Chapter 2 The Warning

I do not sleep. Every time I close my eyes, I see that glowing phone screen in the dark hallway. I imagine the photo being posted on the school’s gossip page. I imagine the caption: The Golden Boy and the Ghost—what are they hiding?

By the time the sun comes up, my head hurts. I walk into Eastview High and keep my eyes on the floor. I check my own phone every five minutes.

Nothing. No posts. No leaks. Yet.

The morning passes in a blur. I can’t focus on my teachers. My eyes keep drifting to the door of every classroom. I am looking for a tall boy with blond hair and a varsity jacket.

But I don't see Jaxson all morning. By the time the lunch bell rings, I am convinced he has changed his mind. Why wouldn't he? He's a star. I'm a nobody.

The cafeteria is a war zone. It is loud, crowded, and smells like greasy fries. I sit at the very back, at my usual table near the trash cans. I am alone. I open my brown paper bag and pull out a bruised apple.

I look at the clock. 12:40 PM.

The center table is loud. Jaxson is there, surrounded by his teammates. He looks perfect. He is laughing and talking. He doesn't look like a guy who I striked a deal with. He looks like he has already forgotten I exist.

I feel a lump in my throat. I was so stupid to trust him.

I start to pack my bag, ready to run to the library. But then, the noise in the room changes. The laughing stops.

I look up.

Jaxson Thorne is standing. He picks up his tray and walks away from the "cool" table. He doesn't go to the exit. He walks straight toward the back of the room. Straight toward the trash cans. Straight toward me.

The entire school is watching. I can feel a hundred sets of eyes burning into my skin. Jaxson reaches my table and stops. He pulls out the plastic chair across from me. The metal legs screech against the floor.

He sits down and starts eating his pizza like everything is normal.

"You're late," I whisper. My heart is hammering against my ribs. I keep looking around the room, trying to see who is holding a phone.

Jaxson looks at me, confused. He shrugs his broad shoulders. "The line was long. You want half?" He pushes a slice of pizza toward me.

He is so calm. He doesn't know. He has no idea that someone was in that hallway last night. To him, this is just a deal to save his wrist. To me, this feels like waiting for a bomb to go off.

"Hey! Jax!"

It’s Miller, a big guy on the hockey team. He walks over to our table, looking angry. "What are you doing, man? The guys are waiting. Why are you sitting with... with her?"

Jaxson doesn't even look up. He just takes a bite of his pizza. "I’m eating, Miller. Go away."

"Is this a joke?" Miller laughs. "Did you lose a bet or something?"

I want to disappear. I want to hide under the table. But Jaxson just looks at Miller with cold, blue eyes.

"She’s my friend," Jaxson says. His voice is quiet, but everyone can hear him. "Do you have a problem with that?"

Miller blinks. He looks at me, then back at Jax. He can see Jaxson isn't joking. "No, man. Whatever. See you at practice."

Miller walks away, looking stunned. I look at Jaxson. He just defended me. But instead of feeling happy, I feel more scared.

"You shouldn't have done that," I whisper.

Jaxson finally looks at me. He looks genuinely curious. "Why? It was part of the deal, right? I protect you, you fix my hand."

"Yes, but..." I stop. I want to tell him about the person in the hallway. I want to warn him that his "Golden Boy" image is already in danger.

But if I tell him, he will ask why I didn't say something last night. He will realize I lied. And then he will stop trusting me before I can even start the medical treatment.

"But what?" he asks.

"Nothing," I say, taking a bite of the pizza. It tastes like cardboard. "Just... meet me at the old gym at 4:00 PM. Don't let anyone see you."

He nods, totally oblivious to the danger. "I'll be there, Doc."

Jaxson stands up and walks away, leaving his empty tray on the table. As soon as he is gone, the cafeteria starts to buzz again. People are whispering, pointing, and staring. I can’t breathe. I grab my bag and rush toward the exit.

I duck into the girls’ bathroom and lock myself in a stall. My heart is thumping against my ribs. I stay there for five minutes, waiting for the bell to ring. I just need to get to my next class.

When I finally come out of the stall to wash my face, I am not alone.

Chloe is standing by the mirrors. She is leaning against the sink, scrolling through her phone. She is beautiful in a way that makes you feel small. Her hair is perfectly curled, and her cheerleading uniform is spotless. She looks up and catches my eye in the reflection.

"So," she says. Her voice is sweet, like honey poured over a blade. "Maya Vance. The invisible girl finally found a way to be seen."

I keep my head down and turn on the water. "I don't know what you’re talking about, Chloe."

"Oh, please." She turns around, crossing her arms. "Jaxson Thorne doesn't just sit with people. Especially people like you. Did you find something he dropped? Are you doing his homework?"

"We're just... friends," I lie. The word feels heavy and wrong in my mouth.

Chloe laughs. It is a cold, sharp sound. She steps closer to me, filling the small room with the scent of expensive perfume.

"Listen to me, Maya. I don't know what kind of game you think you’re playing, but Jaxson belongs to a certain world. A world you aren't a part of. He’s the Captain. He’s going pro. He doesn't have time for charity cases."

I look up at her. For a second, I want to tell her that her "Golden Boy" is actually broken. I want to tell her that I’m the only one who can save his career. But I remember the mystery person in the hallway. I remember the deal.

"He chose to sit there," I say, my voice surprising me with its steadiness.

Chloe’s eyes narrow. The sweetness vanishes from her face. "Jaxson is kind. He’s a good guy. He probably felt sorry for you because you look so pathetic sitting alone every day. But don't mistake pity for interest."

She reaches out and tugs at the sleeve of my old, faded hoodie. "Stay away from him, Maya. If you keep trying to climb into his world, you’re going to fall. And I’ll make sure it’s a very long drop."

She turns and walks out of the bathroom, the door swinging shut behind her.

I stand at the sink, my hands shaking. Chloe doesn't have the photo. If she did, she would have used it already. But she is suspicious. Everyone is suspicious.

I look at myself in the mirror. My eyes are wide and dark with fear. I am caught between a boy who doesn't know he’s being watched and a girl who wants to ruin me.

And at 4:00 PM, I have to go to the old gym and touch the boy she just told me to stay away from.