CHAPTER 6

Xavier's POV

My life was perfectly normal—well, as normal as it could be for someone like me—until I crossed paths with a girl named Ava Jones. The most frustrating, infuriating girl I've ever met. What makes it worse? She's my classmate.

From the moment we met, she did nothing but provoke me. She had the audacity to call me a jerk to my face. No girl has ever dared to talk to me like that, let alone disrespect me in front of my friends. But Ava? She didn't just cross the line—she obliterated it. I was on the verge of snapping at her, but somehow, she got lucky and walked away before I could unleash my anger.

The most infuriating part? While everyone else, including Mia, looked scared of my temper, Ava didn't show an ounce of fear. She stared right back at me, unflinching. That alone set her apart. It made me feel... unsettled.

The other day, Amelia asked me to drop her off at her friend's place. She'd left her car there the night before, so I didn't mind doing her a favor. After I dropped her off, I spotted Ava jogging nearby. And right then, an idea sparked. A chance for revenge. I followed her, smirking to myself at the thought of making her pay for what she said. She eventually entered a café, and I seized the opportunity. I parked my bike and headed inside, finding her sitting alone, absorbed in her music.

I casually sat across from her, and it didn't take long for her to sense my presence. The shift in her demeanor was almost instant—her peaceful expression turning sour the moment she recognized me. After a brief exchange of insults, she stormed out, leaving me to pay for her iced Americano. I couldn't believe it. I spent $5 on that girl, and for what? Annoyance?

But I wasn't done. I followed her into a dimly lit alley. Pinning her to the wall, I could see the surprise flash in her eyes before she glared at me. In the faint streetlight, for the first time, I really looked at her. Chestnut brown eyes, sharp nose, soft pink lips, and a defined jawline. She was... stunning.

What the hell?

I shook myself out of it, mentally cursing. Xavier Knight, get a grip. You hate this girl, remember? I wasn't going to let her get away that easily. As she kept insulting me, calling me less than human, I decided to turn the tables. I locked her hands behind her back and slowly started unbuttoning my shirt. I just wanted to see her reaction, to unsettle her the way she unsettled me.

And for a brief moment, I saw fear flicker in her eyes. It was satisfying—until she wriggled out of my grip and punched me in the gut. I didn't see it coming. The pain hit me like a freight train, and before I could recover, she was gone.

I stood there for a few minutes, clutching my stomach and trying to process what just happened. What does this girl eat? Steel for breakfast? I couldn't help but smile, though. The tigress had turned into a kitten for just a second, but that punch? That punch reminded me why Ava Jones was not to be underestimated.

Sunday

Today's the day of the university party. All the juniors are going to be there, including Amelia, who's joining the uni this year. I asked her earlier if she wanted to go with me, but, unsurprisingly, her friends were picking her up.

"Lia, you look beautiful—just like Mom," I told her, my voice soft as I brushed a strand of hair behind her ear.

She smiled sadly, her eyes glistening. "I miss them, Xave. I wish they were here with us."

"Hey, you still have me, the hot and handsome older brother," I teased, striking a dramatic pose to lighten the mood.

Amelia laughed and hugged me tightly. Before she could leave, though, I called her back. "Wait! My necktie."

She sighed and walked over to fix it for me, shaking her head. "Seriously, Xavier, when are you going to learn to tie this thing yourself?"

I grinned. "I don't need to when I have you around."

Just then, Noah called. He was already waiting for me outside. After saying goodbye to Amelia, I grabbed my jacket and headed out to meet him. When I got into the car, Noah was unusually quiet, which piqued my curiosity.

"Why the hell are you picking me up today?" I asked, eyeing him suspiciously.

"You'll find out soon enough," he replied with a mischievous grin.

We stopped in front of an apartment building, and suddenly everything clicked. Mia.

Which meant...

Just as I suspected, a few moments later, Mia and Ava appeared. Noah opened the door for Mia, and I internally groaned as Ava climbed into the back seat next to me. I knew this was coming, but that didn't make it any less irritating.

Mia smiled warmly at me. "Hi, Xavier, you look handsome."

Before I could respond, Ava chimed in. "Like a black crow," she muttered under her breath.

I shot her a glare, noticing that she was wearing a black dress, matching mine. Perfect.

"Says the girl who looks like a black bonobo," I retorted, smirking.

Before the banter could escalate, Mia distracted her by asking about the tattoo on her hand. Thank God for Mia. Otherwise, the car ride would have been unbearable. Still, I couldn't help but notice the way Ava's neckline was exposed when she turned to the window.

Damn it, Xavier. Get it together.

The rest of the drive passed in awkward silence, with Noah and Mia too wrapped up in their own world to notice the tension between Ava and me.

But tonight? Tonight was just getting started.

Ava's POV

As soon as we arrived at the party, we all naturally drifted apart, each of us heading in different directions. I spotted one of my friends, Xan, standing by the bar and made my way over to him.

"Hey, Xan," I greeted him with a smile.

