The Art of Rejection

Willow POV

As a child, my parents never expected much from me. Why? Because I wasn’t the only child—I was the last child. The unplanned one. The one who didn’t need to try because my four older siblings already had everything covered. The company, the legacy, the family name. It was all theirs to carry, while I was told to just—exist—to have fun.

I tried, though. I tried to make them notice me. To make them see that I was more than just the youngest. But they never did. They told me not to bother, to just enjoy life, as if my life had no purpose beyond coasting through it. So, I stopped trying. Even in school. I never pushed myself, never fought for grades. I came last, and no one cared.

But I’ll be damned if I let that happen in my love life too.

Today is the day.

I clutch the small gift bag in my hands, my fingers tightening around the ribbon I tied on it just last night like a lifeline My best friend, Ava, told me to confess. She said Chase would appreciate my feelings, that she could see the way he looks at me. That today would be the day.

I’m finally going to confess to Chase.

It’s my first day of high school, but that’s not why my stomach is a tangled mess. No, it’s because after years of admiring Chase from afar, of stealing glances and holding onto the little moments—like when he lent me his notebook to study or when he stayed behind after class to explain equations I pretended not to understand—I’m finally going to tell him how I feel.

He has to feel the same way. He just has to.

I hum to myself, nerves buzzing under my skin as I step into the school. The hallways are packed, everyone chattering away about their summer, but all I can focus on is the anticipation bubbling inside me.

“Are you ready?”I snap out of my thoughts as Ava, my best friend, falls into step beside me, grinning like she knows exactly what’s on my mind. “Or are you totally freaking out?”

I scoff, feigning confidence. “Me? Freaking out? Please.”

Ava smirks, her dark eyes twinkling with amusement. “Mhm, sure. That’s why you’re gripping that poor bag like it’s about to run away.”

I loosen my grip immediately, glaring at her. “I hate you.”

She laughs, linking her arm through mine. “No, you love me, which is why I’m here to make sure you don’t chicken out.” She nudges me. “You got this, Willow. Chase likes you. Anyone with eyes can see it. He’s going to say yes. Just be cool, okay?”

I take a deep breath, nodding. She’s right. I can do this.

But just as I open my mouth to respond, a loud commotion breaks out near the lockers. Students start rushing in that direction, murmuring and gasping like something huge is happening.

Ava perks up instantly. “Ooh, drama. Let’s go.”

I groan. “No. I don’t care.”

But Ava is already dragging me forward, weaving through the crowd. “Come on, just a peek.”

We push through the swarm of students, muttering excuse me after excuse me, because—let’s be real—we’re both short, and getting to the front of anything is basically a battle.

And then, I see her.

Jessica Monroe. The most beautiful girl in school, the one every guy wants and every girl secretly envies. Long legs, perfect curves, glossy brunette waves cascading down her back.

But right now? She’s furious.

And before I can even process what’s happening—

SLAP.

A sharp crack echoes through the hallway, silencing the crowd for half a second before whispers explode like fireworks.

My curiosity gets the best of me as my gaze snaps to the guy she just hit.

Jack Carter.

The most handsome guy I’ve ever seen in my life.

And the worst kind of person.

The school’s infamous bad boy—the one with the dangerously charming smirk, a reckless attitude, and a reputation so notorious that even teachers sigh in exhaustion at the mere mention of his name. He smokes behind the gym, gets into underground fights, and, if the rumors are true, has even been in illegal car races. There’s even speculation that he once killed someone.

And yet, despite all that, girls still line up to throw themselves at him. Jessica included, apparently.

But Jack Carter isn’t just a bad boy with a pretty face—he’s also a hockey prodigy.

The Ice King.

That’s what they call him. Not just because of his icy demeanor but because of the way he dominates the rink like he was born for it. His movements are effortless, his reflexes unmatched. It’s like the ice bends to his will, carrying him with a grace and precision no one else can replicate. Even professionals have taken notice. Scouts whisper that he could walk into any league of his choosing—NHL, European circuits, even the Olympics—without breaking a sweat.

And that’s why people bow down to him.

Not just the students.

Not just the girls who sigh at the sight of him.

