All Chapters of PAY TO BREAK ME: Chapter 181 - Chapter 190

AARON'S POVI stood in the parking lot with one hand wrapped around the handle of my small suitcase and my backpack hanging over my other shoulder, watching as students slowly gathered around the three long buses waiting to take us on the excursion.At first, I thought it was only going to be our class, but apparently, Professor Rachelle had other plans. Some juniors and students from the other departments she lectured were going too, which meant they were also working on the same project and had their own project partners.The parking lot was already noisy.Everyone seemed excited, dragging their suitcases around, calling out to their friends and talking about the three days ahead of us. Some were already taking pictures beside the buses while others were arguing about who would get the best seats.I watched them for a while without saying anything.I didn't really know how I felt about being here. Part of me was excited because it was something different, but another part of me coul

AARON'S POVI still couldn't bring myself to look directly at Jack without remembering the wet spot on his shirt and the way he'd told me to stop assuming he was upset.I kept my attention on the scenery outside the window instead, watching the road become narrower as we moved farther away from the city.Then a resort came into view.My eyes widened with amusement. “No way.”The buses slowed as we passed through a large wooden entrance, and suddenly everyone around me started talking about it.The place was beautiful.The resort stretched across a huge area surrounded by tall trees and green hills, with several modern buildings scattered around the property. There was a large swimming pool near the center, a wide lawn filled with outdoor chairs and tables, and beyond the buildings, I could see what looked like a lake reflecting the afternoon sunlight.A few students immediately started taking pictures through the windows."Whoa.""This place is insane.""Are you kidding me?"“No way.”

JACK'S POVI looked up from the shirt I was folding and froze.Aaron was standing there, just in a towel. His wet hair clung to his forehead and the sides of his face, with tiny drops of water sliding down his bare chest before disappearing beneath the towel wrapped securely around his waist.That towel had better be tightly wrapped.My fingers tightened around the shirt in my hands as I swallowed hard.Fuck.This was exactly why I had stayed away all day.I had been genuinely happy when Professor Rachelle announced that Aaron and I would be sharing a room. I'd even spent most of the afternoon wondering what it would be like to have him around without the rest of the school constantly getting in the way.But somewhere between imagining it and actually having him standing in front of me like this, I'd apparently forgotten one very important detail.I was attracted to him and now we were going to spend three nights in the same room.I forced myself to look away, but my eyes betrayed me

AARON'S POVThe rest of the excursion passed differently.After that night, Jack became even more distant. He still spoke to me whenever we needed to discuss our project, and he never deliberately caused a problem between us, but our conversations rarely went beyond what was necessary.During the games, we worked together. During the group activities, we stayed with everyone else. Whenever Professor Rachelle assigned us something, Jack did his part without complaint, and I did mine.But outside of those moments, there was nothing between us.And I knew exactly when it had started.That night in our room. The question I had asked him about the masquerade gala.I regretted asking it.I didn't even know why I'd brought it up in the first place. I'd been thinking about U.X.'s message, and somehow I'd let my curiosity get the better of me.Maybe I shouldn't have asked. Maybe I should have just left him alone.The worst part was that I missed talking to him.I missed the small moments we'd

AARON'S POVI was home, finally. And all I could think about was tonight.Jay.I hadn't seen him in days, and now that I was back, the thought of seeing him again had been sitting at the back of my mind since we left the resort.I missed him. Fuck, I really did.As I stood in my room getting ready, though, my mind kept drifting back to last night.Jack.And then those words I had heard just before I fell asleep.I'm so sorry, Aaron. I love you so much.I frowned at my reflection. There was no way he'd actually said that.I was drunk. I could barely remember getting to my bed, let alone everything that happened afterward.Maybe I'd imagined it. Maybe I had just dreamt about it.I shook my head and reached for my jacket.It couldn't be true.Jack couldn't love me especially after spending the entire trip avoiding me.And now that I knew Claire wasn't his girlfriend, one thing finally made sense.She was interested in Chloe. That had to be what I'd been noticing all along. The way Claire