I feel my body freeze under his gaze. Ryker was still next to me, just more alert whereas Mason shifted to cover Abby and Ace moved to stand next to Keith. The tension in the gym has turned suffocating.

My eyes held his.

Steel grey to ice blue.

I break the glaring contest to see Michael and some men getting the gym cleared. Looking back to the powerful man, I took note of his casual attire, black combat boots, dark jeans and a plain black v-neck that stretched a bit across his torso and biceps.

With everyone one out of the gym, save for us, Jayden pushed himself of the wall, his hard and emotionless eyes still focused on me. His body moved with unexplainable authority, his aura radiating his power.

' And anger.

Once close enough to me, I feel, more than I see, his eyes quickly running down my body and coming back up. A shiver went down my spine.

Before he had a chance to say anything, Ryker steps in front of me, blocking his view of me. I cursed under my breath. Sharp intakes of breath echoes in the gym as everyone tenses. I quickly side step, only to see his attention now focused on the guy who had been stupid enough to black his path.

“Move.”

One word, spoken in such authority. Though it was his voice, neutral as it was, made my heart skip a beat, for a second drowning me in the past memories.

But then I saw Abby visibly paling and Keith gulp.

The sight of my friends scared brought me back to the present that was very different from the past.

“Let them leave Carter, and then we can talk.”

Proud that my voice matched his in coldness.

Though I felt my knees go weak as his gaze left Ryker and went back to me, the coldness in them enough to freeze hell. A sinister smile spread across his lips, taunting and challenging. His words dripping venom, “Very well princess.”

Ignoring his accusing stare, I nod at Mason, signalling him to take Abby home. I turn my attention to Ryker who was still looking or rather glaring at Jayden. I touch his arm to get his attention, however it also got the attention of the fuming male in front of us.

In a blur, he punched Ryker.

Hard.

One punch that had him falling down.

“I liked you boy, your bravery and passion reminded me of myself. But those qualities of yours are irritating me right now.”

Barely had he finished his sentence, Jayden had a gun pointed right at Ryker, loaded and safety off. My heart stuttered in fear for my friend.

' “Jayden, stop.”

My eyes on him, desperation in them.

His eyes stay on me when he orders, “Leave.”

I break the eye contact to help Ryker up, “Ry, go to the others and stay with them."

“But…”

“You have no other options,” Jayden sneered.

I push Ryker towards the exit slightly, urging him to go. Once sure that he is gone, I look back at Jayden to see him standing closer than before. His blue ice glistening in the light, wandering and taking in each and every detail of my face.

As though committing it to his memory.

I had a moment of weakness. Under his gaze, all the memories, old and sweet ones flashed through my head.

“Princess…” He breaths out, cupping my face with his hand. But that one touch, the one that still sent tingles through me, broke me out of my reverie. The adoration that sweeping in my heart replaces the instant anger, pain and betrayal and before I know it, my hand swings and lands a swift punch. His face jerked to the other side due to the force.

I take a shaky breath, gritting my teeth in an attempt to control my raging emotions. “I am not your princess!”

His eyes, that had softened a while back, turn cold again.
“Lyn…”

“Ashlyn for you Mr. Carter. Or better yet, Miss Greene.”

Stepping away from me, he curses, running his hands across his face in exasperation. Calming down a bit, he comes back to me again, “I thought… the note… you died! How?”

“I would’ve, with your precise planning and all,” I couldn’t stop my sneered and the hatred that swept in my voice. Though my mind picked up something, the mention of a note.

“What do you mean?”

“What I mean is, you should stop all this and deliver the punishment fit for the rule I broke and be done with it.” With one last glare at the man in front of me, I turn and leave the gym. Getting out of the gym premises, I started running. Not like a jog, but running as if my life depends on it.

Running from my emotions.

Running from my reality.

Running from the flashing memories.

And running from the look that his eyes held. A look that sent my heart trigger in excitement despite all the negatives. A look of pure adoration, relief, happiness and immense love that gleamed in his eyes. A look that was so familiar to me, having seen it a million times in the past.


The two thirteen year old giggled as they see the seventeen year old boy huff in anger, staring longingly at the laptop kept on the table. Hearing to two, his blue eyes narrow in pure irritation at the two girls before, unknowingly softening in adoration at the sight of the blonde girl’s smile.

He calls them out, “Really both of you now?”

The two look at him sheepishly, through their lashes.

“What did you do this time Jay-Jay?” His sister asks, similar blue eyes at him, with her hands on her hips, copying their mother. The blonde giggles, taking a seat next to him as her grey eyes lighten up. “He hid Mr. Roy’s dog in the garage for three days because it pooped on his shoes when he went there to give them house warming cookies.”

“Really? You got grounded because of that?”  Sarah burst out laughing while he mock glares at the two of them.

“Stop laughing at my misery.” He whines, this side of him reserved only for these two girls, for others, he was a boy who lacked emotions. Not that he cared about what others thought about him.

Once their laugh died down, the blonde girl turned to the siblings, “You are the one who is not allowed to touch the electronics right? But you can watch movies with us!”

“Great, I will get the set up ready!” the black haired beauty ran away in a second, leaving the two alone in the room. The boy leaned down quickly to kiss the blonde on her cheeks which resulted in her face to turn red and eyes to widen at his gesture.

He huskily whispers, “Thank you, princess.”

The sun had started to set a few minutes ago, the bright sky slowly fading into the light blue hue of the upcoming evening. The wind blowing over the small lake making the surface water ripple and the quite area around only filled with the sounds of the woods. It indeed was a strange place, a part of thick woods, but not entirely. Amongst the different trees, one stood out though, isolated, standing on the edge of the lake.

I lean my head back, taking a drag of the lit cigarette, letting the harmful smoke enter my body, thoroughly before letting it out in a puff.

It has been a couple of hours, with me sitting here like this just staring blankly at the tree. There was a rectangular board hanging on the tree via a nail. A bunch of roses lay at its root, out of it, one was fresh. Kept by her today, in honour of the great friend that was once her support system. 

I let out another puff before putting it out and throwing it away and standing up on my feet again. I walk up to the tree again, placing my hand on its bark and then leaning forward, I place my head against the bark.

“I wish we could go back to the past Sarah.”

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A/N: Hello dear readers!
Here we have another character. Who is Jayden? How is he?
Vote, comment and share.
Love, Rupanshi.