CH15

Two months passed since the argument between Jackson and Azalea. They had barely exchanged words since that night, and it wasn't for lack of trying on his part. Jackson made every attempt to talk to her, to apologize, but Azalea was adamant in shutting him out. Who could blame her? After what had happened, she wasn't about to let him waltz back into her life so easily.

Despite their silence, their paths crossed daily. They shared a dorm room, and they both had Chemistry together. It wasn't easy to avoid each other completely, but Azalea made sure it was as distant as possible. She no longer sat next to him in class, nor did she acknowledge his presence in any way. She was done. The tension was palpable, and Jackson couldn't escape the constant reminder of his mistake.

But still, he couldn't give up on trying. Each day, he watched her move further away, and it gnawed at him. Maybe he deserved it. Maybe he was the one who pushed her too far. But part of him refused to believe that was the end of them.

She ignores him every time they're in their room, either going to sleep early or watching videos in her free time. It was like first year all over again, only this time it's more depressing.

The tension is always thick, but she doesn't care. However...there are times she catch herself looking at him, wanting to say something, wanting to kiss him again, but she can't allow him to win her over like he does every other girl.

But as for Jackson, he was absolutely hurt by everything happening these past two months, however he knows that it's only like this because it's his fault.

He's already apologized for God knows how many times and he can't even get close to her without her turning the other way.

He couldn't get the fact that someone whom he's been friends with for years just...stopped caring.

Again, his fault yes, but he thought she would have at least given him a chance. However, be doesn't want it to end that way.

Jackson entered the room and exhaled. If this doesn't work then he promised himself to drop out and move to another city.

When he reached inside his eyes drift to her side of the room. There she is, earplugs in and typing away at her keyboard. Azalea sensed him and glanced up at him through her brows.

She noticed his suit and got curious. There's also a box in his hand wrapped in a red bow. Azalea set her attention back to her work and Jackson stood in front of her bed.

"It's time for a burial." He speaks. Azie ignored him, turning her volume up. Jackson knew if he just stood her and waited for her to answer he'd have to go through with his plan.

He set the box onto the bedside drawer and grabbed her laptop from her grasp.

"Hey-

He put his hand up, shushing her. Azie scowled, glaring at the boy. She took her ear pods out, reaching out her hand to get back her device.

"Give me my shit back asshole."

Jackson stepped away and closed her laptop, shoving the device under his pillow.

"Hear me out."

"Fuck off." Azalea got out of bed and tried to retrieve her laptop back, however he blocked her.

"I want to-

"I don't care."

Again she tried to step around him but he wasn't having it.

"Get the-

"Jesus Christ Azie just listen!"

Silence. The both of them held the other's gaze. Blue on brown.

"I don't want to hear anything you have to say," she whispers. Tears fell from her eyes and again, that painful feelin tugged at his heart.

"I don't want to see you cry. I never meant to make you cry, I promise. But please let me make it up to you tonight. Please."

No answer.

He stepped close to her and she took a step back.

"Just thirty minutes." His tone is soft and low. She could tell he's desperate. Heck he's been trying everything he could for the past two months.

Jackson cleared his throat and picked up the box. He held it up to her gaze as she wiped her eyes.

"We're going to a funeral, you and I."

She frowns, her eyes following the box. "I noticed that after Megan left she...left her panties behind for you to see and thank God you have selective vision because I know for sure you would've killed me," he explains all in one go.

"But, this isn't about Megan. Well technically it is but-

"Just spit it out, Jackson." She mutters.

"This here is going to be the burial of Megan Smith." Jackson handed out the box and Azalea studied it. She hesitated but took the box away from him in the end.

Azalea opened the box and inside is a lighter and a pair of mahogany lace panties.

She sent him a look and he quickly defended himself. "It's a just a burial, the final piece to all of this. After that night I went to deal with her on my own. I couldn't let her get in the way of our friendship like I allowed. And so I told her if she were to say anything to you or so much as look in your direction I'll tell everyone how she had sex with the football team for a measley five grand." He grins.

