Beneath her hoodie

Burn Notice

Chapter Two: “Burn Notice”

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Jayden Carter had two talents: breaking hearts and dodging consequences.

But this?

This was different.

Nina.

That girl wasn’t just fire — she was gasoline waiting for a spark.

And right now, he was holding the match.

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“You chased Hoodie Girl?” Malik raised an eyebrow as they sank into cafeteria seats.

“It wasn’t chasing,” Jayden smirked, sipping his drink. “It was… a strategic pursuit.”

“She curved you harder than Chemistry class,” Selena said, twirling her braids. “Just admit it. Nina’s not one of your basic fangirls.”

Jayden shrugged. “That’s what makes it interesting.”

“You really taking this dare seriously?” Malik asked. “Bro, it was a joke.”

“Maybe. But now I want to know why she wears that hoodie like armor. What’s she hiding?”

Selena leaned in. “They say she used to be super social. Like head-of-dance-club, everybody’s-favorite type. Then last year—bam—she disappeared. Came back acting like a shadow.”

Jayden’s fingers drummed against the table.

“She looked at me like I was the villain in her story,” he said.

Selena snorted. “Maybe you are.”

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Across the room, Nina sat at the far edge, headphones on, but her music was low today. She could hear them talking about her. She always could.

She peeled a piece of bread, watching Jayden out of the corner of her eye.

He was laughing. Always laughing.

The kind of boy who thought smiles could fix things.

Who didn’t understand that some people weren’t puzzles.

They were wreckage.

And no, she wasn’t interested.

Not in his smirk.

Not in his game.

And definitely not in whatever “dare” he thought would get her attention.

Still…

Why did it feel like her chest tightened every time he looked her way?

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Later that day — after the last bell rang and the hallways cleared — Nina went back to her locker to grab the hoodie she’d forgotten.

The hallway was quiet… until—

“Waiting for me?”

She turned.

Jayden leaned on the wall, smiling. Again.

“Don’t you get tired?” she asked.

“Of what?”

“Trying to be charming. Isn’t it exhausting being fake all the time?”

He tilted his head. “What if I’m not faking?”

She scoffed, stuffing the hoodie into her bag.

“I don’t care why you’re talking to me, Carter. But just so we’re clear, I’m not some prize in your ego Olympics.”

“I don’t see you as a prize.”

She raised an eyebrow.

“I see you as a puzzle,” he said. “And I’m good at puzzles.”

She stepped in, real close this time, until they were eye to eye.

“You think you’re playing a game. But I promise you, Jayden — you’re the one being played.”

Then she turned and walked off, hips swaying, bag slung over one shoulder.

Jayden blinked.

And for the first time in a long time, he was completely…

Speechless.

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