As the pissed-off redhead stormed back to the dorm, she couldn't stop thinking about all the ways she'd get back at Jackson. So, what was she pissed about? Well, not only did he drag her out of a perfectly good nap, but he also made her wait in a ridiculous line for two hours to pick up a schedule that he knew he had taken.
Yeah, she could buy a new one for a buck, but she had sworn off spending any more money here beyond what her tuition covered. She was already broke enough as it was.
Azalea burst into the room again, and Jackson, still sitting there staring at his phone with a frown, looked up at her. Yeah, he hadn't moved an inch. He needed to see her reaction when she realized he was about to make her last year a total nightmare.
"Where's my schedule?" Azalea demanded, her arms crossed over her chest as she glared at Jackson.
"Uh, the office?" he replied casually, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. He gave a soft chuckle, then snapped a photo of her, no doubt to add to his collection of annoyances.
Azalea's patience snapped. She snatched the phone right out of his hand and glared at him, her eyes sharp with frustration. She wasn't in the mood for his games today. Last year, he'd made it his mission to get under her skin—hiding her things, messing with their beds until she noticed the small changes, pulling every little prank he could think of. She'd known exactly what he was doing; he was just trying to get a rise out of her. And, for the most part, she hadn't given him the satisfaction.
But this year? She wasn't going to take it anymore.
"You're not pulling this crap again this year and getting away with it. I'm fighting back," she declared, her voice firm with resolve.
Jackson raised an eyebrow, amusement flickering in his eyes. "Really?" he asked, his voice sounding like a kid who'd just been told they were going to Disneyland.
Azalea couldn't help but smirk, her determination growing stronger. "Watch this." Without another word, she turned and walked toward the door, ready to make her exit.
Jackson blinked, then scrambled to his feet, clearly caught off guard. "Wait, where are you going?" He followed her into the hallway, calling her name. "Azie!"
Azalea turned back to face him, a sly grin on her lips as she continued walking backwards. "We're going swimming."
With that, she spun around and took off down the hall, her footsteps quickening as she made her way toward the pool. Jackson stood there for a moment, his smile fading as the realization hit him. Swimming? Was she serious? The words had barely sunk in before his pace slowed, the full meaning of her words processing in his mind. What exactly was she planning?
"Wait. Azie!" Jackson took off behind her, passing the few people in the halls. He pushed past the red double doors and hopped down the five steps leading down.
Ahead of him is Azalea who's absolutely sprinting across the grassy terrain to get to whatever building she's targeting on the other side. He's completely forgotten that she's actually athletic. Him on the other hand? Definitely not. Couldn't run a mile to save his life.
"Azie!" He shouts as he tried to avoid knocking into people and causing them to fall. Some of them did voice their few cents but he ignored them.
Jackson sprinted across the grass, leaping over a picnic table that was probably occupied by a couple enjoying their lunch.
"Hey, watch it!" the person yelled, barely dodging his flying feet.
"Sorry! Damn it, Azie, why are you so fast?" he muttered under his breath, frustration creeping into his voice.
As he ran, Jackson couldn't help but gripe about the one thing he'd never understand about Princeton University: its ridiculous campus layout. Why did every single thing have to be in a separate building? The library was in one, the dorms in another, the pool in yet another... It felt like they were all miles apart. Why not just make everything a little more convenient?
"Azie!" he yelled, but she was already disappearing through the double doors leading to the indoor swimming pool and locker rooms. Jackson cursed under his breath and pushed himself harder, finally reaching the building and bursting through the door.
"Fuck," he exhaled, his chest heaving as he caught his breath. He glanced around, his eyes scanning the dimly lit hallway. There was only one door at the end of it, the one she'd gone through.
He jogged down the hall, his shoes squeaking loudly against the polished floor as he approached. When he entered the room, it was almost eerily quiet, except for the soft echoes of his footsteps bouncing off the walls. And there she was—standing on the right side of the fifty-meter swimming pool. Jackson couldn't help but shake his head. He thought the whole thing was absolutely ridiculous. Who needed a pool that long? What was she even planning on doing in there?
