My Bad Boy Obsession

THE TRANSFER Rain hammered the roof of the yellow taxi as Ava Carter pressed her forehead against the cool window, watching blurred buildings flash past. Everything looked too bright, too polished, too expensive. Ridgeview wasn’t just a town—it was a world built for people who wore money like perfume. The taxi slowed before the large iron gates of Ridgeview High university, a school so elite her old classmates used to joke that even the air inside was filtered through gold. Ava swallowed. Her mother’s voice replayed in her mind, soft and tired: “This is your chance, sweetheart. Don’t waste it. We worked too hard for this.” The scholarship. The move. The new uniform her mother had saved for months to buy. Too much pressure for a single Twenty–year–old girl. Ava stepped out of the car, pulling her jacket tighter against the drizzle. Students streamed toward the entrance like a glossy magazine come to life—designer backpacks, sleek cars, hair that probably never saw a bad day. She felt painfully out of place already. But she forced her chin up. She had a promise to keep. She walked through the gates. --- Inside the courtyard, conversations buzzed around her, echoing off marble pillars and tall glass windows. A group of girls paused mid-laugh to stare at her. “New girl,” one whispered loudly. “Definitely not from here,” another muttered, her eyes dragging from Ava’s worn out shoes to her plain blouse. Ava took a deep breath and kept walking. She had no intention of letting anyone intimidate her. But then she saw him. Or rather—she almost ran straight into him. A boy stepped out from behind the stone column, tall and built with big broad shoulders dressed in black. A hoodie, ripped jeans, black boots. Dark hair that fell over cold, sharp eyes. A jawline that looked carved from defiance. Jace Knight. Even Ava, new as she was, had heard the whispers. The school’s infamous bad boy. A walking warning label. A rumour magnet. His sharp eyes lifted just as she collided with his chest. “Watch where you’re going,” he said, voice low, rough, with a dangerous calm that raised goosebumps along her arms. Ava staggered back, breath caught in her throat. “S–Sorry. I didn’t see you.” Students nearby froze, watching the scene with wide, expectant eyes—as if they were waiting for something to explode. Jace looked her over, not in a flirty way, not even in a curious way. It was an evaluation. A cold, unreadable scan. “You’re new,” he said flatly. Ava forced herself to hold his gaze. “Yes.” “Then you should learn fast.” He stepped closer, the air around him turning colder. “This school eats weak people alive, It doesn't suit people like you.” A faint shiver raced down her spine, but she pushed her chin up anyway. “I’m not weak.” Something flickered in Jace’s eyes. Amusement? Approval? She couldn’t tell. But he leaned in down, voice dropping to something almost dangerous in her ear making her shiver a little. “We’ll see.” Before she could respond, a sleek motorcycle roared behind him. Jace smirked, walked past her, and swung onto it with effortless grace. A couple of boys rushed up to him. “Jace! Man, I swear Mr. Hall is gonna suspend you if you keep showing up late—” Jace revved the engine. “I don’t care,” he said simply. And the way he said it took the breath right out of her lungs. A second later, he sped off, leaving shockwaves in his wake. The courtyard began buzzing again, louder this time. “That’s the new girl.” “Poor thing ran into Jace Knight on her first day.” “She won’t survive a week…” Ava breathed out slowly, forcing her heartbeat to settle. This was not the welcome she expected. --- The hallways were just as intimidating—polished floors, towering lockers, and walls covered in achievement plaques from students whose names screamed privilege. She followed the room numbers until she found her homeroom. Inside, the chatter died instantly. Everyone stared. Ava stepped inside, handing her schedule to the teacher. “I’m Ava Carter. The new transfer.” Mr. Reid smiled warmly. “Welcome, Miss Carter. There’s a seat available at the back, next to—” He paused. Ava followed his gaze. Her stomach dropped. Jace Knight. He sat alone near the window, one headphone in, tapping a pencil against his desk with bored irritation. Oh no. “Is there… another seat?” she whispered. Mr. Reid shook his head apologetically. “I’m afraid not.” Of course. Because the universe loved tormenting her. She gathered her things and moved toward the back of the quiet classroom. Jace didn’t even look up as she slipped into the seat beside him. He just continued tapping his pencil, eyes fixed outside the window. Ava sat stiffly, trying to focus on anything except the unsettling presence beside her. But she could feel him. Like gravity pulling her sideways. Fifteen minutes later, Mr. Reid began discussing the course outline, and Ava tried her best to take notes. Tap. Tap. Tap. The pencil rhythm suddenly stopped. Ava froze. Slowly, Jace turned his head toward her, eyes narrowing. “You’re loud,” he said quietly. She blinked. “I haven’t said anything.” “Your breathing,” he said. “It’s distracting.” Her jaw dropped. “I—I’m just breathing normally!” Jace stared at her a moment longer, as if trying to figure out why she kept talking back when most people in this school wouldn’t even look him in the eye. Then he smirked faintly. “Relax. I don’t bite.” His voice dipped. “Unless someone gives me a reason.” Ava’s breath caught. Was he joking? She couldn’t tell. She turned her eyes back to her notebook, pretending not to notice the tiny curl of amusement on his lips as he put his headphone back on. --- Lunch break came faster than expected. Ava carried her tray to an empty table, grateful for a moment of peace. That peace lasted exactly seven seconds. Two girls approached her—both stunning, both clearly popular. The blonde one spoke first. “You’re Ava, right?” “Yes.” “I’m Madison. This is Brielle.” Ava forced a polite smile. “Nice to meet you.” Madison leaned in slightly. “So, friendly advice? Don’t sit next to Jace Knight again.” Ava frowned. “Why?” Brielle folded her arms, rolling her eyes. “Because he’s toxic. Dangerous. And honestly? He ruins people.” Madison nodded. “Trust me. You want to stay invisible to him.” Invisible? Too late for that. Ava hesitated. “We just sit together. It’s not like—” Madison cut her off sharply. “Don’t let him notice you.” The warning wasn’t jealous. It was genuine. Almost fearful. Before Ava could respond, a familiar shadow crossed the room. Jace walked into the cafeteria. Everything instantly fell silent, as if the room itself held its breath. His eyes scanned the space without interest— —until they landed on Ava. He stopped walking. Students looked between them in shock. Madison cursed under her breath. “God, Ava, what did you do?” Ava froze as Jace changed direction. He walked straight toward her table. No hesitation. No emotion. Just cold, focused intensity. He reached her, leaned down, and spoke quietly—but loud enough that half the cafeteria could hear. “You ignored me in class.” Ava blinked. “I didn’t—” “You did.” His jaw tightened. “Don’t do it again.” The entire cafeteria erupted in whispers. “Who is she?” “Why is he talking to her?” “He never approaches anyone…” Ava stared up at him, shocked. “What do you want from me?” she whispered. For a moment, something flickered in Jace’s eyes—a shadow of something deeper, something darker. But then his expression hardened again. “Nothing,” he said. “Just don’t pretend I’m invisible.” He straightened, shoved his hands in his pockets, and walked to the back of the cafeteria, where he sat alone as if nothing unusual had happened. But everything had changed. Ava felt it. Everyone felt it. Jace Knight had noticed her. And in Ridgeview High… that was the beginning of either trouble or destruction. --- Ava exhaled shakily. Her first day wasn’t even over. And somehow, she had already crossed a line she didn’t understand. But she would. Soon. Because Jace wasn’t done with her. Not even close.