Chapter 2: The Blackmail

Hazel’s POV

Wait... What?

My heart thudded painfully against my ribs. My body froze, caught between disbelief and horror. I didn’t even know what to feel anymore, only that whatever he was doing, I was doomed for real.

Tiffany’s mouth hung open. “There’s no way.”

Trey’s expression changed to anger “Hazel? Is that true?”

I froze.

If I said no, they’d know the love letter was about Trey.

But if I said yes..

“Tell them,” Jaxon whispered in my ear, his breath hot on my skin, “unless you want your secret out.”

I swallowed hard. “Yes. Jaxon’s my boyfriend. I’ve liked him… for a long time.”

The moment the words left my lips, my heart tore in two because in saving myself,

I lost the only person I ever truly wanted.

Tiffany’s face turned red. Her plans to humiliate me just crashed.

“You’re lying,” she snapped. “Hazel’s not your type. This is a joke.”

“You want proof?” Jaxon said.

Before I could stop him, he turned me gently and locked his lips with mine.

My first kiss.

Warm, unexpected… and completely disarming.

My fingers touched my lips before I could help it.

Everything inside me twisted in a flash. I know this is the part where I am supposed to shove him away and run out of the cafeteria, but I stood there frozen, my heart pounding so loud that it sent all the noise blurring into the distance.

Why did the school playboy just give me my first kiss in front of the whole school?

Shame, anger, something dangerously close to hope clung fiercely to my chest, and the one that hurt more: a part of me wished it were real.

When my brain finally snapped into reality. I bolted out of the cafeteria, I didn’t even know where I was going, just that I needed to get away before I collapsed in front of everyone. The whispers chased me all the way out, sharp like needles under my skin.

By the time I reached the bleachers near the hockey rink, my knees gave out. I sank onto the cold metal bench, clutching my bag to my chest like it could hold me together.

Tears blurred my vision. I hated myself for it. For being the invisible girl who fell for the boy everyone adored and for being the stepsister who could never measure up.

“Rough day, Princess?”

The voice sent a chill straight down my spine.

I didn’t need to look to know who it was.

Jaxon Carter.

Of course.

He leaned against the railing, all smug smirk and messy hair, his toned muscles wrapped in our varsity jacket.

And of course, he was smirking. Always smirking.

“You dropped this earlier.”

He dangled a torn page from my notebook between his fingers— the same one that was circulating like wildfire.

My heart dropped. “Give it back, Jaxon.”

He didn’t move. His eyes skimmed the page with lazy interest. “Wow. So it’s true, you’ve got quite the imagination, Hazel.”

“Why do you have that?” My voice cracked as I stepped forward. “Did you spread it? Was it you?”

“Oh, come on.” He chuckled, shaking his head. “That’s how you thank your saviour?”

“My saviour?” I snapped, still reeling. “You kissed me in front of everyone!”

He shrugged. “And saved your ass from being publicly executed by Tiffany.”

My mouth went dry. “You..why would you even...”

“Relax.” His tone was infuriatingly calm. “I saw you about to crumble. Tiffany was sharpening her claws, Trey looked like he wanted crawl into his skin. I did what I had to do.”

“By telling everyone we’re dating?” I choked out.

He just smiled. “Would you rather they think that little love confession was about your stepbrother?”

The air punched right out of my lungs. My stomach twisted.

He had a point, and I hated that he knew it.

I buried my head in my hands. “You kissed me,” I muttered, mostly to myself. “In front of everyone. Trey saw it. He...”

“I didn’t see you stopping me,” Jaxon said. “You froze.”

“But I didn’t come here to out you, Hazel. I came because I need something.”

I frowned, wary. “What could you possibly need from me?”

“Tutoring,” he said simply. “I’m failing Literature. If I flunk midterms, I’m benched. No games, no scouts, no NHL.”

I blinked at him. “You’re serious?”

“Dead serious.”

“There are other tutors?”