His eyes narrowed. Whatever it was, he had a feeling it wasn't going to be easy to stop her.
But then again Princeton University isn't famous for nothing. It's huge and the expectations are always met. Funny how it's a public college other than a private one.
Very unique.
"Okay fire ant, calm down. We could talk about this." He finally says.
"Two hours wasted and I got up early for nothing."
Jackson slowly made his way towards her. She took a step back and he stopped.
"Okay okay, I give. I'm sorry. But Azie, it's the new year and it's still same you."
"You know what, you're right. This is very immature. I should learn how to get up early and make it to my classes on time and know when to get my schedule."
Jackson sighed a breath of relief and smiled. "Yes. I'm glad we're on the same page."
Azie sighed and handed out his phone. Jackson pranced over to her and when he got close enough she tossed it.
"No!" The ravenette watched as his phone made a 'ploop' sound when it touched the water and sank. He reacted quickly and pushed her in. His turmoil turned to instant happiness.
"That was for my fallen comrade!" He laughs. Shocked, she emerged to the surface.
"Are you serious?! My phone is on me!"
"Well would you look at that, similarities," he grins.
Azalea exhaled a breath and held up held up her hand. Jackson grabbed her hand to pull her out but she had other ideas and pulled him in with her.
"And now we have similarities." Azalea pulled herself out and squeezed water from the hem of her shirt. Jackson came back up a moment later and wiped his face.
"Your schedule was in my phone by the way, but don't worry I've already memorized it. Also, does this mean we're up for Jett's party tonight?"
"No."
"Come on please, this is y- our last year and I want you to have fun. I promise I won't mess with you after this."
She sighs. "Fine."
"Yes," he celebrates. Azalea smiled faintly and shook her head.
"By the way you owe me a new phone. And I'm only staying an hour since classes start tomorrow."
"Deal. By the way, wear green, it'll made your red hair pop."
"...uhuh."
With that she left. Jackson glanced around the quiet room and dipped into the water to get his phone. He came back up a minute later and inhaled sharply.
Jackson pulled himself from the pool and checked his phone. When the screen lit up he chuckled.
"Waterproof iPhone for the win."
Azalea glanced at her reflection in the mirror, eyeing the outfit she'd picked out. The green dress she had originally considered was absolutely ridiculous, so she tossed it aside in favor of something bolder—a red one that at least made her feel like she was in control. She wasn't thrilled about tagging along to Jett's dumb frat party, but she figured it was better to play nice, especially since Jackson had her schedule. She needed that schedule—desperately—since classes started tomorrow and she was already behind on a few things.And if that wasn't enough, after the whole pool fiasco, Azalea had to track Jackson down again to ask which books she needed for her classes. It was like having a damn parrot on her shoulder for the rest of the day, him repeating the same thing over and over just to get under her skin."Oh, come on, Azie," he had said, that smirk still plastered on his face. "This is just me having fun."She'd rolled her eyes. "No, actually, this is you trying to annoy me,
Azalea set her last cup down with a satisfying thud, and Jackson followed suit. A small crowd had gathered around the big dining room table, which was large enough to fit ten people comfortably. The energy in the room was high, and everyone seemed to be buzzing with excitement for the impending challenge."Okay, you understand the rules, right?" Jackson asked, raising an eyebrow as he adjusted his stance."Yes, we had this conversation five minutes ago," Azalea replied, her voice dripping with playful annoyance.Jackson smirked, leaning back slightly. "Okay, no need to shame me in front of the boys, babe," he teased, winking and motioning his head to the group of guys watching them. A few of them let out a collective "ooo," causing Azalea to shake her head with a reluctant smile."Just prepare to get a tattoo after this," she shot back, not missing a beat.Jackson grinned. "Only if it's of your name. Then, sure."With a shrug, he opened his bag of almonds—something they'd both agreed
Azie was jolted awake by the loud blare of her alarm. She pitched herself out of sleep, nearly toppling out of bed. Groggily, she reached over, fumbling for her phone, and quickly swiped it to silence the alarm.After last night, and the crazy mix of the party and the late-night trek back to the dorm, she was definitely feeling the effects of it all. That familiar buzz of tipsiness still lingered in her system, making her head feel a bit foggy. She hadn't expected to crash as soon as she did, but as soon as her head hit the pillow, sleep took over.It was only now, in the quiet of the morning, that she realized the phone still clutched in her hand. She brushed a strand of her red-orange hair out of her face, trying to shake off the grogginess, and finally took a good look at the screen.She noticed a notification and pressed on it. The phone opened automatically, taking her to the chat.𝙵𝚘𝚛 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚙𝚑𝚘𝚗𝚎. 𝙱𝚢 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚠𝚊𝚢 𝚒𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚏𝚒𝚛𝚜𝚝 𝚕𝚎𝚌𝚝𝚞𝚛𝚎 𝚒𝚜 𝙴𝚗𝚐?
