6. SELF-WORTH

There's something called fate, and people say fate can't be changed. It is said that it will control your life more than you control it, and it is said that it can change by your own will. But as in control, and in the meaning of control, we don't have control of others, not as much as to ourselves.

"What?" Jaxon flustered, then looked sharply at Ashton.

Ashton looked back at Jasmine, "Elaborate," he said quickly.

Jasmine looked at the two boys coldly, "Are you her friends or something?"

"Amber and Eric, one of our friends, are close," Ashton said.

"Oh," Jasmine gullibly said, "Her mother is Nadia Brooks, been in rehab for a few years now, with a very high amount of alcohol addiction,"

"I see, so Izzie doesn't have children with Dave?" Ashton asked, slyly.

"No," Jasmine shook her head slowly.

"I see," Ash nodded, a thought in his mind, "I'll get going,"

Jaxon looked as Ashton walked to the dorm building and he looked back at Jasmine, "So, when are you going home?"

"I dropped out of school, I'll probably stay here until Christmas," Jasmine shrugged.

Jasmine forgets things easily, but now, she finally found out the thing she forgot when she said she had heard the name Syville before to Jayce at their farewell. It was where her brother was living at.

~~~

Jayce threw her books against the bed and screamed in frustration.

"She's Jaxon's sister?" she huffed, sighing, "That little piece of-"

Jayce couldn't comprehend on who she should be angry at: the fact that Jasmine had cheated on her, or the fact that she was Jaxon's sister. But in that anger, she had not realized the fact that Jasmine knew that her mother wasn't Izzie Brooks.

"Okay chill up, Jayce," she slapped herself, "She's just here to meet her brother, she's your ex, wake up," she said to herself, "Remember your goal, remember your goal," she stated.

~~~

Ashton played with a baseball in his hands as he laid down on his bed, thinking of all the plans he could do, and he had one plan.

He would accept Jayce's offer on becoming her partner in student council, and if they win, which he was surely sure of, they would have to be close to each other for at least a year or more. And in that means, he was fully in control as he would tell the school that her real mother was just an alcoholist who she was ashamed of.

"She's finally in my grasp," he smirked, "Finally."

~~~

Amber and Eric were on the way back from their small hangout in the park and in front of the dorm building, they saw two familiar people to each of them.

"Jasmine?"

"Jaxon?"

The two flinched with the names they were saying.

The two siblings looked behind them.

Amber furrowed, "What are you doing here, Jaz?" she asked, "You broke up with Jayce, right?"

Jasmine pursed her lips, "Amber, I-"

"She's my sister," Jaxon broke in, "She's just here until December, dropped out of school,"

"What?" Amber flinched, "Did you meet Jayce?"

"Yes, wasn't a really good meeting though," Jasmine said.

"Right, small world, isn't it?" Amber said, "The only thing I wish for my sister is that she will never meet someone like you ever again," she turned away and walked away.

"You must be Eric," Jasmine said, "Amber's friend," she said to the blonde boy.

Eric gave a small smile, "Yeah," lies.

It was awkward for everyone, nothing was really expected.

~~~

"No one will share the information until after the student council election is over," Ashton discussed with his two friends, "And don't let Jasmine spread it to anyone,"

"Why after the election though?" Eric asked.

"Forced proximity," Ashton replied, "She can't back away once she becomes a student council partner with me,"

"Smart move," Jaxon smirked, "Jasmine really just showed up and helped a lot,"

Ashton knew she wouldn't reject him with how she saw his mother was. And this was an opportunity that made Jayce think he was completely wrecked by his mother's pressure only.

~~~

The next day, after Math in the second period as they were all taking their books in their lockers, a boy approached Jayce.

He was just there with glasses, standing and greeting Jayce.

"Hi," he said.

Jayce flinched and then turned around, "Hey," she smiled.

"I'm Niel," he said.

"Jayce," she replied.

He chuckled, "Yeah I know,"

She started getting uncomfortable, she wasn't in the best mood for bonding or being friends, "So what brings you here to greet me?"

"Oh, right," Niel nervously said, "I, umm, want to offer you an offer,"

"An offer?" Jayce queried.

Ashton saw from his locker, hearing their conversation very well. An offer?

Niel pursed his lips, "I want to offer you to be my student council partner, I excel in English and Arts and the teachers usually praise me for my bright ideas so I-"

And with the heard of the those words, Ashton closed down his locker and stepped in between the two, "Sorry, she's taken,"

Jayce furrowed at the sight of Ashton just interrupting her and Niel, but he was literally speaking nonsense in her thoughts.

She spoke up, "Excu-" only to be cut off with Ashton grabbing her wrist and squeezing it painfully to make her stop talking.

She flustered.

"You and Jayce are partners?" Niel asked.

Ashton nodded proudly, "We are,"

"Oh," Niel said, "Okay then," he flinched and turned around, walking away in shame.

Jayce jerked Ashton's hand away as soon as Niel left.

"You better freaking explain to me what this crap is," she stated.

"I accept your offer, president," Ashton grinned, the word 'president' ringing in her ears.

Jayce furrowed her brow, "You want something, don't you?"

Ashton raised a brow, "Why do you always seek the bad deeds of someone?"

"Is there any good deed in you?"

"I'm simply playing in your game, president," Ashton curled his lip.

"What card are you pulling on me?"

"Is there always an answer to a question?"

Jayce nodded, firm.

"My mother, and you know why if you've seen how," Ashton replied as they walked down the hall, "Just say you accept me as your vice president, please?" he pouted.

Jayce glared at him, cloudy thoughts in her head, then remembering how he didn't care about his mother but was attentive towards his mother's pressure, "Fine," she sighed, "You better not play any stupid tricks against me,"

She turned around and began walking away. Jayce thought she won with a sly smile worn on her face, he entered her trap, but no, they entered each other's trap. Each other's doom was in each other's hands. They were each other's end. They were each other's troublemaker.

In a devilish smile, he muttered, "I won't,"

~~~

"Discussion?" Ashton queried in the middle of lunch.

