Lost But Found | ✔️ - Chapter 2: Chapter 2

Uncharted Territory
Jaxon Reed wasn't used to feeling weak.
The second he hit the ground, pain had exploded in his ribs, knocking the wind clean out of him. But what stuck with him more than the hit itself was the pair of green eyes staring down at him like he actually mattered.
Ava Carter.
Jaxon had noticed her before—of course, he had. Everyone noticed Ava. She was the kind of girl who could light up a stadium with a single smile. But something about her had always felt... untouchable. She kept people at arm's length, even when she was surrounded by teammates and friends.
And tonight, when she'd looked at him with something close to panic in her eyes, he knew there was more to her than the perfect cheer captain everyone thought they knew.
"You good, Reed?" Coach Daniels clapped him on the back as he walked off the field, still feeling the ache in his ribs.
"Yeah, Coach. Just a hard hit."
Coach gave him a skeptical look but nodded. "Go see the trainer before you even think about getting back out there."
Jaxon gritted his teeth. He hated sitting out. Hated feeling useless. Football was the one thing he could always count on, and the idea of watching from the sidelines made his skin crawl. But arguing with Coach wasn't going to get him anywhere, so he nodded and headed toward the trainer's tent.
The game carried on, but his attention drifted. His teammates shouted plays, the crowd cheered, but his focus kept pulling back to one person.
Ava stood near the cheer squad, her arms crossed as she watched the game. Something about her posture—stiff, tense, like she was somewhere else entirely—bothered him.
Before he could think better of it, he made his way toward her.
"You checking on me?" he asked, coming to stand beside her.
She startled slightly, then scowled. "No. Just watching the game."
Jaxon smirked. "Right. So you just happened to be standing here, staring in my direction?"
Her jaw clenched, and for a second, he thought she might walk away. But then she sighed, looking up at him with an expression he couldn't quite read.
"You scared me for a second."
The admission caught him off guard.
He studied her, noting the way she immediately looked away, like she hadn't meant to say it out loud.
"I'm fine," he said, softer than before.
"Good." She shifted, her fingers tightening around her pom-poms. "Try not to do that again."
Jaxon grinned. "Didn't know you cared so much, Carter."
She rolled her eyes but didn't deny it.
Before he could push her further, the buzzer sounded, signaling the end of the game. The Wildcats had won, and the crowd exploded into cheers. His teammates rushed the field, but Jaxon stayed where he was, watching as Ava turned to leave.
"Hey, Carter."
She paused, glancing at him over her shoulder.
"You should let people in sometimes," he said.
Her eyes darkened, and for a moment, he saw something raw flash across her face. Then, just as quickly, it was gone.
"That's not really my thing," she murmured before disappearing into the crowd.
Jaxon exhaled, running a hand through his hair.
Ava Carter was a puzzle he hadn't planned on solving.
But now?
Now, he wasn't sure he'd be able to stop himself from trying.