But that's not all he threatened the girl with. He found out a lot about little Megan Smith.

She didn't laugh or crack a smile and upon realizing that he stopped.

"When we burn it we'll drop it in the front of her door and write the word 'HGS' in it."

"HGS?"

"Head game sucks."

Azalea grinned and Jackson felt a wash of relief. She put the cover back on the box, her grin falling to a small smile.

"Okay, let's burn the witch then."

Jackson celebrated and opened the door. Azalea placed on her night shoes and left.

"By the way, we have to sneak out way out of here, think you're up for the challenge?" He whispers.

"Sure."

"First one to my car without getting caught gets to dare the other."

Azalea glanced down the empty halls before looking back at him.

"You're on, asshole."

~

The night was pitch-black, a clear sky filled with stars looming above Azalea and Jackson as they snuck out of school's double doors. They would have went separate ways but they're heading in the same directions so their options were quite limited.

He's been planning this night for weeks, and finally, it's coming together - all they needed now was to get to his car without getting caught.

Jackson and Azalea felt the cool wind of the night touch their skin with a low howl following suit.

The both of them glanced around to see if they saw anyone. When she didn't she quickly made her way down the steps.

The campus is deserted this time of night, but security is always watching, just waiting to send someone back to their dorm.

Azalea skipped across the pavement, taking a left that leads to the front entrance of the school.

She's the one leading the way, her heart beating wildly in her chest. To be honest, it reminded her of when they went out to the arcade and stuff. She's having...fun. A kind of fun she hasn't felt in two months.

A gust of wind made the trees rustle, causing the leaves to crunch loudly under their feet. Just as Azalea was about to move again he pulled her back and crouched.

She followed his actions and glanced at him.

"What's wrong?" Azalea asks, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Campus security is patrolling the area, duh" he whisper back, peering around the corner, "there's only two of them but we need to wait for them to pass."

Azalea rolled her eyes. "This is not supposed to be team work."

"True, but we have to put the witch to rest," he replies, "and I want time to talk to you."

Azalea simmered, knowing she couldn't have a fight with him now, not when they're so close to getting out too. Instead, she opted for a different tactic.

"Fine," she answers, "But if we wait, I'm going to win the race to your car."

Now it was Jackson's turn to roll his eyes. "Yeah, good luck with that."

They waited until the two men passed, however there was something a bit... different.

"Oh?" Jackson said in curiosity as he watched the two securities glance around as if checking for their other team.

Then, the two men suck a kiss. "Oh my."

Jackson wanted to whistle but caught himself. "Reminds me of us, except you're a girl." He whispers in her ear. Azalea smacked him on the chest and he groaned.

He rubbed his chest and waited for the secret couple to leave, and when they did, they jumped up, rushing towards Jackson's car. Azalea wasted no time, sprinting ahead of him, with Jackson close behind.

Again he forgets that she's the athletic one.

Azalea breathed a sigh of relief, giggling with joy as she touched his car in triumph.

"I won," she grins, breathing heavily.

Jackson simply shook his head, laughing at her. Gosh he missed that smile and excited glint in her eyes. It took him back to when they were at the arcade.

Whether he was good at the game or not, Jackson couldn't help but watch her. Every time Azalea smiled, laughed, or cheered after winning, it was like a burst of sunshine in an otherwise dull room. There was something captivating about the way she was so genuinely happy, so free, even in moments as simple as a game. He couldn't take his eyes off her, and for a brief moment, he forgot about everything else—about the tension, the distance, the mess they'd left between them.

"Let's go before more people come back," Azalea said, her voice pulling him out of his thoughts.

"Agreed," he replied, trying to shake off the thoughts that had been occupying his mind all night.

Jackson unlocked the car doors, and they both climbed in. He set the box of leftover pizza on the passenger seat beside him, starting the engine as the car rumbled to life. The sound of the tires against the road filled the air, but even as they sped away, Jackson couldn't shake the feeling that something was still

hanging between them. Maybe the silence wasn't enough to erase what had happened, but tonight, just being in the car with her felt like a step in the right direction.