“You are the only one that got an A+ last semester.” He gave me that lazy, cocky grin that always made girls melt. “You’re the smartest one in the room, Sunshine. I need you.”

My pulse jumped at the nickname. “Don’t call me that,” I muttered.

“Then say yes.”

“No. There is no way in hell, I am going to tutor you.”

He shrugged. “Then good luck convincing everyone you’re not the pervert who writes love stories about her stepbrother.”

I hated him. I hated that smirk, that calm tone, that way he acted like he always had everything figured out.

I know he had a point, but still, I couldn't bear to stay in the same room with him; I would rather die.

“I’ll talk to Trey,” I muttered. “I’ll fix it.”

“You really think he’ll forgive that image? You, kissing me?” He tilted his head. “Sweetheart, he looked ready to commit to kill you.”

I glared. “You’re enjoying this.”

“Every second.”

I turned around and grabbed my bag to leave because I couldn't stand him anymore.

My shoulder brushed his chest hard and my bag slipped. It hit the ground with a thud, spilling out everything: pens, papers, my phone, and my books.

“Holy crap,” I muttered, diving to gather them up, my heart hammering.

But before I could reach my notebook—the one that held everything, Jaxon’s foot pinned a few pages in place.

“Wait,” he said, bending down before I could stop him. “What’s this?”

“Don’t...”

But it was too late.

He plucked the papers up, eyes scanning. His smirk returned, sharper this time. “The best places to lose your V-card on campus” he read aloud, his tone dripping with amusement.

My blood ran cold. “Jaxon, give it back,” I pleaded, reaching for it, but he backed up easily, holding it just out of reach.

“Wow, Hazel. You wrote this? Didn’t know you had this side.”

“Stop reading it!” My voice cracked. My whole body trembled, half from anger, half from panic.

But then his gaze dropped to the bottom of the page and his eyes widened in disbelief. The smirk vanished. Then a laughter escaped from his lips,  slow and wicked.

“Author: WildLifeOnCampus.”

He looked up at me, eyes blazing with realization. “No freaking way. You’re her? You’re the WildLife girl?”

My stomach sank. Every muscle in my body went rigid.

“Jaxon, please.” I stepped forward, desperate. “You can’t...”

“Holy shit.” He laughed again, shaking his head in disbelief. “You? Miss Wallflower? You’re the one who writes all those steamy campus stories?”

I reached out, trying to grab the page, but he dodged easily.

“Shh!” I hissed, glancing around even though we were alone. “Keep your voice down.”

Too late. My secret was already out, right in the hands of Jaxon f**king Carter.

He looked at me differently now, like I’d just grown two horns on my head.

“So,” he said, eyes glinting, “you wrote about me too. The infamous ‘Jay’, that was me, wasn’t it? You said my ego was bigger than my balls.”

Heat flooded my face. “Jaxon, please. Don’t tell anyone. I’m begging you.”

He took a step closer. My pulse went wild.

“So you want me to keep this between us?” he murmured.

I nodded quickly.

His fingers brushed my shoulder, gently , “Then you’re going to make it up to me.”

I froze. “What does that mean?”

“It means,” he said, lowering his voice, “you’ll help me fix my grades. You’ll fix my reputation. And maybe, if I’m feeling generous, I’ll forget I ever found this.”

He tucked the pages into his jacket pocket, sealing my fate.

I swallowed hard. “You’re blackmailing me.”

“Let's call this returning favours,” he said with that same infuriating calm.

My heart pounded so loud I could barely think. “You’re insane.”

“Maybe.” He smiled. “But you’re stuck with me now.”

I opened my mouth, then closed it again. What could I say? He held all the cards; my deepest secret and my dignity.

I turned away, blinking back the tears burning my eyes. “Congratulations,” I said quietly, my voice trembling. “You’ve officially ruined my life.”

He didn’t flinch.

If anything, his grin deepened.

“Nah, Hazel,” he said, stepping closer until his breath brushed the back of my neck. “I just gave it a plot twist.”