Chapter 3

Jenny’s POV

The gym buzzed with the sound of sneakers screeching against the hardwood floor and the steady bounce of a basketball. It was crowded, chaotic, and alive—everything I usually avoided. But Vanessa, ever the optimist, had dragged me here, claiming it would be good for me to “get out of my own head.”

“You’re staring into space again,” Vanessa whispered, nudging my arm.

“I’m not,” I lied, tearing my eyes away from Rexford Blankson, who was on the court, effortlessly commanding everyone’s attention. His every move oozed confidence, from the way he dribbled the ball to how he flashed that signature smirk at his friends on the sidelines.

Vanessa wasn’t fooled. “You’re hopeless, Jenny. He’s a waste of time.”

“I wasn’t staring,” I muttered, tugging my hoodie tighter around me, wishing I could disappear.

“He’s trouble,” Vanessa continued, ignoring my denial. “He’s never looked twice at a girl unless there’s something in it for him.”

I glanced up briefly, and sure enough, Rex was looking at me. His piercing gaze locked onto mine, and for a second, the world around me fell silent. Then came the smirk—lazy, self-assured, and maddeningly smug. My face flushed as I whipped my head away.

“See?” Vanessa hissed. “Why does he keep doing that?”

“I don’t know,” I replied, the knot in my stomach tightening.

The truth was, I hated Rexford Blankson almost as much as I hated myself for being affected by him. He was everything I wasn’t—charming, confident, untouchable. The captain of the basketball team and the son of one of the richest families in the city, Rex walked through life like the world was his playground.

Meanwhile, I was just… me. Jenny Walker, the invisible girl who only stood out because I was the easiest target. My mom had passed away when I was little, and after my dad’s death a few years ago, I had no one but my Aunt Lucy. She made it clear I was a burden, so I learned to keep my head down and stay out of trouble.

Later that day, Vanessa and I sat on the worn benches outside the school library. She was rambling about something Rachel Madison had done in class when she suddenly stopped and looked at me, concerned.

“Jenny, you’re not even listening.”

“Sorry,” I murmured, my mind miles away.

Vanessa sighed. “Why do you let them walk all over you? Rachel, her minions… even Rex, with his stupid smirks. Why don’t you fight back?”

“I don’t want to get expelled, Vanessa,” I said softly. “I already stand out too much as it is. I don’t have anyone else, and if I mess this up… what do I have left?”

She frowned, leaning closer. “You have me, for one. And you don’t have to be invisible, Jenny. You’re smart, kind, and beautiful—”

“Stop,” I cut her off, shaking my head. “That’s the problem, Vanessa. The more people notice me, the worse it gets. I just want to survive high school and get out of here. That’s all.”

Vanessa looked like she wanted to argue, but she didn’t. Instead, she squeezed my hand. “You deserve better than this, you know. Better than them, better than this place. One day, they’ll see it too.”

The next day, the cafeteria was its usual warzone of noise and chaos. I moved quickly, clutching my tray and praying no one would notice me.

But of course, Rachel noticed. She always did.

“Jenny!” she called out, her voice syrupy sweet. “Come sit with us!”

My chest tightened as I shook my head, trying to slip past her table.

“Oh, come on,” she persisted, standing up and blocking my path. “We’ve got plenty of room. Don’t be shy.”

“I’m fine,” I mumbled, avoiding her eyes.

“Too good for us, huh?” she said, her voice turning icy. The people at her table snickered, and I felt my cheeks burn.

I didn’t reply. I just kept walking, focusing on putting one foot in front of the other until I was safely outside.

As I sat down on the steps, trying to calm my racing heart, I caught a glimpse of Rex leaning against a nearby wall. He was watching me again, his expression unreadable. My pulse quickened, and I quickly looked away, unsure if I felt more anger or confusion.

Later that evening, Vanessa was in full pep-talk mode as we sat in her room.

“You’ve got to stop letting them treat you like this, Jenny,” she said, pacing back and forth. “Rachel’s just jealous because she knows you’re prettier than her.”

I snorted. “Sure, that’s exactly it.”

“I’m serious!” she said, throwing a pillow at me. “And Rex? Don’t even get me started on him. He’s such a jerk, always staring at you like you’re some kind of… I don’t know, pieces of meat.”

I sighed, hugging the pillow to my chest. “I don’t get him, Vanessa. One minute he’s smirking at me, and the next he’s completely ignoring me. It’s exhausting.”

Vanessa flopped down beside me, resting her head on my shoulder. “You deserve better than him. Better than all of them.”

I didn’t respond. Deep down, I knew she was right. But knowing something and believing it were two very different things.

The following week, I was walking home when I heard footsteps behind me. I turned and saw a group of boys from school, led by one of Rex’s friends, snickering and whispering. My stomach dropped.

“Hey, Jenny,” one of them called out, grinning. “Need an escort home?”

I quickened my pace, my heart pounding.

“Aw, don’t be like that,” another boy said, jogging to catch up with me. “We’re just trying to be friendly.”

Before they could get any closer, a voice cut through the tension like a knife.

“Leave her alone.”

I looked up and saw Rex standing a few feet away, his hands shoved in his pockets and a scowl on his face.

The boys hesitated, exchanging nervous glances.

“Come on, man, we were just messing around,” one of them said.

“I said, leave her alone,” Rex repeated, his voice low and dangerous.

The boys muttered something under their breath before slinking away.

For a moment, it was just me and Rex. I didn’t know what to say, so I said nothing.

“You okay?” he asked, his tone softer now.

I nodded, unable to meet his eyes. “Thanks.”

He didn’t reply, and when I looked up, he was already walking away.

Why did Rex Blankson keep coming to my rescue? What is he up to?