The hallway smelled faintly of sanitizer and summer air, but Scarlett hardly noticed. Her mind replayed the scene from yesterday—the heat of Jackson's hand against hers, the stolen, fleeting kisses, Lila's giggle, and the horror of Madison's stolen diary page. Every fiber of her body throbbed with longing, and yet she could not look at Jackson without feeling a dangerous mix of desire and fear.
He appeared suddenly, leaning against his locker, arms crossed, smirk tugging at his lips. Green eyes fixed on her like he could see straight through her, straight to the heat pooling low in her belly.
"Morning," he said casually, but the huskiness in his voice made Scarlett's stomach twist.
"Morning," she replied, trying to keep her tone steady. Her pulse betrayed her.
"You avoided me in class," Jackson said, taking a step closer. "Is that wise?"
Scarlett swallowed hard. "I… I needed space."
Jackson's smirk widened. "Space? From me? That is cute." He leaned closer, the smell of him, faint cologne and something uniquely Jackson, filling her senses. Scarlett's chest tightened. Every nerve fired.
"you are… impossible," she whispered, looking anywhere but his eyes.
"Maybe," he said, tilting his head, "or maybe you just cannot resist me." His fingers brushed hers—brief, teasing, deliberate. Scarlett's knees threatened to buckle.
Later, during lunch, Scarlett found herself seated alone near the bleachers. The sun fell on her face, but her attention was entirely on Jackson, pacing nearby, pretending to talk to Ethan but clearly keeping one eye on her.
"Are you okay?" Jackson asked, sliding onto the bench next to her. His leg brushed hers. The contact, though accidental—or so he claimed—sent a jolt of heat up her spine.
"i am fine," she said, voice slightly shaky. "Why do you ask?"
"Because you have been… distracted," he said softly. "I can see it. Your thoughts are not in class or lunch. They are… here." His gaze flicked down briefly, brushing her fingers again. The effect was electric. Scarlett's breath caught.
"I…" she trailed off. Why did he have to do that?
Jackson leaned closer, lowering his voice. "Scarlett, you do not have to hide it anymore. I know. I feel the same way."
Her heart thundered. "Jackson…"
"You do not have to say anything," he continued, brushing his thumb lightly along her knuckle. "Just… feel it. Just let it happen."
Scarlett's mind screamed caution, but her body betrayed her. She leaned just slightly, catching the warmth radiating from him, pulse spiking, cheeks flaming. The line between friendship and forbidden desire was gone, erased by heat, tension, and longing.
After school, they walked along the boardwalk, the breeze whipping through Scarlett's hair, salty air filling her lungs. The tension between them was thick enough to taste. Jackson kept catching her hand, sometimes brushing fingers, sometimes holding her wrist in a casual way that made her tremble.
"Do you ever think about… us?" Jackson asked suddenly, voice low, eyes dark.
Scarlett's stomach fluttered. "Us?" She repeated, heart hammering.
"Yes. Us. Right now, tomorrow… what we are doing to each other." His lips curved into a teasing smirk. "You cannot deny it. I see it in your eyes."
She shook her head, her cheeks flushing. "I… I do not know what you mean."
"Scarlett," he said, voice husky, "don't lie to me. I know you want this… me."
Her knees nearly buckled. "Jackson…" Her voice was barely audible, trembling with heat and fear.
Jackson stepped closer, brushing a stray strand of hair behind her ears. "Do you know how much i have wanted this? You?"
"I…" She swallowed hard, words failing her.
"Say it," he whispered, green eyes dark with need. "Tell me you want me."
Her lips parted, her body trembling. I do… I cannot fight it…
Before she could speak, Madison appeared at the end of the boardwalk, arms crossed, smirking wickedly. "So… this is where all the fun happens."
Scarlett froze. Jackson's jaw tightened. He stepped protectively in front of her. "Leave," he said, voice low and dangerous.
Madison tilted her head, smirk widening. "Or what? You will stop me?" She held up a folded paper—the diary page again.
Scarlett felt her stomach drop. Every private thought, every confession of desire, laid bare for the world—or at least for Madison—to see.
Jackson's eyes softened as he grabbed her hand, pressing it firmly. "Scarlett, don't let her get to you. She cannot touch what is real between us."
Her pulse spiked, warmth pooling low in her belly. Desire, fear, and exhilaration collided in her chest.
"You know," Madison said, stepping closer, "some secrets are more dangerous when exposed." She tossed the paper lightly at Scarlett. "Careful you do not lose control."
Jackson caught the page before it hit the ground, ripping it in half. "Enough," he said, voice firm and protective. Then he turned to Scarlett. "Come with me. Now."
They ran to the secluded pier, heartbeats syncing, breaths heavy. Jackson pulled her close once they reached the edge, green eyes scanning her. "Scarlett," he whispered, lips brushing hers. "I cannot wait any longer."
Her body responded instantly, heat pooling, breath hittingching. "Jackson… wait—"
He silenced her with a kiss, deep, electrifying, and urgent. Fingers tangled in her hair, holding her as close as he could. Every nerve in her body burned with desire. The world around them disappeared—the waves crashing beneath, the wind whipping past; nothing mattered but the two of them.
Suddenly, a shout echoed from the entrance. Scarlett jerked back, her heart hammering. A figure—Ethan—stood there, phone in hand, smirking wickedly.
Jackson's jaw tightened. "Go. Hide," he whispered, pressing one last lingering touch to her hand. "i will handle this."
Scarlett's pulse raced, body trembling, heat still rolling through her. She wanted him, needed him, but now danger had found them. Secrets, desire, and threats were closing in—and the storm was not over.
Scarlett realized with a shiver: nothing could prepare her for what was coming next, and she was powerless to resist him.