Xavier

Chapter 17: A Jealousy I Refuse to Name

(Xavier's POV)

The cafeteria was loud.

Laughter. Chatter. The usual chaos of lunch.

But none of it mattered.

Not until I saw them.

And then—

Everything else faded.

—

The Sight That Set Me Off

Elena Monroe.

Sitting at a table.

Laughing.

Looking too comfortable.

And right beside her?

Grayson.

His arm draped lazily over the back of her chair.

His stupid smirk still in place as he said something that made her actually smile.

And worst of all?

People were noticing.

I barely stepped into the room before the whispers started.

"They look kinda cute together, don't they?"

"Grayson and Elena? I didn't see that coming."

"Damn, I thought she hated all the rich kids."

"Maybe she's smarter than we thought."

My fingers curled into fists.

Because what the fuck was this?

What the fuck was he doing?

I should've walked away.

I should've ignored it.

But instead, my feet moved before my brain could catch up.

Straight toward their table.

—

Ruining the Moment

The second I stopped beside them, the air shifted.

Lena noticed me first. She tensed, glancing at Elena.

Grayson?

That bastard didn't even flinch.

He just glanced up at me, smirking like he already knew why I was here.

"Well, well," he said lazily, "look who finally decided to join us."

Elena's laughter died instantly.

Her body stiffened, her fingers clenching around her fork like she wanted to stab me with it.

Good.

I liked it better when she wasn't smiling for someone else.

I pulled out a chair and sat down uninvited.

Grayson arched an eyebrow. "Getting comfortable?"

I leaned back, ignoring him completely. My eyes locked on her.

"You seem to be enjoying yourself, Monroe."

Elena exhaled, clearly already exhausted. "Can you go literally anywhere else?"

Lena snorted.

Grayson grinned. "Aw, come on, sweetheart. Don't be so mean. I think he missed you."

My jaw tightened.

Elena rolled her eyes. "Right. Because he just loves ruining my life."

I tilted my head, smirking. "Who said I needed a reason?"

Grayson chuckled, shaking his head. "Damn, Knight. You don't even try to hide it, do you?"

I turned to him slowly. "Hide what?"

His smirk widened.

"You hate seeing her with me."

Elena froze.

Lena's eyes widened.

And me?

I didn't move.

Didn't blink.

Didn't react.

But inside?

Something sharp and dangerous curled in my chest.

Because he wasn't wrong.

And I hated that.

I scoffed, rolling my shoulders back. "Don't flatter yourself, Westwood."

Grayson smirked. "Really? Because from where I'm sitting, you're acting like a jealous ex-boyfriend. "

My gaze locked on him. "I don't get jealous."

Grayson leaned forward, resting his chin on his hand. "Then why are you here?"

I clenched my jaw. "I go wherever the hell I want."

"Right." His smirk deepened. "And you just happened to come sit here, huh?"

I exhaled sharply, forcing a lazy grin. "Believe it or not, Westwood, your love life doesn't concern me."

Elena let out a fake gasp. "Wow. That almost sounded convincing. One more thing.. We don't love each other.. Just friends.. "

Lena giggled beside her.

I turned my head, slowly.

"You think this is funny, Monroe?" I asked, tilting my head.

She crossed her arms, meeting my gaze head-on. "A little."

Something flashed in her eyes.

A challenge.

A defiance I hadn't seen all day.

And fuck—I liked it.

But I wasn't about to let her win.

I leaned forward slightly, my voice dropping. "You can flirt with Westwood all you want, sweetheart. Just don't forget who you started this war with."

Her breath hitched.

And for half a second, she hesitated.

Then—she stood up.

And smirked.

"I don't start wars, Xavier," she said smoothly. "I just finish them."

Then she grabbed her bag and walked away—without looking back.

I sat there, watching her leave, my pulse pounding.

Lena got up next, still giggling, and jogged after her.

Which left just me and Grayson.

I could feel his smug grin before I even turned back.

"Well," he said, stretching his arms behind his head, "I think that went great, don't you?"

I gritted my teeth. "Go to hell, Westwood."

He just laughed.

And I sat there, seething, wondering why the hell I was still watching the door she just walked out of.

—