Jackson slammed his car door and stormed toward the building, fuming. He couldn't believe his dad would pull something like this just to mess with him.All he wanted was to be left alone, to live life on his terms."Stupid fucking bullshit," he muttered, stopping by the door. There was a guy in a navy blue uniform standing there. Campus control, probably."Can I help you, sir?" the guy asked.Jackson let out a deep breath and pulled out his wallet. The security guard's hand hovered over his gun, his eyes locked on Jackson.Jackson searched for his campus ID and flashed it to the man in front of him. The security leant forward and un-holsterd his flashlight. Jackson pinched the bridge of his nose in frustration."Head up."Jackson did as he was told, showing his face fully to the man in front of him. After a other double check the security motioned for him to pass.Putting his wallet back, Jackson muttered a sarcastic, "Thanks," before disappearing inside. As soon as he stepped in, his
After classes, Jackson and Azalea decided to head to their usual spot under the tree to knock out their assignments. It was their go-to place because, recently, they both found their rooms a bit... suffocating. Being outside, in the fresh air, felt like a relief.But today, even the quiet under the tree felt loud—maybe even louder than it ever had before. They had been sitting in silence for the past twenty minutes, neither one of them speaking a word.Jackson had thought getting her a coffee would ease the tension, maybe help break the silence, but instead, it seemed to make it worse. She'd only taken one sip when he handed it to her, and since then, the cup had just sat there, forgotten between them.Jackson shaded in his triangle for his mathematic question and finally took a glance at her. When he did she quickly looked away, grabbing her cup of coffee and took a long sip from it.Jackson couldn't believe it. Had she been staring that entire time? The young boy couldn't shake the
After Azalea found herself stuck on the same paragraph her professor had assigned for what felt like forever, she finally gave up and decided a bathroom break was in order. Maybe stepping away would clear her head a little.When she got there, she was relieved to find it empty. Setting her bag down on the floor, she turned the tap on and leaned forward, letting the cool water wash over her hands before splashing it onto her face.She took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, feeling the water dripping down her skin. With her hands resting on the counter, Azalea stared at her reflection in the mirror. The sound of the running water filled the room as she stood there, her thoughts spinning.Her brows knit into a frown as her mind drifted, once again, to Jackson. She couldn't make sense of what was going on between them anymore. And the thing that really got her was, why now? Why was everything starting to feel so complicated all of a sudden?Azalea's attention snapped to the bathroom door
Today was the day of the date. Azalea wasn't sure if she was excited about it anymore, but she definitely wanted to know more about Jackson. After all, that's all he really was to her—just a friend. Yes, a guy she had grown to tolerate over time. A guy she liked simply as a friend, nothing more, nothing less.She stood in front of the mirror, her hair pulled into a messy bun, and checked herself over one last time. She wasn't trying too hard, but she still wanted to look presentable. Jackson, lounging on the bean bag across the room, gave her a quick glance, his eyes flicking over her casually, like he didn't care, but Azalea could feel the weight of his gaze nonetheless.She was dressed casually: a simple white V-neck, well-fitted blue jeans, and a pair of tennis shoes. She added a delicate necklace, but nothing too flashy. It was a laid-back look, but it felt right for today.Azalea caught Jackson's gaze in the mirror and turned to face him, feeling a playful smirk tug at her lips.
