Chapter 15
Ellie's POV
We rounded the corner and the Pioneer Arena came into view. The crowd had thinned somewhat, but dozens of students still milled around the elaborate rose display. In the center stood Lucas and Samantha, her arms wrapped around his neck as they posed for photos.
I felt Jackson watching me, gauging my reaction. To my surprise, I felt nothing but mild disinterest.
"They look happy," I observed neutrally.
"And you're okay with that?" he asked carefully.
I shrugged. "Why wouldn't I be?"
As we approached, I spotted Lily, and Megan standing at the edge of the crowd. When they saw me, their expressions shifted from excitement to concern.
"Ellie!" Megan called, waving us over. "Where have you been? You missed everything!"
"The storage room," I explained briefly. "Coach Davis asked me to bring out equipment for tennis class."
Their eyes flickered to Jackson, clearly curious about his presence.
"This is Jackson Wilson," I introduced. "He helped me get to the storage room."
"The dance association president," Megan said, recognition dawning. "I've seen you at the arts committee meetings."
Jackson nodded politely. "Nice to meet you all."
From across the Arena, I suddenly felt eyes on me. Looking up, I met Lucas's gaze. He had spotted me standing with Jackson and my friends. For a moment, his expression froze, something unreadable flashing across his face.
"Oh," Lily whispered. "Lucas just saw you."
Samantha followed his gaze, her smile faltering slightly when she spotted me. She tugged on his arm, saying something that made him turn back to her.
"Should we go say congratulations?" Megan suggested, seemingly oblivious to the tension.
"Actually, we should head to class," I said, checking the time. "We're going to be late."
As we turned to leave, I heard Samantha's voice carrying across the Arena. "Let's go meet your childhood friend, Lucas. I'd love to finally talk to her."
I quickened my pace, not wanting that conversation.
"Ellie," Lucas called out, his voice stopping me in my tracks.
I turned slowly, forcing a polite smile. "Lucas. Congratulations to both of you."
Samantha beamed. "Thank you!"
"I should get going," I added quickly. "My tennis class starts in five minutes."
Samantha stepped forward, blocking my path. "At least introduce us to your friend here," she insisted, eyeing Jackson with exaggerated interest. "That's just basic courtesy, isn't it?"
Lucas's eyes darted to Jackson, who stood silently beside me. "I don't think we've met," he said, his tone suddenly cooler.
"Jackson Wilson," he introduced himself, extending a hand. "I've seen you play. You're an impressive athlete."
Lucas shook his hand briefly. "Thanks. Are you two...?"
The implication hung in the air.
Before I could respond, Samantha stepped forward, her arm possessively linked through Lucas's.
"Just the dance association president and a member, right?" Samantha answered with a saccharine smile. "I heard you only just returned to campus, Jackson. You couldn't possibly be dating someone already."
The implication in her tone was clear—she was setting up a win-win situation for herself. If Jackson and I weren't involved, her goal of humiliating me was accomplished; she'd have Lucas while I had no one just weeks into the semester. And if something was happening between Jackson and me, she could paint me as someone who jumped into relationships with people I barely knew, while portraying her reunion with Lucas as the noble rekindling of a meaningful connection between old acquaintances. I kept my expression neutral despite the growing discomfort from all the silver around us.
"Speaking of relationships," Samantha continued, turning to Lucas with exaggerated affection, "there were so many rumors about you two in high school. Everyone said you were a couple."
Lucas frowned, his jaw tightening. "We never dated. You know that."
"Of course I know you never had feelings for her," Samantha replied with a syrupy sweetness, then looked pointedly at me. "But that doesn't mean she felt the same way, does it? After all, she did give you that family heirloom, didn't she?"
My chest tightened at the mention of my pendant. She was deliberately bringing up something painful—a calculated move to humiliate me. I felt Thalia stirring in response to my spike of anger.
Stay calm. She's trying to provoke you.
The tension between us was palpable, drawing curious glances from nearby students.
"Ellie and I aren't together," Jackson suddenly announced, his voice carrying across the small crowd that had gathered around us.
Samantha's smile widened in triumph.
"Because," Jackson continued smoothly, "she hasn't given me the chance to pursue her properly yet."
I froze, completely blindsided. The crowd around us gasped and whispered.
Jackson turned to face me directly, his eyes communicating something entirely different from his words—a silent plea to play along. "This is the second time I'm asking, Ellie. Will you give me the opportunity to court you?"
I suddenly understood what he was doing. He was creating a diversion, shifting attention away from the dangerous topic of my past with Lucas and the pendant. He was protecting me.
"I suppose that depends on how you plan to impress me," I replied, letting a smile play on my lips as I decided to join his performance.
Jackson's face lit up with genuine amusement. "I'm certainly up for the challenge."
The crowd erupted in excited chatter. Someone squealed, "Oh my god, the ice-cold Jackson Wilson is pursuing Ellie?"
"They actually make a perfect match," another voice added loudly enough for everyone to hear. "When Jackson's not around, Lucas might look decent, but once they're side by side, Lucas just seems like a dumb jock."
Lucas shot a death glare in the direction of the comment, and the speaker quickly fell silent.
Samantha's face had frozen in surprise, her plan to humiliate me completely derailed. Her confident smile vanished as she glanced nervously between Lucas and Jackson, as if the crowd's comparison had planted a seed of doubt in her mind. She shifted her weight uncomfortably, tugging at her hand while her eyes betrayed a flash of uncertainty—like she was suddenly questioning if she'd backed the right horse after all.
"Well," Lucas said stiffly, his knuckles white where he gripped Samantha's hand, "good luck with that."
"This is literally so romantic," someone else chimed in from the crowd.
Jackson smiled, still holding my gaze. "I've been wanting to ask for weeks. Today just felt like the right moment."
"It certainly was unexpected," I replied, putting just enough warmth in my voice to make it convincing.
"We should let you get to class," Jackson said, smoothly guiding me away from Lucas and Samantha.