Ava's POV — Outside the Class
By the time I pushed through the glass doors and stepped outside, the cool air hit my face like a lifeline.
Finally. Freedom.
Students crowded the courtyard, laughter bouncing off the walls, groups forming and breaking apart — the usual post-lecture chaos. I just needed to blend in, disappear, make it to the next building before—
"Ava."
Of course.
That one word, again. Same tone. Low, steady. The kind that made me want to both roll my eyes and turn around all at once.
I kept walking. I could practically feel him weaving through the crowd behind me — unhurried, but determined.
"You've got some serious ignoring skills," he said when he finally caught up, falling into step beside me. "I said your name twice."
"Maybe I didn't feel like listening," I said, eyes fixed straight ahead.
He chuckled — deep, quiet, like he already knew how much that sound annoyed me. "You didn't seem to have a problem listening last night."
I stopped dead. My heart skipped. "Excuse me?"
He tilted his head, amusement flickering in his eyes. "Relax. I meant when you told me I 'didn't have to walk you back,' right before you nearly fell again."
I glared, heat rising to my face. "Wow. Thanks for reminding me of my graceful moment."
He smirked. "Anytime."
We started walking again, side by side. It shouldn't have felt this charged — but it did. Every time his arm brushed mine, my pulse reacted like it hadn't gotten the memo to behave.
I sighed. "Don't you have friends to annoy?"
"They're busy."
"Doing what?"
He shrugged. "Not pretending they don't want to look at me."
My head snapped toward him. "You—"
He grinned, clearly satisfied that he'd gotten a reaction. "What? I'm just saying. You've been avoiding me since morning, but your ears turn pink every time I talk."
"I do not—"
"Sure," he said lightly, cutting me off, that faint smirk tugging at his lips again.
I hated that he noticed. I hated that he was right.
We reached the steps near the quad, where sunlight poured through the trees, catching in his hair. He looked effortlessly composed — hands in pockets, that same unreadable calm on his face.
Meanwhile, my entire body was a contradiction — irritated, flustered, and very aware of how close he was standing.
"Whatever," I muttered. "Believe what you want. I'm going to lunch."
He leaned in just slightly, voice dropping low enough that only I could hear.
"Then I guess I'll join you."
My pulse stuttered. "No. You won't."
He smiled — slow, infuriating, confident.
"Try and stop me."
I walked faster, pretending not to hear him laughing softly behind me, but my heart betrayed me with every beat — because I already knew…
he wasn't done teasing me yet.
I tried to blend in with my usual group at the cafeteria — Emma, Emily, and Kate already seated, chatting and laughing about something that had happened in class. I slid into my seat, exhaling like I could finally breathe… until I heard the unmistakable sound of him.
Axel Hayes.
Of course he'd follow.
I stiffened, pretending to study the menu, hoping he'd take the hint. But no — he slid onto the bench across from me, chair scraping softly against the floor. Close. Too close.
"Mind if I join?" His tone was casual, but that smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth made it obvious he knew exactly what he was doing.
I froze. "I… uh, we're kind of—"
"Busy?" he supplied, leaning back with that infuriating ease. "Right. You and your friends look very busy."
Emma snorted behind me. "Looks like someone's caught your attention," she teased, elbowing me lightly.
I groaned, hiding my face behind my hands. "Emma!"
Axel ignored her completely, his dark eyes locked on mine. "Busy or not… you didn't exactly look thrilled to escape me this morning."
I glared, trying to summon any ounce of composure. "I wasn't avoiding you," I muttered, voice low.
"You were," he said simply, like it was the most obvious thing in the world.
I could feel the heat creeping up my neck. Every brush of his arm against the table sent a shock through me — and the worst part? He knew it.
"You're impossible," I muttered, more to myself than him.
"Am I?" His smirk widened. "Or are you just… easily flustered?"
I nearly choked on my drink. "Flustered? Me? No."
"Mhmm." He leaned just slightly closer, eyes narrowing, teasing. "Sure, Ava. Keep telling yourself that."
I could hear Emma and the others laughing quietly behind me, whispering and nudging each other. But I didn't care. All I could focus on was him — the way he leaned back, the subtle challenge in his gaze, the quiet confidence that made me want to smack him and throw myself at him at the same time.
I took a deep breath. I couldn't take it anymore. Every word he said, every smirk, every subtle movement that made my chest race and my brain short-circuit… it was too much.
I slammed my tray down, ignoring the curious glances from Emma, Emily, and Kate. "That's it!" I muttered under my breath, standing up so fast my chair scraped against the floor.
Axel looked up from his half-eaten sandwich, that infuriatingly calm, unreadable expression on his face. "Whoa. What's going on?"
I strode over without a second thought, grabbed his wrist, and yanked him up. He barely had time to react before I practically dragged him out of the cafeteria, ignoring the murmurs and stares from everyone around us.
Once we were outside, the noise of the lunch crowd fading behind the doors, I spun on him, letting go of his wrist but keeping my hands braced on his chest. My heart was pounding so hard it felt like it could explode.
"Why are you doing this to me?" I demanded, voice shaking — part frustration, part desperation. "Why are you always—I mean—why do you have to—" I stopped, trying to find words that wouldn't sound completely ridiculous. "Why do you have to make everything so… impossible?!"
He blinked at me, just staring, as if I'd suddenly become the most fascinating thing in the world. And maybe I had.
"I… what?" he said finally, slow, teasing, but something in his tone faltered under the weight of my outburst.
You're unbelievable!" I shouted, hands on my hips. "Why do you have to be everywhere, always making me feel like I—like I—"
I hesitated, heart thundering, throat tight. And then the words tumbled out before I could stop them:
"I like you! I… I can't stop thinking about you, and I hate it, but I like it, Axel!"
The world went quiet. I expected him to laugh, tease, or smirk — but he didn't.
He froze for a heartbeat, just staring at me, eyes dark and unreadable. Then, slowly, a small, genuine smile curved his lips.
"You… what?" His voice was low, deliberate, dangerous, and for the first time, it lacked the teasing edge.
"I said it!" I barked, flustered, pulling at my hair. "I like you! There! Happy?! Are you going to say something, or just… stand there looking smug?"
He stepped closer, and the heat radiating off him made my knees weaken. "You have no idea how long I've been waiting to hear that," he murmured, his dark eyes locking onto mine. "You have no idea."
My chest heaved, mind spinning. "Waiting… for what?"
He smirked faintly, just enough to make my stomach twist, but there was something softer now beneath it — something that made my heart leap. "For you to admit it. For you to finally stop pretending you don't feel the same way I do."
I blinked. "…You… like me?"
"Yeah," he said simply, voice low, controlled, but every word heavy with meaning. "And I've liked you for a long time."
I felt my knees go weak. My chest throbbed. Everything I'd been holding back — all the frustration, the teasing, the tension — crashed over me in one overwhelming wave.
"I… I can't believe you," I whispered, half in disbelief, half in awe.
"Believe it," he said softly, stepping even closer, close enough that I could feel the heat of him against me. "And don't think I'm going to let you forget it."
I swallowed hard, heart racing, pulse wild. "I'm… not sure I want you to."
He smirked again — infuriating, maddening, irresistible. "Good. Because neither of us can go back now."
And in that moment, standing there in the courtyard, everything felt impossible… but thrilling.