تسجيل الدخولCLARA'S POV
Maya grabbed my hand the second the intercom cut off, pulling me along with the wave of students already flooding toward the auditorium doors.The hallway was pure chaos, backpacks bumping into shoulders, someone's phone blasting music until a teacher yelled at them to turn it off, everyone speculating loudly about what the announcement could even be."Do you think it's about exams?" Maya asked, weaving us through a cluster of students blocking the doorway."MaybeJAXSON'S POV I kissed her slowly at first. Then she pulled me closer, and I forgot how to be slow. Her hands were in my hair, and my hands were on her waist. The bed creaked under us, and we both froze, laughing quietly against each other's mouths. "Shh," Clara whispered. "Someone could hear us." "Nobody's listening," I whispered. "Maria could be." "Maria is busy with Gabriel." "Jaxson!" "I'm just saying." I pulled back a little and looked at her. Her eyes were bright, and her cheeks were pink. "Hey. Are you sure about this?" She nodded right away. "I'm sure." "Because if you're tired, or stressed, or you want to wait..." "Jaxson." She put her hand on my cheek. "I want to. I've wanted to all weekend." I kissed her again, and she reached over and turned off the lamp. I pulled her closer against m
MAYA'S POV About an hour later, I floated back up the stairs, feeling totally warm and happy after the incredible sex with Becca. I couldn't even wipe the huge smile off my face. I turned the brass handle as quietly as I could and pushed the door open. The room wasn't dark anymore. The bedside lamp was on, throwing dim yellow light across the bed. Clara was sitting up straight against the pillows, staring right at the door. Her face was pale, and she looked scared as hell. I froze right in the doorway. My smile vanished instantly. "Maya?" she said. Her voice was shaking. "Where were you?" "Clara? Why are you awake?" "Why am I awake?" She threw the blanket off her legs. "I've been up for an hour. I woke up, and you weren't here! I checked the bathroom, I checked the hallway, I called your phone. Where did you go?" "Shh. Calm down and keep your voice low
JAXSON'S POV "What is all this?" my mother asked, stepping into the library. Her eyes moved over the mannequins, the paints, and the fabric swatches spread across the long table. She was still in her silk robe, her hair perfectly done even though it was barely nine in the morning. I stood up slowly, keeping most of my weight off my injured left knee. "Good morning, Mom." She ignored me completely, “Why is the library turned into an art studio?" She turned to Maya. "And you, why are you still here? Aren't you done with your delivery?” "We're working on a school project," I said quickly "On a Saturday?" She asked, turning back to me. "Yeah. It's due Monday. I talked to Dad about it already. Maya is sleeping over so we can finish it this weekend." "Your father didn't mention it." She said firmly "He
JAXSON'S POVClara didn't move. She stood in front of the glass board with her phone still in her hand, her eyes going up and down the list again, slower this time.Her lips were pressed together so tightly they had turned pale. A tear sat at the edge of her eye, and she blinked fast to keep it from falling."What's wrong?" Maya asked, stepping closer and looking at the board. "Is your name further down?""It's not there at all," Clara whispered, her voice trembling.I looked over her shoulder, reading the list again. "Did you actually submit it?" I asked, confused."Yes!" Clara said, her eyes welling up with tears. "I handed it to the student assistant on Monday morning just before first period.""I was right there with her," Maya added, her voice rising. "She gave the black binder directly to the girl at the desk.""We need to go talk to Mrs. Prudence right now," I said.We walked back down the hall and pushed open the d
CLARA'S POVMy phone slipped out of my hand and hit the floor."What?" My voice cracked. "What do you mean, accident?""They brought him home from school a few minutes ago. He can't walk. Please come.""Jaxson?" Lily jumped off her chair, her face going white. "Where is he? Where's my brother?""Lily, wait!" I grabbed her hand and picked up my phone with the other. My fingers were shaking so badly I almost dropped it again.We ran down the hallway and down the stairs. Voices were coming from the living room. Maria was standing near the door, and Mrs. King was kneeling beside the couch. She was fully dressed, with shopping bags on the floor. Jaxson was lying on it with his left leg propped on pillows. A big brace covered his knee, and an ice pack sat on top of it. His jersey was still on, and his hair was a mess.Lily froze at the bottom of the stairs."Jaxson?" she whispered.He turned his head and saw her. "Hey, Lily. I'm okay.""No, you
Jaxsons pov Before I could turn or pass the puck away, Charles launched his entire body straight into my side. He tackled me with full force, slamming into me from behind.The heavy hit threw me off my feet. I flew through the air and crashed down hard onto the frozen surface. My bad left knee hit the hard ice first, taking the full weight of the violent crash.A loud popping sound echoed in my ears, followed instantly by a sharp, unbearable wave of pain.I screamed out in pure agony, rolling onto my side on the ice and clutching my left knee tightly with both hands."Jaxson!" Miller yelled, dropping his stick and sprinting toward me.Coach Stan blew his whistle wildly, yelling at the top of his lungs, while Charles just stood over me on his skates, looking down."Charles!" Coach Stan roared, running across the ice. "What was that?""It was an accident, Coach," Charles said, raising both hands. "He turned into me.""From behind? With yo
He stared at me. I stared right back. Our eyes fixed on each other. The world did not end, though it felt like it should have. His mouth opened. "What the hell?" he screamed. "Adene? Is this a joke? Are you stalking me now?" "Jaxson." Maria appeared behind him, but her eyes moved straigh
I stared at the screen until the light burned my eyes. Removed from the W******p group. Then from the squad. What for? What was my offense? My phone rang out. Maya was calling. I picked up. "Clara? Are you seeing this?" Maya’s voice was frantic. "I just saw the notification. I tried to message
The word hit me like a physical blow to the chest.Filled?This couldn't be true. I needed this job. It wasn't just a job; it was the medicine in my mother's veins. It was the roof over our heads."Maria, wait," Mrs. Gabe pleaded. "I spoke to Helena this afternoon. She said—""And I am speaking t
I couldn’t speak.“She’s fading, Clara,” he continued. "Every hour we wait is an hour we don’t get back. If we delay much longer, she might not make it.”The doctor walked away to check on another patient."I’ll get the money, sir. I’ll try," I whispered as he went.My phone buzzed in my hand. I lo







