.”
That word made me uncomfortable.
Jealous.
Why would anyone be jealous of me?
After lunch, I went to the bathroom. I needed space. I needed air.
When I came out, I stopped.
Jack’s friends were standing near the hallway corner. Jack wasn’t with them.
I wasn’t trying to listen.
But I did.
“I swear he’s already falling,” one boy said, laughing.
“Told you,” another replied. “Poor kids are easy.”
I felt cold.
“What about the bet?” someone asked.
Bet?
My heart started beating fast.
Jack’s name came up.
“He won’t mess this up,” Bella said. “He always wins.”
I held my breath.
Wins what?
I stepped back quietly and walked away before they could see me. My hands shook. My chest felt tight.
A bet?
Was this… about me?
I tried to tell myself I imagined it. That I misunderstood. That I was being paranoid.
But something inside me felt wrong.
In English class, Jack noticed I was quiet.
“You okay?” he whispered.
I nodded.
“You sure?” he asked.
I nodded again.
He reached under the desk and touched my knee lightly.
I froze.
My breath caught.
His touch wasn’t innocent. It wasn’t accidental.
“You don’t have to be scared around me,” he whispered.
I wanted to believe him.
After school, he asked me to walk with him again.
I said yes.
We didn’t talk much. Just walked. Side by side. Close enough that our arms brushed sometimes.
“You trust me, Alex?” he asked suddenly.
I stopped walking.
“I don’t know,” I said honestly.
He turned to face me. “Why?”
“I don’t know what you want from me,” I said quietly.
He smiled. “I want you to relax. I want you to stop thinking so much.”
“That’s not an answer,” I said.
He stepped closer. Too close.
“Do you like me?” he asked.
My heart pounded.
“Yes,” I whispered.
His eyes darkened.
“Good,” he said softly.
Then he leaned in and kissed me.
Not on the lips.
On the cheek.
But it still felt like lightning.
I didn’t move. I couldn’t.
He pulled back, smiling like he just won something.
“I’ll see you tomorrow,” he said.
Then he walked away.
I stood there alone, my face burning, my heart racing.
I didn’t know it then, but that kiss changed everything.
At home, Dad was drunk again. He shouted at the TV. I ignored him and locked myself in my room.
I lay on my bed, touching my cheek where Jack kissed me.
I smiled.
I hated myself for smiling.
The next day at school, everyone knew.
Everyone.
“Jack kissed him.” “Did you see his face?” “He’s really into him.” “This is getting interesting.”
Jack acted normal. Calm. Confident. Like nothing happened.
Like I was the only one affected.
During break, Leo pulled me aside.
“Alex,” he said seriously, “this isn’t right.”
“What do you mean?”
“He’s playing with you,” Leo said. “I’ve seen this before.”
“You don’t know that,” I snapped.
Leo sighed. “Just… please be careful.”
I walked away.
I didn’t want to hear it.
I didn’t want logic.
I wanted Jack.
That afternoon, Jack skipped class with me.
“I don’t usually do this,” I said.
He smiled. “I do.”
We sat behind the gym, hidden from everyone. He talked about himself. His house. His parents. His parties. His life.
He never asked much about mine.
I didn’t notice.
When the bell rang, he stood up and held out his hand.
“Come on,” he said.
I took it.
His grip was firm. Confident.
Possessive.
That night, I got a message.
Jack: You’re cute when you trust me.
I stared at the screen.
I didn’t know why, but my stomach twisted.
Cute when you trust me.
Not just cute.
Cute when you trust me.
I typed back.
Alex: Goodnight.
He replied fast.
Jack: Sweet dreams
I turned my phone off.
I didn’t sleep.
Because deep down, I knew something was wrong.
But I was already too deep.
And the game had already started.
- Writer