"Hi, Ava," he said, his eyes sweeping over my outfit. "You look absolutely gorgeous tonight."

"Thanks," I replied, giving him a small smile.

Just then, the lights dimmed, and the room fell into an expectant hush. A spotlight suddenly shone on the principal, who stood at the center of the room, commanding attention.

"Good evening, students of Dillion University!" the principal announced. "I won't bore you with a long speech, so relax and enjoy the party. But first, let's give a warm welcome to our new juniors, who are joining us through the back entrance!"

The room erupted into loud cheers and applause, the excitement for the newcomers palpable in the air.

Tristan, ever the playboy, leaned over with a mischievous grin. "I'm hoping to see some sexy girls tonight," he commented, eyes scanning the crowd.

I rolled my eyes at him. This guy will never change, I thought to myself. Tristan was notorious for being the biggest flirt on campus. He'd tried his luck with nearly every girl, including me. Of course, his advances toward me had ended quickly after I warned him to stay far away. Ever since I bruised his fragile ego, he avoided Mia and me like the plague.

As the evening continued, the music shifted, signaling the start of the couple's dance. I wasn't surprised to see Noah and Mia immediately paired off, completely engrossed in each other. Xavier, however, was on the dance floor with none other than Britney Adams, the queen bee of our university—or, as I liked to call her, the queen of all bitches.

I couldn't help but assess her outfit as they danced. Was she coming from a nightclub? I thought, eyeing the barely-there dress that left very little to the imagination. Classic Britney.

As much as I tried to ignore them, I found my eyes drifting back to Xavier. It bothered me more than I'd care to admit, watching him twirl Britney around with that smirk plastered on his face. What annoyed me even more was the little tug of jealousy that crept into my chest, something I refused to acknowledge.

I wasn't going to let it ruin my night.

Here's the elaborated and refined version:

Ava's POV

I was on the dance floor with Xan when the music shifted, and he smoothly twirled me into the arms of the next partner as the song changed. It was Noah this time. We spent the dance joking and chatting, enjoying each other's company until the next song began to play.

Xavier's POV

Noah had practically dragged me onto the dance floor, despite my reluctance. As soon as we stepped onto the floor, a swarm of girls immediately surrounded me like bees to honey. Of course, Britney Adams was the first to pounce—predictable as always. With no option but to oblige, I danced with her. She wasted no time attempting to seduce me, touching me in ways that made my skin crawl. But one cold, dark glare from me, and her boldness faded. After two songs, I was ready to escape, but fate had other plans.

Next up was Ava.

She placed her hands on my shoulders stiffly, and I wrapped mine around her waist. Something about the way she felt beneath my hands caught me off guard. There was a certain softness to her, a surprising contrast to the usual tomboyish image she projected. Her beauty tonight was undeniable, thanks to Mia's handiwork, no doubt. I had never really noticed before how perfectly she carried herself—her figure, her grace—but regardless of how attractive she might appear, I could never be drawn to someone like her. We couldn't stand each other for more than a second.

She glared at me, her eyes filled with that familiar irritation.

"What?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Nothing," she snapped. "I'm just wondering how I got stuck dancing with this black, ugly crow."

I smirked at her remark. "And I'm dancing with the kitten who was so scared last night she ran away from me."

As we bickered, my foot accidentally stepped on the hem of her dress. She lost her balance, and instinctively grabbed onto me for support. Unfortunately, I wasn't prepared for it either, and we both ended up toppling to the floor, with me landing right on top of her.

She opened her eyes and shot me the deadliest glare I'd ever seen. If looks could kill, I'd already be six feet under. Without missing a beat, she pushed me off, storming out of the dance floor in a fury.

Ava's POV

That arrogant jerk! Xavier Knight, I swear I'm going to kill you. I stormed off to the restroom to cool down, seething with anger. But as I reached the hallway, I heard something—someone crying. I followed the sound, and what I saw made my blood boil instantly.

There was Tristan, cornering a girl, his hands all over her while she tried to push him away, tears streaming down her face. That was it. I had enough.

"Tristan, you bastard!" I yelled as I rushed toward him and punched him square in the face.

"What the hell is your problem, Ava?" he groaned, clutching his nose as blood trickled down his fingers.

"Why do you always have to interfere in my business?" he spat, his face twisted in pain.

"Interfere? I'm not about to stand by and let you assault someone. If you're so generous with your attention, why don't you try messing with me instead?" I snapped back.

Rage flickered across his eyes as he lunged towards me, but my gaze quickly darted to a nearby vase. Without hesitation, I picked it up and smashed it against his face, watching it shatter into pieces.

"You...you bitch!" he screamed, holding his face as fresh blood oozed from his wounds.

"You deserve every bit of this, Tristan," I said coldly. "I warned you—don't mess with me. If I catch you doing anything like this again, I swear it'll be your last day on campus. Consider that a promise."

"You'll regret this, Ava," he growled. "Mark my words—you'll pay for this."

I rolled my eyes at his threat. "I'm not scared of you, Tristan. Now get out of here before I finish what I started."