Azalea and Jackson hit up every two-player game they could find, diving into the challenge for bragging rights—and of course, free ice cream.They played everything: air hockey, Dance Dance Revolution, Street Fighter, basketball hoops, laser tag, whack-a-mole. They went all out, their competitive energy building with each game. It was fun, though, and they didn't hold back. Finally, they ended their epic duel with a game of bowling, which Azalea won by a narrow margin."Suck it, bitch!" she cheered, raising her arms in victory. Jackson just rolled his eyes but couldn't help the grin that spread across his face. As competitive as she was, he had to admit—it was a blast watching her go all in, even if it did sound creepy to him.Afterward, they grabbed a pizza, and Jackson paid, of course. They settled into a booth, the noise of kids running around and the clatter of arcade machines filling the background. It felt like the perfect ending to an unexpectedly great day."This was great," J
Jackson's grip tightened further on the steering wheel as he stared at the sprawling campus of Princeton in front of him. His jaw clenched, and the silence between them was heavy with unspoken frustration. Megan sat in the passenger seat, her smugness barely concealed, her fingers tapping idly on her thigh as she cast sidelong glances at him."You know," she started, breaking the tense quiet, "you're the one that got me pregnant, so I don't know what you're so mad about." Her tone was casual, almost taunting.Jackson's knuckles whitened as his hands squeezed the wheel. He didn't even bother looking at her when he hissed through gritted teeth, "Shut. Up."Megan smirked, leaning back in her seat as if his anger amused her. "Is this how you're going to treat the mother of your child?" she challenged, crossing her arms as she shot him a pointed glare.Jackson finally let out a long, exasperated sigh and leaned back into his seat. His hands left the wheel and raked through his hair as he c
Jackson left his math class with a satisfied grin stretched across his face. Today had been nothing short of amazing. Every class he had gone to felt like a breeze, and he'd powered through each one without breaking a sweat. He'd even managed to finish his work so quickly that he got to leave early, giving him time to wander around aimlessly.Sometimes, being a prodigy had its perks. Getting the freedom to leave as soon as he completed his assignments was definitely one of them. While other students struggled to keep up, he was already off, enjoying the rest of his day.Now, he was on his way back to their dorm room, his steps leisurely as he took his time. He knew Azalea wouldn't be there—she should still be in class, which gave him the room to himself for a bit. It was a rare moment of solitude, and though he enjoyed having her around, he didn't mind the quiet every now and then.Still, the thought of her lingered in the back of his mind. Things between them had finally gotten back
Azalea tapped her pen against her notebook, her mind once again wandering to the events of a few nights ago. Ocean's Peak. Jackson. His touch, his lips, the way he made her feel. The memory replayed in her head like a broken record, refusing to leave her alone.Three days had passed since it happened, and yet it felt as if it were just yesterday. She could still feel the heat of his breath, the way he looked at her afterward, the unspoken intensity between them.Her stomach churned as she let out a soft sigh. It was all her fault—at least, that's what she kept telling herself. She'd let it happen. She'd allowed him to get close, to push her to that moment. It wasn't supposed to go that far, but it had.Did she regret it? Not really. Did she hate it? Absolutely not. That was the problem. That was the very thing making her restless, the very thing that made her tap her pen nervously as if the rhythm could somehow drown out the thoughts swirling in her head.The ride back to the dorms ha
The car ride was steeped in silence. Azalea shifted in her seat, unsure of what kind of tension lingered between them. Was it just her overthinking, or was it actually there? Maybe silence like this was just... normal. But with Jackson, it never really felt normal. There was always something unsaid, hovering in the air.Eventually, the car slowed to a stop. Jackson parked at the edge of a familiar hill."Well, fire ant, this is our stop," he said, cutting through the quiet with his usual teasing nickname for her.Azalea turned her gaze forward, her breath catching for a moment as she took in the sight before her. The horizon stretched wide under the glow of the moonlight, casting silvery reflections over everything."Ocean's Peak," she murmured softly. She knew this place well, even if she'd only been here once before. The memory stirred something in her chest, though she wasn't sure if it was nostalgia or unease."Yup," Jackson said, his voice softer than usual. He grabbed the pizza