The two ate lunch later than everyone as they went to the principal's office to volunteer. They sat at one table, as Jayce discussed their future goals. Ashton just joined to take her heart then break it.

"You're my partner, not my pet," Jayce said, "You obviously need to do something,"

"Fine whatever," Ashton said, "What are we even doing anyways,"

"First rule," Jayce glared at him, "No student will receive any help from teachers out of school hours unless the help that is given has also been given to other students."

Ashton stopped chewing then looked up, "Are you indirectly chasing that at me?"

"Maybe," she said calmly, "Why ask if it's obvious?"

"What card are you playing on me?" he asked.

Jayce continued eating, "The 'the extra sweet girl meets the extra mean rich boy and her last straw is needing his help because he's very handsome and he has a good reputation and he basically owns the school' card,"

Ashton furrowed, "I'm handsome?" he smirked.

"It's a trope," she scowled.

Maybe he was crazy or insane, but there was some part of him that wished that they could have conversations like this. But she started the game, and he was dragged into the game, and to survive he had to play the game.

~~~

Jaxon went with Ashton to his house that day, to visit Jasmine, when he really should've been discussing student council things with Jayce.

"So how's the plan going out with Jayce?" Jaxon asked.

"Good, great, amazing, she fell into the trap, and she doesn't know that it's a trap," Ashton said, "I actually don't understand the crap she's forming about the plan, but whatever it is, next week's the election, and after next week is when her secret's gonna blow,"

"Smart thinking man," Jaxon smirked.

The two arrived at the Spencer house, and Victor was watering his plants.

"Hi Mr Spencer," Ashton greeted with a smile.

"Hey dad," Jaxon said, "Jasmine in there?"

Victor nodded, "She's in the 3rd floor's guest room,"

Jaxon nodded and went inside his house. His house was simple but had lots of rooms and floors. Everything was wooden and warm, with about four floors, and 5 bedrooms and 3 guest bedrooms.

Jasmine was laying down on the bed, playing with her phone.

"Oh hey, Jaxon," she greeted.

"Hey," Jaxon said, sitting by his sister's bed. His hair was black and short, so it fell behind his neck and covered above his eyes.

Ashton left the two downstairs as they both chatted, knowing if Jaxon received more information about Jayce from Jasmine, he would immediately tell him.

He went down to the yard as Victor was already in the living room. He wasn't the friendliest man but he was still there, living.

As he went outside, he saw something, someone, who shouldn't be here. Jayce.

~~~

"So about Jayce," Jaxon said, "What's with her?"

"Jayce?" Jasmine furrowed, "What about her?"

"Oh I mean like we want to understand her further,"

"Jayce was never the open type of person, I still have no idea what happened when her mother was an alcoholist," Jasmine said.

"She's ashamed her mother is an alcoholist?" Jaxon asked.

"Yes," Jasmine stated, "She always states she will hate her forever,"

"Only because she's an alcoholist?"

Jasmine pursed her lips and nodded, "I don't know anything else,"

~~~

"You must be surprised I'm here," Jayce said

Ashton froze, then walking to her and grabbing her by the arm, wanting to take her out when she pulled his ear and he yelped.

"What the hell?" he yelped.

"Let me guess, trying to find information about me from my ex girlfriend?" she asked, furrowing.

"No," Ashton replied, "Jaxon misses his sister,"

"Was I supposed to believe that you actually wanted to be my partner because of your mother's pressure?" she asked.

"I don't have an answer to that but why would I try to lie to you when we're both benefiting each other in teaming up?" His mind games were the best, "Did you follow me all the way here because you were suspicious of me? How cute," he lifted one side of his lip.

"You weren't there for the discussion which we promised to do today," she scowled.

"So you were worried and looked for me?" he cheekily grinned.

"Shut up, and get a grip,"

Ashton suddenly pulled her waist and she bumped towards him, "This grip?"

Jayce flustered, feeling both uneasy and comfy, she stared at him until she finally pushed him back and stepped backwards. She crossed her arms and pursed her lips, looking away. Ashton gave her an unreadable face, this was all part of the plan. Take her heart and break it.

"How much can I trust you?" Jayce asked, still not making eye contact with him.

"No, Jayce," Ashton said, approaching her and tucking one strand of her hair behind her ear, "How much can I trust you?"

~~~

Eric was lying down in his LED-lighted room, playing video games on Discord as Amber texted him on his phone. Even though he knew this was all a game and he actually hated Amber, he felt bad for her. And it was all because of Jayce. Her.

As soon as he was finished with his video games, he went and checked his phone, and an anonymous number had called him.

He gulped and opened the chat.

'STAY AWAY FROM ASHTON! HE'S MINE. MINE. MINE. NOT YOURS. HE CHERISHES ME AND NOT YOU. STAY AWAY FROM HIM. OR I WILL KILL YOU.'

Eric just sighed at the text. Why? Because it's been going on for weeks now. Every couple of days, an unknown number would text him with that same text for no reason. It was his weight to handle, not anyone else's.

In the text, the user would send pictures of Eric's face circled in red or blood, as if he was possessive towards Ashton that no one else could touch him. Obsession. Possession. Something Eric never felt. He always felt love and warmth, not toxicity.

Eric Rodriguez was known as the kindest boy in the school. And the kindest boy in the school had black smoke following him. Ashton had a lot on his mind, but one of them was to prevent Eric's death.