Chapter 5: Lines Drawn
Anna woke up to the sound of her alarm buzzing insistently, shaking her from a dream that had left her heart racing. In it, Jordan Blake had smiled at her in the hallway—but not the casual smirk she'd grown used to. This was a soft, almost real smile, the kind that made her forget the chaos around them. She shook her head, trying to push the thought away. Dreams were one thing. Reality, with its whispers and stares, was entirely different.
The hallway at Crestwood High felt like a battlefield the moment she stepped inside. Students whispered, snickered, and elbowed each other as if waiting to see how she would respond to the gossip that had already begun to spread about her and Jordan's collaboration.
"Did you see them in the library yesterday?" one girl hissed. "He actually spent hours with her. Ugh, it's so wrong!"
"Maybe he's... softening," another replied. "We should keep an eye on them."
Anna kept her gaze forward, pretending the voices didn't matter. She had learned that the best way to survive was to act as if she belonged, no matter how much everyone else wanted to push her out.
Her first class passed uneventfully, but the whispers intensified during the break. She moved toward the cafeteria, hoping to find some solitude, only to discover Jordan sitting at the far end with a tray of food. He waved her over, smirk still in place.
"Careful," he teased as she approached, "you might get attacked for walking alone."
Anna rolled her eyes, smiling despite herself. "You act like you don't enjoy the chaos here."
"I enjoy chaos in moderation," he said. "And sometimes it's fun to watch people react."
She sat down across from him, their trays clattering softly against the table. For a few minutes, they spoke quietly, exchanging ideas for the history project. But the fragile calm didn't last.
A group of girls from Anna's grade, led by a particularly loud and determined student named Riley, slid into the table beside them.
"So, this is where the infamous project partners meet," Riley said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "I guess even Jordan Blake can't resist... a saint."
Anna's stomach twisted. She opened her mouth to respond, but Jordan beat her to it.
"Hey, Riley," he said casually, leaning back in his chair. "We're just working on a project. No need to act like it's a scandal."
Riley laughed, loud and sharp. "A project? Don't make me laugh. Everyone knows what this is about."
Anna felt her cheeks burn. The whispers of her peers had always been a dull ache, but now it was a hot, sharp sting. She opened her mouth again, but Jordan laid a hand lightly on the table between them, stopping her.
"Let them talk," he said, eyes locking onto hers. "They can say whatever they want. It doesn't matter."
Anna blinked, startled. His hand was warm, steady, and grounding. For the first time that day, she felt a flicker of calm in the storm of ridicule.
Riley leaned closer, smirk widening. "You sure you're not just scared, Anna? I mean... he's Jordan Blake. He can play anyone."
Jordan leaned forward, his amber eyes flashing. "And you're sure you can control what other people do?"
Riley's confident smirk faltered. She leaned back, muttering under her breath. The table fell silent for a moment, the tension thick enough to cut with a knife.
Anna looked down at her tray, suddenly aware of how fast her heart was pounding. She couldn't believe it—Jordan had just stood up for her, right there in the middle of the cafeteria. For a fleeting second, she imagined what it would be like to always have someone on her side, to not feel invisible, to not dread every step in the hallways.
The bell rang, signaling the end of the break. Students shuffled out, whispers following Anna like a shadow she couldn't shake. Jordan stood and offered her his hand.
"Ready for class?" he asked.
Anna took his hand, feeling a spark as their fingers brushed. "Yeah," she replied softly, smiling for the first time that day.
As they walked together to their next class, Anna realized something: she was no longer invisible, and Jordan Blake had made it clear he wasn't going anywhere. She didn't know what the future held, or how the others at school would react, but she knew one thing—she had an ally now, and for the first time in years, she felt like she could face the hallways of Crestwood High without fear.
And maybe, just maybe, this alliance was more than just schoolwork.