THE BAIT

CHAPTER FOUR

The next morning, I didn’t want to go to school. My legs felt heavy. My stomach twisted every time I remembered Jack’s smile, his eyes, his touch yesterday. The memory was like fire in my chest.

I told myself it was nothing. He was probably just being friendly. Maybe he was joking. Maybe everyone was exaggerating, and I was imagining things.

But my heart didn’t agree.

I pulled on my uniform, tucked my shirt in carefully, polished my shoes a little, and grabbed my backpack. I walked to school slower than usual. Every step felt heavier. Every glance from a stranger felt like judgment.

When I arrived, the gates were busy as always. Students laughed, shouted, and shoved past each other. I tried to slip in quietly.

Then I saw him.

Jack.

He was leaning against the wall near the courtyard fountain, one hand in his pocket, the other holding a small notebook. He looked… casual. Effortlessly confident. Like he belonged anywhere, anytime.

And he was staring at me.

I stopped walking.

He smirked. That smirk. The one that made my stomach twist.

“You’re late,” he called softly.

“I’m not late,” I said, keeping my voice even.

“Depends on who you ask,” he teased.

I didn’t respond. I just walked past him quickly, hoping he wouldn’t follow.

Of course, he did.

By the time I reached the classroom, Jack had already claimed the seat next to mine. He sat casually, leaning back in the chair, and smiled at me like he had all the time in the world.

“You’re quiet today,” he said.

“I’m thinking,” I said.

He tilted his head, curious. “About what?”

I shook my head. “Nothing.”

He didn’t press. He just leaned closer and whispered, “I like it when you don’t talk too much. Makes you… mysterious.”

I felt my face heat up.

“Stop,” I said quietly, but I didn’t push him away.

A few students nearby noticed the interaction. Some whispered. Some stared. Some laughed quietly. I felt like everyone in the room was watching, even the teacher.

I didn’t like that.

The day moved slowly. Every time I tried to focus on the lessons, my mind wandered to Jack. Every small glance, every slight smile, every little movement he made pulled me in like gravity.

During lunch, I tried to eat alone. I sat at the corner table, away from everyone else, opening my bread carefully. I didn’t want to draw attention.

And then I felt it again — eyes on me.

I looked up.

Jack.

He was walking toward me, friends behind him, laughing loudly. Students stared. Whispers started.

“Mind if I join?” he asked, tilting his head.

I froze.

“No, it’s fine,” I said quickly, standing up.

He pulled out a chair and sat.

“You always eat alone?” he asked.

“Sometimes,” I said.

He smiled. “Good. Gives us… privacy.”

I didn’t understand. I tried to ignore it, but he kept talking, making small jokes, teasing me gently.

For the first time, I laughed. Small, nervous, but real.

A girl named Bella, from Chapter Three, watched from a distance. She frowned. Two boys laughed quietly and whispered to each other.

“Who does he think he is?” one muttered.

Jack’s smile never faltered. He leaned closer to me. “Ignore them,” he whispered.

I felt my heart race.

Later that afternoon, during free period, Jack invited me to walk around the courtyard with him. My stomach twisted. Every step with him felt dangerous and exciting at the same time.

“Why do you like it here?” I asked, trying to sound casual.

He laughed softly. “Because it’s interesting. And because it’s fun to watch people like you try to survive.”

“People like me?” I asked, frowning.

“Poor kids,” he said casually, almost like it didn’t matter.

I felt my stomach drop.

“What?” I asked sharply.

“I mean… you’re different. You don’t act rich or try to pretend. You just… exist.” He smirked. “It’s kind of… cute.”

I didn’t know whether to feel insulted or… flattered.

The bell rang. We walked back to class, quietly.

During history class, whispers started again. Someone asked if I was Jack’s “new friend.” Another student muttered about how Jack only picked on poor kids for fun. I ignored them, trying to focus.

But it hurt.

After class, as I was packing my bag, one of my few real friends, Leo, came over.

“Alex… what’s going on with you and Jack?” he asked quietly.

I froze.

“What do you mean?”

“You’re… smiling when he talks to you. You’re… walking around with him. People are talking. And not good things.”

“I don’t care what people think,” I said quickly.

Leo shook his head. “You should. At least… be careful. He’s Jack. He’s… I don’t know… complicated.”

I swallowed.

“I know,” I said softly. “I just… I don’t know why he’s… nice to me.”

Leo frowned. “Be careful, Alex. Don’t let him… fool you. You don’t know him like that. You barely know him.”

I nodded. But my heart wasn’t listening.

By the time school ended, the rumors had spread further. Some students called me Jack’s “project.” Others whispered that I was trying to flirt with him. Some laughed at me.

And Jack?

He was standing by the gate, waiting. Smiling. Calm. Dangerous.

“Walk with me?” he asked.

I wanted to say no. I should have said no. My friends said no. My brain said no.

But I said yes.

The streets around the school were quieter than usual. We walked side by side. Every so often, he would glance at me, and I could feel his eyes like heat against my skin.

“You’re thinking about what everyone’s saying,” he said softly.

“I’m not,” I said quickly.

“Sure,” he teased.

I stayed silent.

Then he stopped. “I like spending time with you, Alex. I don’t care about anyone else. Just us.”

My stomach jumped. My face felt hot.

“Why me?” I whispered.

“Because you don’t act like everyone else. You’re… real,” he said.

I looked down. My heart felt heavy and light at the same time.

And then… he did something unexpected.

He reached out.

His hand brushed mine. Just for a moment. Long enough to make my chest tighten and my mind spin.

“Jack…” I whispered.

He smiled. “It’s okay,” he said. “I’m not going to hurt you. Not yet.”

I didn’t know if I believed him.

But I felt something dangerous. Something thrilling. Something I shouldn’t feel.

And I liked it.

That evening, I walked home slowly, thinking about everything. Jack’s words. His smile. His hand brushing mine.

And I realized something.

I was falling.

Falling for someone I barely knew.

Someone rich, powerful, and… probably dangerous.

Someone who could ruin me just as easily as he could make me feel alive.

The rumors. The whispers. The jealousy. The friends’ warnings.

I ignored them. I couldn’t help it.

And I didn’t know that all of it… was already part of a game.

A game that I hadn’t agreed to play.

And a game I might not survive.