But the teachers, the coaches, the entire sports department. Because Jack Carter isn’t just a high school athlete. He’s a future legend in the making.

Not that I care.

I’ve never been a fan of sports. But since Chase loves hockey, I’ve learned to appreciate it too. I’ve spent hours watching games, memorizing stats, trying to understand the plays—just to have something in common with him.

But Jack?

I want nothing to do with him.

And yet, here he is, standing in the middle of the hallway, having just taken a slap from the most beautiful girl in school.

Jack barely reacts to the slap, just tilts his head and rubs his jaw, looking more amused than anything. “Seriously? That’s all you’ve got?”

Jessica’s face turns bright red, her hands clenching into fists. “You’re an asshole, Jack!” she seethes.

He shrugs, completely unfazed. “Never said I wasn’t.”

I hear Ava suck in a breath beside me. “Damn, he’s so cold. Totally my type.”

Jessica glares at him, her voice shaking. “You led me on!”

Jack leans in slightly, his voice low but carrying enough for all of us to hear. “I told you, sweetheart. You’re not my type.” He pauses, then smirks cruelly. “I don’t fuck blondes.”

Silence.

Jessica stands frozen, humiliated, her face burning with embarrassment. And before I can stop myself, my own fingers twitch, lifting slightly toward my blonde hair. But I catch myself just in time and drop my hand, gripping my gift bag tighter.

Ava whistles low under her breath. “Damn.That was brutal.”

I shake my head, an uneasy feeling settling in my stomach. “I don’t want to watch this anymore.”

Ava raises an eyebrow. “What? This is peak entertainment.”

I glance at Jessica, at the way her eyes are glassy, at the way she’s trying to hold herself together despite the burn of rejection staining her cheeks.

And suddenly, I don’t feel so excited about today anymore.

“I don’t care,” I mumble, turning away. “I don’t want to see someone getting humiliated.”

Ava groans. “You’re such a softie.”

I ignore her and push through the crowd, my heart suddenly heavy.

I shouldn’t let this bother me. Jack Carter has nothing to do with me. I don’t care about guys like him.

I like good guys.

I like Chase. Chase is nothing like Jack Carter. He’s kind and respectful. He would never humiliate someone like that.

I’m still trying to shake off the uneasy feeling Jack Carter left in my gut when I hear my name.

“Willow!”

I blink and look up—speak of the devil.

Chase is walking toward me, his usual easygoing smile on his face, hands tucked into the pockets of his neatly pressed jeans. He looks like a dream—my dream—and suddenly, my heart is in my throat.

Okay, this is it. No backing out now.

I swallow hard, gripping the small gift bag like it’s my only anchor to reality. “Chase, I… I have something to tell you.”

He tilts his head slightly, waiting, completely unaware that he’s about to change my life forever.

I inhale deeply, then thrust the bag toward him. “Here. I—I got this for you.”

He blinks in surprise before taking it from my trembling hands, opening it with casual curiosity. Inside is a keychain shaped like a hockey stick—something I spent weeks picking out because I wanted it to be perfect.

Did I forget Chase was the best hockey player in our school after jack of course.

“I just—” My breath stutters. My face is burning. “I really like you, Chase. I have for a long time. And I— I was hoping, maybe, you might… like me too?”

Silence.

A heavy, suffocating silence.

Then Chase exhales, rubbing the back of his neck. He looks… uncomfortable.

Crap.

He clears his throat. “Willow… I—” He lets out a short, awkward laugh. “I’ve always seen you as my little sister.”

Sister? What the fuck.

“I’ve never thought of you as, you know… a woman.”

I feel like I just got punched in the chest.

And he’s not done.

“I also, uh… have a girlfriend.”

I flinch, but he keeps going.

“Honestly, now isn’t the time for you to be thinking about boyfriends.” His voice turns almost scolding. “You can barely pass your tests.”

The words hit harder than the rejection itself.

A lump forms in my throat, and I swear I can hear my heartbeat in my ears.

Then—ding, ding, ding!

The school bell rings. Students start moving toward their classes, their conversations swallowing up the moment like it never even happened.

But I’m still standing there.

Chase sighs, looking at me like I’m a kid who just scraped her knee. “See you later, okay?”

And then he walks away.