The next morning, Alex woke up with a strange flutter in her chest—a mix of excitement and dread. She had barely slept. Every time she closed her eyes, she replayed yesterday: Max stepping in front of Ryan, Max telling her she wasn't alone, Max walking her home with his hands tucked casually in his pockets while sneaking glances at her like she was some sort of puzzle he wanted to understand.
Her heart sped up even now just thinking about it.
When she entered school, whispers started instantly.
"Did you see her walking with Max Donovan yesterday?"
"Why is he suddenly acting like her bodyguard?"
"Ryan looked furious! You think they're fighting over her?"
Alex tried to ignore them, but the stares were impossible to escape. She hugged her books tighter and hurried toward her locker.
She wasn't expecting Max to be there—leaning against her locker like he owned it, arms crossed, expression unreadable.
But there he was.
Her heart thumped.
"Morning, princess," he said lazily, pushing off the locker and stepping aside so she could open it.
Princess.
Why… why did he have to call her things that made her knees weak?
"Good morning," she murmured, avoiding his eyes.
Max watched her for a moment, and she could feel it—his gaze lingering on her hair, her face, the slight tremble in her fingers.
"You okay?" he asked softly.
Alex froze.
He noticed.
She cleared her throat and nodded, but Max wasn't fooled.
He leaned closer—close enough that she could smell the faint hint of mint gum he always chewed.
"If anyone gives you trouble today," he said quietly, "tell me. I don't care who it is."
Before she could respond, someone slammed their locker shut nearby—loudly, intentionally.
Ryan.
He stood a few steps away, jaw clenched, eyes fixed on them with a hard, unreadable stare.
Alex swallowed.
Max didn't turn around. He didn't need to. His eyes stayed on her, calm but daring Ryan to try something.
"Alex," Ryan said, his voice colder than usual. "Can we talk?"
Max finally looked at him—slowly, like he was bored.
"She's busy," Max said.
Ryan ignored him. "Alex. Please."
Her heart squeezed. Ryan looked… different. Not smug, not teasing—hurt. Almost desperate.
Alex hesitated.
Max's jaw tightened. "If you don't want to go, you don't have to."
Ryan's eyes flicked to Max sharply. "She can speak for herself."
Alex hated this. She didn't want them to fight. Not again. Not because of her.
"I'll talk to him," she whispered.
Max's expression darkened for a second, but he stepped back.
Ryan led her a few feet away, just out of Max's earshot—but not out of his line of sight.
"Alex… what's going on with you and him?" Ryan asked.
"I don't know," she whispered honestly.
Ryan exhaled, running a hand through his hair. "Did he tell you anything? Did he say something about me?"
"No. Why would he?"
Ryan looked away, jaw tightening. "Because he hates me. And he's using you to get under my skin."
Alex blinked. "What? Ryan… this isn't about you—"
"It is," he snapped, then caught himself and lowered his voice. "Alex… don't trust him. He's only doing this because he wants to ruin me."
Her chest tightened painfully. "You're not thinking straight."
"You don't know him like I do," Ryan insisted. "He'll hurt you. He hurts everyone."
Alex shook her head. "He hasn't hurt me."
Ryan stepped closer, eyes searching her face. "And what about us? We were fine before she came."
"Who?" Alex frowned. "Chloe?"
Ryan hesitated. "I'm just saying… things were different. You know that."
Her heart twisted again.
Yes. They were different.
But she never knew if it meant what she hoped.
Before she could respond, Max suddenly appeared beside them—shoulders tense, eyes cold.
"You done?" he asked sharply.
Ryan stiffened. "We're talking."
Max looked at Alex. "Are you finished?"
She nodded slowly.
Ryan's eyes widened in disbelief. "Alex—"
Max didn't wait. He gently placed a hand on her shoulder and steered her away—not forceful, not possessive… protective. Warm. Familiar.
Alex's cheeks heated.
Ryan stared after them, fury simmering just beneath the surface.
As they walked down the hallway, Max didn't speak for a while. His hand lingered just a second too long before he pulled it away, stuffing it back into his pocket.
"You okay?" he murmured.
Alex nodded, even though her heart was pounding from everything—Ryan's words, Max's touch, the tension crackling in the air like electricity.
Max stopped suddenly.
"Don't let him guilt-trip you," he said quietly. "He doesn't get to act like he owns you."
Alex flushed. "He doesn't—"
"Good." Max turned and looked down at her, eyes intense. "Because I'm not backing off."
Her breath caught.
She opened her mouth, but before she could respond, someone shoved Max from behind.
He stumbled forward a step.
Ryan.
"Stay away from her," Ryan snapped.
The hallway fell silent. Students stopped mid-conversation, watching.
Max straightened slowly.
Dangerously.
"Do that again," Max said softly, "and I'll break your hand."
Ryan stepped forward, chest heaving. "You're manipulating her. Using her to get back at me."
Max's lips lifted into a cold smirk. "What if I'm not using her?"
Ryan froze.
"What if," Max said, his voice dropping low, "I actually like her?"
Gasps rippled through the crowd.
Alex's heart stopped.
Ryan's expression shattered.
"You don't," Ryan whispered, "you're not capable of—"
"Try me," Max said.
The tension in the hallway was so thick Alex could barely breathe.
She needed to stop this before it became a real fight.
"Please," she whispered, stepping between them, placing a hand on Ryan's chest and another on Max's arm. "Both of you… stop."
Max looked down at her hand on him. Slowly, deliberately, he relaxed.
Ryan didn't.
"Alex," Ryan whispered, eyes shining with something painful, "if you stay near him, you're just going to get hurt."
She shook her head. "Ryan, please—"
Max stepped forward again, anger flickering in his eyes.
But Alex grabbed his sleeve—gently—silent but pleading.
He froze.
He actually froze.
For her.
Ryan saw it. And something in his expression broke completely.
He turned away and walked off without another word, shoulders stiff, jaw clenched.
Max watched him go, breathing hard.
Then he looked at Alex.
And his whole expression softened—like the tension melted the second he saw her face.
"You okay?" he asked again, voice low.
Alex nodded, even though her heart was still racing like it wanted to escape her chest.
"Good," Max whispered, almost to himself. "Because I'm not letting him come near you again."
Alex swallowed hard.
This wasn't just teasing anymore.
This wasn't just a game or a rumor or a moment.
This was real.
And it was getting dangerous.
And she had no idea who she would end up hurting…
or who she would end up falling for.
But one thing was clear—
Max wasn't backing down.
And Ryan had finally realized he might lose her.