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 t
Azalea's heart skipped a beat when she saw Jackson sitting on her bed, his posture tense and his leg bouncing rapidly. His eyes snapped to her as soon as she entered, and for a brief moment, she could see a flash of relief pass over his face.Before she could say anything, he was already standing, his voice rushing to meet her."Azie—"She cut him off before he could get any further."Don't talk to me," Azalea's voice was sharp, the words heavy with frustration and hurt.Jackson flinched, his face falling in an instant. He opened his mouth to speak, but she was already walking further into the room, her arms crossed tightly over her chest."Azie, I'm sorry." His voice was full of urgency, like he needed to get it all out before she shut him down completely. "I don't know why I did that. It was stupid, it was petty." He shook his head, running a hand through his hair. "It's just... everything between us was good until the kiss. Then, after it happened, you started pulling away and I di
Thompson pranced down the hallway, his shoes clicking with each step, echoing in the quiet of the empty corridor. He glanced at his watch and took a long sip of his coffee, savoring the warmth as it slid down his throat. He wasn't in a rush. His class tonight wasn't until five, so he had plenty of time to prepare for the lesson, sort out the assignment, and maybe even get ahead on some grading.He took his time, moving down the hallway with long, confident strides. He reached his classroom just a couple of minutes later, pushing the door open. Normally, it would already be unlocked by now, but he didn't think much of it.Thompson walked in, tossing his bag onto his desk with a tired sigh. He'd been running around all day, and now he was finally ready to settle into the quiet comfort of the classroom. He threw his keys to the side and grabbed his coffee again, ready to kick back and relax for a minute before diving into work.But then, he stopped.His hand froze halfway to the cup. Som
The door opened and as soon as it did Jackson kissed her. It took the girl completely by surprise but she quickly simmered into his kiss as she got further into the room.Her fingers trailed to his hair, tugging and pulling gently. He moans, loving that feeling on his scalp.Jackson picked her up and eased her onto his bed. She yelped and he quickly broke the kiss, shushing her. Jackson gaze went to the other side of the room, wanting to make sure Azalea was still asleep.Megan turned his face back to hers and she kissed him. "I promise to keep it down." She whispers with a grin. Honestly he's got no idea why he's doing this, but seeing her laughing with Tony earlier in class made him...jealous.He could only wonder if she did it to get to him, or maybe she did it to send him a message. Whatever it was though, he didn't like it.Jackson took his shirt off and she followed suit, tossing her shirt to the floor. Next was his pants and then his underwear. Megan got makes under him, the re
Azie couldn't help but notice Jackson's empty gaze when he walked into Chemistry earlier. There was something off about him, something distant, and she couldn't figure out what it was. The whole class, he just sat there, staring blankly ahead while Mr. Magwell went on with the lecture.She knew he didn't need to take notes—Jackson always coasted by, doing the bare minimum and still managing to ace everything. But that didn't stop her from worrying. The way he looked today made her wonder what was really going on in his head.Sighing, Azalea turned the page of her textbook and decided it was best to get away from him. The library seemed like the only safe place where she could focus. Being around Jackson right now would just add more tension to the already thick air between them.She buried herself in her notes, trying to get through the material for the test tomorrow. The pressure was on, and with every chapter she studied, her anxiety grew. She joked to herself that if she failed, sh