4. Tension
1166 Words
Alessandro's timing was too perfect. The moment Jaden sat down and Valentine’s cheeks turned scarlet, tension started building like static in the air. I tried to ignore the curious stares from the other students, but it wasn’t easy.
I grinned at Jaden—finally, someone not drooling over Valentine’s fake sweetness. Deciding to keep my expression blank, I reached for my share of the food from Alessandro without a word.
“What’s up, bro?” Alessandro greeted, sliding a plate toward Jaden as he got comfortable.
“Sup, Alex,” Jaden replied, easy and familiar.
“What brings you to our table? You never sit with us,” Alessandro asked, clearly surprised.
“You trying to have both beautiful ladies to yourself?” Jaden teased, leaning forward with a wink in my direction.
I rolled my eyes, unimpressed by the charm offensive.
“Ooh, you don’t think I deserve them both?” Alessandro laughed, already digging into his food.
I focused on my meal, tuning out Jaden’s eyes on me like he was trying to read something between the lines. Alessandro and Jaden slipped into football talk, while Valentine mostly stabbed at her food and shot me the occasional glare.
“Girls don’t usually fascinate me,” Jaden said, glancing up at me with a smirk. “Most are just... shallow. All cake and no depth.”
I snapped my head up and glared at him. He didn’t even flinch.
Valentine’s face was nearly the same shade as her lipstick—probably from rage. Her charm only worked on Alessandro. The rest of us? Not buying it.
“You can’t say that,” Alessandro cut in. “You haven’t seen Summer in action. Last summer, she volunteered to play football for a charity match. Blew everyone away.”
He was laying it on thick. Sure, I scored a few goals—but I wasn’t exactly MVP material.
“I’d like to see that. Girls in this town don’t do sports much,” Jaden said, flicking a fry across his plate.
Alessandro ignored my warning look.
“Well, that’s Summer’s call,” he added with a smirk, his mouth full of pepper sauce. “She’s the star.”
“Table manners, caveman.” I rolled my eyes with a fake smile, trying to ignore the whispers buzzing around us.
“I don’t think she’s that good,” Valentine muttered with a forced snort. “And let’s be honest—there’s nothing girlish about her. Just look at her.”
Her eyes swept me from head to toe like I was something stuck to her shoe.
“Valentine,” Alessandro said sharply, voice suddenly hard.
I let out a soft moan as the pie hit my tastebuds just right.
“Sweetheart, don’t make that sound here when my bed’s already warmed up for you tonight,” Jaden quipped.
I choked on my food. He grinned at me.
“You’re not the dress-to-kill type,” he added, tone dipping into something softer. “But you’re still deadly. You don’t dress to entice—but you’re still enticing. And when you smile...” His voice trailed off, eyes locked with mine. “It’s like the sun.”
And just like that, I was frozen. His blue eyes held mine like gravity. Something stirred deep inside me, something I didn’t recognize but couldn’t ignore.
Then Valentine shattered the moment with a screech loud enough to make my ears bleed.
“So this is why you dragged me here? To flaunt your little friendship in my face?” she yelled, storming to her feet with the grace of a toddler mid-tantrum. The entire cafeteria fell silent.
“Valentine, you don’t get to insult Summer and act like it’s okay,” Alessandro snapped, leaning back in his chair.
It warmed me—how quickly he defended me—but it also stung. I knew how badly he wanted this relationship to work.
“Summer this, Summer that! Summer walks, Summer breathes! My ears are bleeding from the sound of her name!” she shrieked. “I’m done!” She snatched her bag and stormed out.
“Sandman, I didn’t need rescuing,” I muttered to Alessandro, burying my face in my hands. He’d just admitted feelings for her, and now I’d ruined everything by just existing.
“Bro, that girl’s a b***h,” Jaden said calmly.
“And you’re any better?” Alessandro scoffed, his irritation flaring. “You ditched your perfect table to flirt with my best friend? You were hitting on her like she was a challenge.”
My heart skipped. I shot Alessandro a pleading look. The whole cafeteria was buzzing again.
Groaning, I grabbed my bag, muttered a fast apology to Jaden, and bolted—leaving them to their weird staring match.
No classes with either of them made dodging them easier. Not like Jaden was looking for me, anyway. Alessandro probably thought I was the problem. Again.
I got my fair share of glares and whispers, thanks to the drama I’d unwillingly starred in. I endured it until the final bell, then caught a taxi home after shooting Alessandro a text.
As darkness crept in, I collapsed on my bed. The calls from Alessandro kept coming. I ignored them, letting each one hit voicemail.
Then—footsteps.
My door flew open. Alessandro strolled in like he owned the place.
“Sandy, you should’ve knocked! I could’ve been getting dressed,” I glared at him.
He only chuckled, flopping on the bed beside me and tossing his backpack on the floor.
“Like I haven’t seen it all before.” He laid his head on my tummy, chuckling like a teen girl in a soap opera.
I rolled my eyes. I couldn’t stay mad at him forever—not when he was like this. Soft. Familiar. Mine.
“Sorry I overreacted about the Jaden thing,” he said, tracing slow circles on my thigh. My heart fluttered. “I just don’t like him around you.”
“He talked to me for the first time today. He doesn’t seem bad,” I replied, giving him a light push.
“How sure are you?” His voice dropped. “Your guard’s down, Summer. I don’t want anyone playing with your heart.”
His head found its way back to my tummy. I swallowed hard.
“Are you cold, Summer?” he asked, like he didn’t know what he was doing to me.
“What if I am?” I teased, trying to keep my voice steady.
“Come here.” He pulled me closer, burying my face into the crook of his neck and draping the blanket over us. “That’s better.”
I smiled against his warm skin.
“Peaches, that tickles,” he murmured, placing a soft kiss on my forehead.
His breathing slowed, arms wrapped around me like I was something precious.
And for that moment—just that moment—I could pretend that I was.
- Writer
