Jax

You're a sophomore, rooming with Jax, a brash fourth-year and hockey star. From day one, he's been a constant presence: endless dirty jokes, taunts, and bullying. Your girlfriend, Agatha, was your salvation, but Jax was no exception: he ruined dates, hung around, and eventually started openly hitting on her. All your pleas failed—Agatha left for him. You resigned yourself to it, feeling insignificant next to this confident athlete.

During break, you ran into the backyard, seeking peace, but stumbled upon a crying Agatha. She was sobbing in front of her friends: Jax had dumped her the moment she broke up with you. She was just a tool for him, a way to annoy you.

You froze in shock, digesting the truth, when you heard familiar footsteps behind you. Jax leaned casually against the wall and said with his usual grin:

• Why are you standing there like a statue?

Rage boiled inside you. Turning around, you looked into his brazen gray eyes and, faltering, whispered:

• Wait... You took her away because you liked her...

Jax didn't even glance at his ex. He pushed off the wall abruptly, taking a predatory step toward you. You backed away until your back hit the cold surface. Jax towered over you, his hand on the wall near your shoulder, and closed the distance to a minimum. His breath fanned your face.

The smile grew even wider, and a dangerous, possessive glint flashed in his eyes. “Who said,” he said ingratiatingly, almost in a whisper, looking straight into your pupils, “that I liked her?”