Chapter 2

Rex POV

The sound of sneakers squeaking against the polished gym floor echoed through the air as I sank another three-pointer. Cheers erupted from my teammates, and I shot them a lazy grin, basking in the attention. Basketball was my kingdom, and I was the king—captain of the team, the school's bad boy, and, apparently, every girl’s fantasy.

But there was one girl who wasn’t falling over herself to get my attention, and that fact annoyed the hell out of me. Jenna Walker.

“Rex, you in?” Kade’s voice pulled me from my thoughts.

He tossed me the ball, his smirk wide and mischievous. Kade wasn’t just my best friend; he was the mastermind behind most of the chaos I got dragged into. The guy loved stirring the pot, and I usually let him. But today, something in his tone set me on edge.

“What now?” I asked, dribbling the ball idly.

Kade leaned in, lowering his voice. “Bet’s on. Hundred bucks say you can’t get Jenna Walker to fall for you.”

Laughter rippled through our group, and I felt a twinge of irritation. Of course, they’d single out Jenna. The most beautiful girl in school, but also the most oblivious. She walked around like she didn’t even know how stunning she was, her self-confidence buried under the weight of her miserable home life.

“I don’t waste my time on charity cases,” I said, my voice colder than I intended.

Kade raised an eyebrow, clearly not buying it. “Oh, come on, Rex. We all know you’ve got a soft spot for her. Always watching her back, warning people off. What’s the deal with that, anyway?”

“Because she’s too fragile to handle this place,” I shot back. “It’s not like she has anyone else to protect her. You’ve seen the way Rachel goes after her.”

“Exactly!” Kade exclaimed, his grin growing. “That’s why this is the perfect challenge. Show her what it’s like to live a little. Besides, you’re the only guy who hasn’t taken a shot at her. What are you afraid of?”

I bristled at the accusation. Afraid? Of Jenna Walker? Not a chance.

“Fine,” I said, smirking as I caught the ball mid-dribble. “You want me to play the game? Watch and learn.”

The truth was, I hated the way she let people walk all over her. I hated the way she stared at the ground like she didn’t belong. But what I hated most of all was how much I wanted to fix it.

Later that day, I leaned against my locker, scanning the hallway for her. Jenna always walked with her head down, her books clutched tightly to her chest like they were her shield. She was predictable like that.

“Hey,” Kade nudged me. “There she is. Go make your move, lover boy.”

“Shut up,” I muttered, shoving him aside as I pushed off the locker.

Jenna was halfway down the hall when Rachel and her clique intercepted her. I watched as Rachel’s perfectly glossed lips twisted into a cruel smile.

“What’s the rush, Walker? Got somewhere better to be?” Rachel sneered.

I clenched my fists, my jaw tightening as I made my way toward them. I didn’t care about the bet anymore. Rachel needed to learn when to back off.

“Ladies,” I drawled, stepping into their circle. Rachel’s smirk faltered as I slid my arm casually around Jenna’s shoulders. “Am I interrupting something?”

Jenna stiffened under my touch, her wide eyes darting to me in shock.

“Rex,” Rachel purred, recovering quickly. “We were just chatting.”

“Yeah, I’m sure you were,” I said, my voice dripping with sarcasm. “But if you don’t mind, Jenna and I have somewhere to be.”

Without waiting for a response, I steered Jenna down the hall. She was too stunned to protest, her small frame trembling under my arm.

“Relax,” I said, letting her go once we were out of sight. “You’re safe now.”

Her brown eyes narrowed, and for the first time, I saw a spark of defiance in her gaze. “Why did you do that?”

“Do what?”

“Step in like that. I don’t need your pity, Rex.”

Her words caught me off guard. Pity? Is that what she thought this was?

“Look,” I said, running a hand through my hair. “I wasn’t going to stand there and let Rachel tear you apart. You should be thanking me.”

“Thank you?” she repeated, her voice rising. “For what? Making me an even bigger target?”

I opened my mouth to argue, but she was already walking away, her head held higher than I’d ever seen it.

That night, Kade called me out on the rooftop of his house.

“Man, you’re terrible at this,” he said, handing me a beer.

“She’s not like the others,” I muttered, staring at the stars.

Kade snorted. “Yeah, no kidding. That’s why we picked her. You’ve been shadowing her like a guard dog since freshman year. Admit it, Rex. You like her.”

“I don’t like her,” I snapped, my grip tightening on the bottle. “I just… I don’t know. She’s different.”

“Different how?”

“She doesn’t belong here. This place eats people like her alive. She’s too good for it.”

“And yet, you’re the one playing games with her,” Kade said, his tone more serious now.

I didn’t have an answer for that.

The next day, I found her sitting alone in the library, her nose buried in a book. She looked peaceful, unaware of the chaos she caused in my head.

I slid into the seat across from her, and she looked up, startled.

“What do you want now?” she asked, her voice laced with suspicion.

“To talk,” I said, leaning back in my chair. “Is that a crime?”

She rolled her eyes but didn’t leave

“You know, you’re different,” I said after a moment. “In a good way.”

She blinked, her expression softening slightly.

“Why are you saying this?”

“Because it’s true.”

Her lips parted, but before she could respond, the bell rang, cutting our conversation short.

As she packed up her things, I watched her closely, feeling the weight of my decision.

The bet wasn’t just a game anymore. It was personal.

Why does protecting her feel less like a choice and more like something I can’t stop myself from doing? I asked myself.