Xavier and Elena

Chapter 5: The Slap Heard Around Ridgewood

Xavier's POV

I wasn't done with her.

Not even close.

After yesterday, after she dared to challenge me, after she had the audacity to pour soda on my shoes—I knew I had to put her in her place.

Elena Monroe didn't know who she was messing with.

And today?

I was going to make damn sure she learned.

—

First Class – A New Game

I watched her the moment she walked in.

Same old sweater. Same old shoes. Same stubborn fire in her eyes.

I smirked. This was going to be fun.

She tried to avoid me. Tried to act like I didn't exist.

Big mistake, sweetheart.

"Monroe," I called out lazily as she passed by my desk.

She stiffened but didn't stop.

"Monroe," I said again, louder.

She kept walking.

I let out a low chuckle. "Ignoring me now? Cute. But, sweetheart, you should know by now—I don't like being ignored."

She reached her seat, still pretending I wasn't there.

I turned to Nathan, who was beside me, and smirked. "You ever wonder why someone like her is even here?"

Nathan leaned back, playing along. "What do you mean?"

"I mean, come on," I said, loud enough for everyone to hear. "A girl like her? From wherever the hell she crawled out from? What does she think she's doing in Ridgewood?"

Elena's grip tightened on her desk.

But she still didn't look at me.

Not enough.

So I kept going.

"She probably begged her way in," I said, leaning back in my chair. "Maybe the school needed some charity cases to look good. Or maybe they just needed a new janitor, and she got lucky."

Laughter spread across the classroom.

I saw Lena, her only friend, throw me a glare, but she didn't speak up.

No one ever did.

Except Elena.

Finally, she turned to me, her blue eyes blazing.

"Oh, I'm sorry," she said, voice dripping with sarcasm. "I didn't realize Ridgewood Academy was only for privileged brats with zero personality."

The room went silent.

I tilted my head, smirking. "Oh, Monroe, you wound me."

She crossed her arms. "I wish I could do worse."

The challenge in her eyes lit a spark in me.

Then the teacher came in.. Settling us...

She wanted to play this game? Fine.

But I was about to take it to the next level.

—

Lunchtime –

She sat with Lena, trying to mind her business.

That annoyed me.

I wanted her mad. I wanted her riled up.

So I stood from my table, slowly making my way over.

The second I reached her, conversations died down.

All eyes were on us.

"Hey, sweetheart," I said smoothly, placing a hand on her table. "Enjoying your lunch?"

She looked up at me, already annoyed. "What do you want, Xavier?"

I grinned. "Just curious." I glanced at her tray—some pathetic sandwich and an apple. "Is this all you can afford? Damn, Monroe, I almost feel bad for you."

Her jaw clenched.

Not enough.

I leaned in, voice lower. "I mean, do they even serve food where you come from? Or do you guys just fight over leftovers in the trash?"

Gasps.

A few students muffled their laughter.

But Elena?

She froze.

I could see it. The way her hands curled into fists. The way her eyes darkened, her breathing uneven.

She was holding it in.

But I wanted her to snap.

So I delivered the final blow.

"You know," I said, smirking, "I heard your mom works at some cheap diner. Must be embarrassing, huh? Imagine being the girl who has to watch her mother serve all these rich families while she—"

CRACK.

Pain exploded across my jaw.

For a second, I didn't even process what had happened.

The cafeteria went dead silent.

I touched my face, blinking.

She slapped me.

Elena Monroe just slapped me.

I slowly turned my head back to her, a deadly calm settling over me.

She stood there, breathing hard, her eyes burning with hatred.

"Say another word about my family," she whispered, voice shaking with fury, "and I swear to God, I will make you regret it."

The silence stretched.

Everyone was waiting.

Waiting for me to do something.

Waiting for me to destroy her.

But all I could do was stare.

Because for the first time in a long time…

Someone wasn't afraid of me.

And for some reason—

That made me want her even more.

—

Elena's POV –

I ran.

The second I left the cafeteria, I ran straight to the bathroom, my heart hammering, my hand still stinging from the slap.

I braced myself against the sink, breathing hard.

What did I just do?

I had slapped Xavier Knight.

In front of everyone.

I was dead.

I knew it.

He wasn't the type to let things slide. He was going to make my life a living hell.

But as I looked up at my reflection, something in me changed.

I wasn't scared.

I was done being scared.

If Xavier wanted a war, fine.

But I wasn't backing down anymore.

Because I had just realized something.

I hated him.

But he had finally met his match.

And this time?

I was ready to fight back

__