Shadows in the sunlight
1553 Words
Alessia
The morning arrives far too quickly, dragging with it the weight of yesterday. I’m standing in front of the full-length mirror, absently smoothing the pleats of my plaid skirt, when the knock at my door shatters the silence.
It’s not a hesitant knock. No, it’s firm. Purposeful. Like the person on the other side doesn’t just think they’re welcome—they know they are.
“Five minutes,” Jay’s voice calls through the door, low and commanding.
I roll my eyes, my fingers tightening around the hem of my skirt. Of course, he’s punctual. He probably wakes up at dawn just to perfect his brooding scowl and irritatingly controlled demeanor.
“Alessia!” His voice is sharper this time.
“I heard you!” I snap, my tone sharper.
Grabbing my leather backpack, I throw it over my shoulder and yank the door open. He’s standing there, dressed in his usual black—black jeans, black shirt, and that damn leather jacket that somehow makes him look both dangerous and annoyingly put together. His dark eyes sweep over me briefly, his expression unreadable.
“Let’s go,” he says, his tone curt, before turning on his heel and walking away.
I follow him down the grand staircase, my heels clicking against the marble steps. He doesn’t wait for me, doesn’t even glance back to see if I’m keeping up. It’s like he’s deliberately trying to assert some kind of dominance, and I hate how easily it works.
“Do you always bark orders like a drill sergeant?” I ask as we step outside.
Jay doesn’t answer immediately. Instead, he opens the passenger door of a sleek black SUV and gestures for me to get in.
I glance at him, then at the car. “Really? An armored SUV? Subtle.”
“Subtlety doesn’t stop bullets,” he says, his voice flat.
I narrow my eyes at him but slide into the seat anyway, the cool leather sticking to my thighs. He shuts the door behind me with a little more force than necessary, then rounds the front of the car to get in on the driver’s side.
The silence between us is thick as he starts the engine. I don’t bother trying to break it. Instead, I pull out my phone and scroll mindlessly, pretending I don’t feel the weight of his gaze flicking toward me every few seconds.
---
The ride to school feels longer than usual, even though I know it’s not. Maybe it’s the tension, or maybe it’s the fact that I’m hyper-aware of Jay sitting less than a foot away from me.
“You don’t have to do this, you know,” I say finally, breaking the silence.
“Do what?”
“This.” I gesture vaguely toward him. “Play chauffeur. Babysitter. Whatever this is.”
“I’m not playing anything,” he says without looking at me. His hands grip the steering wheel, the muscles in his forearms flexing slightly. “This is my job.”
“Your job,” I echo, my voice dripping with sarcasm. “Must be so thrilling. Driving me to school. Standing in hallways. Watching me eat lunch. Bet you’re just dying for some action.”
Jay smirks, the corner of his mouth twitching upward. “You’d be surprised how much action follows someone like you.”
I stiffen at his words, my mind racing. “Someone like me?”
“You know what I mean,” he says, his tone even. “Rich, reckless, and tied to one of the most dangerous men in the country.”
I glare at him, my fingers tightening around my phone. “You don’t know anything about me.”
“Maybe not,” he admits, his voice softer now. “But I know enough to keep you alive.”
The words hang in the air between us, heavy and final. I turn away, staring out the window as the city blurs past.
---
When we finally pull up to St. Augustine’s Prep, I breathe a small sigh of relief. The sprawling campus looks exactly as it always does—manicured lawns, towering ivy-covered buildings, and groups of uniformed students milling about.
For a moment, I let myself relax. This is my domain. My escape.
But then I remember the man sitting next to me.
“You’re not coming in,” I say quickly, turning to face him.
Jay arches an eyebrow. “What makes you think that?”
“Because it’s unnecessary,” I say, forcing my voice to sound calm and reasonable. “I’ve been coming here for years without a bodyguard. No one’s ever tried to assassinate me in calculus.”
He doesn’t laugh. He doesn’t even smile. “You don’t call the shots, Alessia.”
The way he says my name—low, deliberate, with just the faintest edge—sends a shiver down my spine.
I straighten my shoulders, refusing to let him see how much he affects me. “I’m serious. You’ll draw attention. People will talk.”
“Let them,” he says, his tone dismissive.
I open my mouth to argue, but he cuts me off. “Your father gave me a job. I don’t care about your classmates or what they think. I care about keeping you safe.”
I glare at him, my teeth grinding together. “Fine. Do whatever you want.”
Jay smirks, clearly amused by my frustration, and gets out of the car.
Walking through the halls of St. Augustine’s is usually a power move for me. I know the way heads turn, the way conversations hush when I pass by. But today, all I feel is the weight of Jay’s presence a few steps behind me.
I can practically hear the whispers already.
“Who’s that?”
“Is he following her?”
“God, he’s hot.”
I glance over my shoulder and shoot him a glare, but he doesn’t even flinch. His gaze is fixed ahead, scanning the hallway with the focus of someone who’s always prepared for a fight.
“Could you at least try not to look like you’re planning a military takeover?” I hiss.
"God, nobody will attack me in high school. Bro, chill" I remarked frustratedly.
Jay doesn’t respond. He just keeps walking, his presence a solid wall behind me.
---
When I finally reach my locker, I take a deep breath and force myself to act normal. As if having a six-foot-something bodyguard tailing me is just another Tuesday.
“Alessia!”
I turn to see Mia, my best friend, hurrying toward me. Her eyes widen when she spots Jay, her mouth dropping open slightly.
“Uh, hi,” she says, glancing between us. “What’s…going on?”
“Long story,” I say quickly, shooting her a look that screams don’t ask.
But Mia is Mia, which means she asks anyway. “Who is that?”
“No one important,” I say, slamming my locker shut.
Jay clears his throat behind me, and I resist the urge to scream.
Mia raises an eyebrow, clearly skeptical. “Right. Because random guys in leather jackets always follow you around for no reason.”
“He’s—” I start, but Jay cuts me off.
“Her bodyguard,” he says simply, his deep voice drawing the attention of half the hallway.
Mia’s eyes widen even further. “Bodyguard? Seriously?”
“Not my idea,” I mutter, grabbing my books and turning away.
---
The rest of the day is a blur of whispered questions, curious stares, and the ever-present weight of Jay’s shadow.
He doesn’t follow me into classrooms, thank God, but he’s always there when I step into the hall. Leaning against a wall, his arms crossed, his dark eyes scanning the crowd like he’s expecting an ambush at any moment.
By lunchtime, I’m ready to scream.
Sliding into my usual spot at the cafeteria table, I glare at him as he takes a seat a few tables away. His expression is unreadable, but I can feel his gaze on me, watchful and unyielding.
“He’s kind of intense,” Mia whispers, leaning toward me.
“Tell me about it,” I mutter, stabbing at my salad with unnecessary force.
---
When the final bell rings, I practically sprint to the parking lot, desperate for some space. But of course, Jay is already there, leaning casually against the SUV like he has all the time in the world.
“How was school?” he asks as I approach.
“Don’t,” I snap, yanking the passenger door open.Like he wasn't there every moment with him. Seriously, i am on this verge to kick him on his balls and stop his family tree .
Jay doesn’t say another word as he slides into the driver’s seat and starts the car. The ride home is silent, tense, and I hate that I can feel his presence so acutely.
When we finally pull into the driveway, I grab my bag and step out without waiting for him.
But as I climb the stairs to my room, I can’t help but glance back.
And there he is, watching me, his dark eyes unreadable.
It’s not fear I feel.
It’s something far more dangerous.
- Writer
