Chapter 14 14
JAXON’S POV
The first thing I did that morning was stare at my reflection and wonder when my life had started feeling like a mistake I couldn’t undo.
My hands rested on the edge of the sink as I leaned forward, staring at my own eyes.
They looked very tired.
Not really the kind of tired sleep fixed but the kind that sat deeper, behind thought and reason.
The kind that came from wanting two things at once and knowing you couldn’t have both.
Yeah, that one.
I splashed water on my face, wiped it off, and exhaled slowly.
Get it together, Jaxon.
Behind me, Alberto lounged on my bed like he paid rent, scrolling through his phone with one leg bouncing lazily.
He’d been talking for a while, but I’d only half-listened.
“You’re not even hearing me, are you?” he said, finally looking up.
I straightened and reached for my jacket. “I am. I just—go on.”
He sighed dramatically. “All I’m saying is, man, you’ve gotta choose. You can’t keep doing this back-and-forth thing like you’re allergic to peace.”
I didn’t answer.
He sat up. “I mean, come on. If the Lyra girl is what makes you happy, then go for her. Chase her. Figure it out. But if she keeps running, keeps making you feel like you’re losing your mind, then maybe you stop chasing.”
My fingers paused on the zipper.
“And?” I asked quietly.
“And maybe you go with the girl who’s already there.” He smirked. “The popular one. What’s her name again? Ana?”
I turned slowly. “Aria.”
“Yeah, her,” he said. “She’s gorgeous, man. A little intense, sure. Possessive, maybe. But that’s part of the package. Love comes with good and bad. Maybe all that fire is just how she shows she cares about and loves you.”
I didn’t respond.
Because all I could think about was the club.
The heat. The noise. The way my chest had tightened out of nowhere like something had grabbed me from the inside. The way my instincts had screamed at me to go.
And when I did…
Nothing.
No Lyra.
Just chaos and a feeling that something had gone very wrong.
What if I was too late?
The thought made my stomach twist.
What if she was hurt?
What if I’d missed something important?
Alberto snapped his fingers in front of my face. “Hey. Earth to Jaxon. Are you even listening?”
I blinked. “Yeah. Sorry.”
He studied me. “You’re thinking about her again.”
I didn’t deny it.
“She’s fine,” he said, like he was trying to convince himself as much as me. “If something happened, you’d know.”
Would I?
I grabbed my phone, shoved it into my pocket, and forced a nod. “Thanks for the advice, man. Really.”
He gave me a look. “You’re not going to listen, are you?”
I smiled faintly. “Probably not.”
I left before he could say anything else.
The walk to campus felt longer than usual. Every step felt heavy, like I was walking through water. My eyes kept scanning faces, crowds, corners…looking for her without even realizing it.
When I got there, I stopped near the fountain, pretending to check my phone.
Pretending.
My eyes searched the crowd.
Nothing.
I shifted positions while my heart was beating faster. Still nothing.
Just as I was about to move again, I felt someone step behind me.
“Hey.”
I turned.
Aria.
She looked… stunning. Perfect, even. Hair flawless. Makeup sharp. The kind of beautiful that demanded attention without asking for it.
And yet, the first thing I felt wasn’t excitement.
It was actually exhaustion.
“Hey,” I said.
She smiled, soft and practiced. The kind of smile that used to undo me.
“I’ve been wanting to talk to you,” she said.
I nodded. “Yeah. Me too.”
I meant to focus on her. I really did. But my eyes kept drifting past her shoulder, scanning the crowd, searching for a familiar face that wasn’t there.
“I’m sorry,” I said finally. “I’ve been distant. Things have just… been complicated.”
She nodded, eyes warm. “I understand.”
But I could tell she didn’t.
I could tell she was watching me carefully.
Listening for something else.
When people passed by, whispering, I noticed the way her jaw tightened. I caught the name Lyra more than once, floating through the air like a ghost.
Aria stepped closer.
Too close.
Before I could react, she kissed me.
I almost flinched.
Thank God I didn't if not I'd have a lot of explanations.
Her lips were warm.
Soft.
And I felt nothing.
No spark. No pull. No grounding.
I only felt pressure. Unlike Lyra's presence.
My body didn’t respond.
My mind wasn’t there.
I pulled back, and before I could explain, my phone rang.
Relief hit me so hard it almost hurt.
I glanced at the screen.
A message.
We found her.
My heart jumped into my throat.
“I…uh…I have class,” I said quickly, already stepping back. “I’ve got to go.”
She frowned. “Now?”
“Yeah. I’ll text you.”
It was a lie.
She reached for my hand before I could walk away. “When will I see you again?”
Her fingers were warm. Familiar.
I hesitated. “Whenever I get the chance.”
It sounded hollow even to me.
I pulled away and walked fast, not looking back.
My pulse roared in my ears as I moved through the halls, searching every corner, every doorway.
Then I saw her.
She stood near the entrance of one of the lecture halls, half-turned, like she was about to leave.
Lyra.
She looked tired. Smaller. Like the world had pressed down on her too hard.
My chest tightened painfully.
I slowed.
Should I go to her?
Say something?
Apologize?
Explain?
Alberto’s words echoed in my head.
If she keeps running… stop chasing.
I hesitated.
Then I stopped.
Maybe she needed space.
Maybe I needed to stop making everything worse.
At least she was safe.
That was enough.
I turned away…
Just as she started to turn around.
And for a split second, I knew…
She was going to see me.