Xavier’s Little Secret I

The next morning, the campus buzzed with energy. I was both excited and nervous about my first day of classes. Val, Jenna, Diane, and I walked together through the courtyard, chatting about what to expect.

As we turned a corner, my heart stopped. From a distance, I spotted Dylan—my ex boyfriend. He was standing there, his gaze fixed directly on me. A cold wave of panic surged through my body. His eyes didn’t waver as though he recognized me instantly.

"I forgot something!" I blurted, cutting Jenna off mid-sentence. Without waiting for a response, I spun around and walked quickly in the opposite direction.

"Halle? Wait!" Val called, but I ignored her, my mind racing. I glanced over my shoulder and saw Dylan walking closer. He wasn’t just looking in my direction—he was walking toward me.

My breath quickened. I couldn’t let him see me. Not now, not here. I needed to hide. My eyes darted around until I noticed a sleek, tinted car parked nearby. Without thinking, I yanked open the door, jumped in, and slammed it shut. My chest heaved as I squeezed my eyes shut, praying Dylan wouldn’t notice me.

"Are you out of your mind?" a familiar voice barked. My eyes flew open, and there he was—Xavier—sitting in the driver’s seat, looking at me like I’d lost my mind. His brows furrowed, his piercing gaze filled with disbelief.

"Why is it always you?" he yelled, gesturing toward the door. "Get out of my car!"

"Shhh!" I hissed, panicking as I saw Dylan getting closer. Without thinking, I leaned over and covered Xavier’s mouth with my hand. "Please, just be quiet!"

His eyes widened, and I could feel his annoyance radiating off him. But I didn’t care. I crouched lower in the seat, peeking over the dashboard as Dylan passed the car. My heart thudded as I saw him stop—but not to look for me. He smiled and walked up to a girl with vibrant red hair.

I watched in stunned silence as Dylan hugged her and then kissed her, full on the lips. My chest tightened for a moment before I scoffed quietly. "I guess he has a thing for redheads," I muttered, rolling my eyes. "Thank God he didn’t see me."

It wasn’t until I caught Xavier glaring at me that I realized my hand was still over his mouth.

"Oh my God, I’m so sorry," I said, yanking my hand away.

He just stared at me, speechless. Finally, he shook his head. "Halle, what the hell is wrong with you?"

"I can explain!" I stammered, my cheeks burning as I tried to figure out how to explain myself. But honestly, I had no idea where to start.

“So, uhmm, this is what happened…” I started, my voice shaky as Xavier leaned back in his seat, staring at me with raised eyebrows, clearly waiting for an explanation.

“I kind of bumped into my ex-boyfriend, and I’m… trying to avoid him,” I admitted, my cheeks heating up with embarrassment.

Xavier’s lips curled into a smirk before he burst into laughter. “Wait… him?” he asked, pointing through the window at Dylan, who was now walking away with the redhead.

“The delivery-looking guy is your ex?” he repeated, still laughing so hard he had to clutch his stomach. “Turns out, you don’t even have good taste in guys.”

I glared at him, furious. “It’s none of your business!” I snapped, hissing through my teeth.

“Oh, but it is my business,” he said, wiping a tear from his eye as his laughter subsided. “You made it my business when you barged into my car like a weirdo. Halle, are you trying to chase me or something? Just so you know, I look nothing like your ex—and trust me, you’re definitely not my type, Rubio.”

“Excuse me?!” I shot back, fuming. “First of all, I’m not chasing you, Mr. Jerk Face. Second, how do you even know my last name?”

Xavier opened his mouth to respond, but before he could get a word out, his phone rang. He glanced at the screen, his expression shifting to something serious. “I have to take this,” he muttered, stepping away to answer the call.

I watched his face as he spoke. Whatever the person on the other end was saying seemed to drain the usual confidence from him. His expression turned somber, his jaw tightening as he ended the call. Without saying a word, he climbed back into the driver’s seat, started the car, and began to drive.

“What are you doing?” I asked, panic rising in my voice. “Are you trying to kidnap me? Let me out of this car, Xavier!”

He didn’t answer. His eyes were fixed on the road, his grip on the steering wheel tense. He sped out of Gleewood Arts,down the street, completely silent.

The mood in the car was heavy, and I couldn’t help but wonder what he’d heard on that call to make him look so… broken. As much as I wanted to press him for answers, the sadness in his eyes stopped me. So, I sat quietly, the sound of the car engine the only thing breaking the silence.

Xavier parked abruptly in front of a retirement home. Without saying a word, he got out of the car, slamming the door shut behind him. His movements were quick and angry as he stormed towards the building. I stayed frozen in my seat for a moment, trying to process what was happening, but curiosity got the best of me.

I got out of the car and followed him cautiously, keeping a safe distance. From where I stood, I could see him furiously arguing with a lady near the entrance.