pressure points
745 Words
Chapter Six: “Pressure Points
---
“You haven’t talked to her today,” Malik said, swinging his locker shut with a clang.
Jayden leaned back, chewing gum like he wasn’t overthinking every second since he last saw Nina move like a goddess on that stage.
“Didn’t feel like it.”
“Liar. You’ve drawn her like, what—twelve times this week?”
Jayden side-eyed him. “You count now?”
Malik grinned. “I’m your best friend. It’s literally my job to notice when you’re spiraling over a girl you said was just a dare.”
Jayden shrugged. “Still is. Just… an advanced-level one.”
“Sure.” Malik smirked, slinging his bag over his shoulder. “Bet you don’t know she made the dance shortlist.”
Jayden paused. “She what?”
“You really didn’t know?” Malik laughed. “Omo. You’re slipping, Carter.”
---
Meanwhile, Raina was doing her usual morning speed-walk gossip tour with Nina.
“Okay so listen—Malik is cute, but not my type,” she said, digging into her biscuit wrapper. “But Jayden? Neche, that boy has the kind of chaos I want to babysit.”
Nina gave her a side-eye. “First of all, don’t call me Neche in public. Second, ew.”
Raina rolled her eyes. “You can lie to yourself but not to me. I see the way you go stiff when he walks by.”
“I go stiff because I’m mentally preparing for his annoying voice.”
“Annoyingly fine, you mean.”
Nina stopped walking. “You like him?”
“Since forever,” Raina admitted, then quickly added, “But I know he doesn’t see me like that. He’s always orbiting you.”
Nina looked away. “That’s not orbit. That’s teasing. I’m just the new project.”
“I wish I was a project,” Raina muttered under her breath.
---
At lunch, the cafeteria buzzed louder than usual. Why? Because of him.
Zeek Ahanotu.
The new transfer from Cape Town.
Tall. Clean-cut. Dark-skinned with soft eyes and a voice like calm thunder.
Barely said a word, but every girl turned when he passed.
Including Janelle Carter.
She spotted him by the vending machine and for the first time in forever, paused her step.
He didn’t even look her way. Just bought water, nodded at the lady beside him, and left.
That kind of unbothered energy?
That? That did something to Janelle.
---
Back outside, Malik and Jayden leaned on the railing behind the science block.
“New guy’s stealing your shine,” Malik teased.
“Let him. I need the break.”
“Even Janelle looked twice. You know she only ever looks at people when they’re messing up.”
Jayden smirked. “Maybe she’s finally found someone who won’t bend.”
---
In the hallway, Raina passed Zeek on her way to class, bumped shoulders, and turned like she wanted to say something flirty…
But he just gave her a calm nod.
She blinked.
“Dang, he’s hot in a ‘you’ll never catch me’ kind of way.”
Behind her, Janelle watched the interaction.
Silently.
---
By the end of the day, everyone had heard the update:
Dance finalists would perform for the school on Thursday.
Nina tucked her name badge into her pocket and walked quickly.
Raina followed, whispering like always.
But when they turned the corner — Jayden and Malik were already there.
Awkward silence.
Tension thick.
Raina’s heart raced. “Hey Jayden,” she said sweetly.
He smiled back politely. “Hey Raina.”
Then his eyes moved to Nina.
“You danced good,” he said casually.
Nina nodded, calm. “I wasn’t dancing for you.”
Jayden smirked. “But I still watched.”
Behind her, Raina flinched — and Malik noticed.
“Come on, I’ll walk you,” Malik said quickly, pulling Raina toward the other side. She let him. Barely.
Jayden stepped beside Nina. “You know, you keep saying this is a game. But I think I’m the only one playing.”
She tilted her head. “That’s because I already know how it ends.”
“Oh yeah? How?”
“You get bored. You move on. Like you always do.”
Jayden paused. For a second, something flickered in his eyes — something that almost looked like guilt.
Then he smirked. “Let’s see if I do.”
---
- Writer
