Lost But Found | ✔️ - Chapter 5: Chapter 5
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Close Quarters
Monday morning at Westwood High was like every other—loud, chaotic, and filled with the kind of teenage drama Ava Carter had mastered the art of avoiding.
She moved through the crowded hallway with practiced ease, dodging gossiping girls and rowdy football players. She had her routine down to a science—head low, earbuds in, books in hand. If she didn't engage, people wouldn't pry. And if people didn't pry, they wouldn't realize how little they actually knew about her.
But today felt different.
Because today, she was hyper-aware of the fact that Jaxon Reed knew one of her secrets.
The boxing gym wasn't just a place to blow off steam. It was survival. It was control. And now, he knew about it.
She spotted him at his locker, surrounded by teammates and some of the girls who always found a reason to linger nearby. Jaxon, of course, was eating up the attention, flashing that effortless grin that made everyone swoon.
She rolled her eyes and turned toward her own locker, determined to ignore him.
But, because life hated her, that didn't last long.
"Carter!"
She groaned under her breath, slamming her locker shut just as Jaxon appeared beside her.
"Do you not understand how to take a hint?" she asked, shoving her books into her bag.
Jaxon leaned against the lockers, looking entirely too pleased with himself. "Oh, I got the hint. I just don't care."
Ava sighed. "What do you want?"
He grinned. "To talk about your secret life as a street fighter."
She shot him a look. "It's not a secret life."
"Could've fooled me." He crossed his arms. "Seriously, how long have you been boxing?"
"Since I was twelve."
The answer slipped out before she could stop it. Jaxon's smirk faltered slightly, like he hadn't been expecting a real answer.
"Wait, really?" he asked, his teasing tone softening.
Ava shrugged. "Yeah."
Jaxon studied her, like he was trying to piece something together. She didn't like that look.
She didn't like how easy it was for him to see through her.
Before he could push further, Claire appeared, her usual bubbly energy radiating off her.
"There you are!" Claire looped her arm through Ava's. "I've been looking everywhere for you."
Ava glanced between her best friend and Jaxon, grateful for the interruption.
Claire raised a brow at him. "Why are you harassing my girl?"
Jaxon chuckled. "Harassing? Nah. Just having a friendly conversation."
Claire scoffed. "Right. And I'm the Queen of England." She tugged on Ava's arm. "Come on, we're gonna be late."
Ava didn't argue, letting Claire pull her down the hall. But as she walked away, she felt Jaxon's gaze on her, heavy and knowing.
And for the first time in a long time, someone seeing her scared her more than anything else.
Monday morning at Westwood High was like every other—loud, chaotic, and filled with the kind of teenage drama Ava Carter had mastered the art of avoiding.
She moved through the crowded hallway with practiced ease, dodging gossiping girls and rowdy football players. She had her routine down to a science—head low, earbuds in, books in hand. If she didn't engage, people wouldn't pry. And if people didn't pry, they wouldn't realize how little they actually knew about her.
But today felt different.
Because today, she was hyper-aware of the fact that Jaxon Reed knew one of her secrets.
The boxing gym wasn't just a place to blow off steam. It was survival. It was control. And now, he knew about it.
She spotted him at his locker, surrounded by teammates and some of the girls who always found a reason to linger nearby. Jaxon, of course, was eating up the attention, flashing that effortless grin that made everyone swoon.
She rolled her eyes and turned toward her own locker, determined to ignore him.
But, because life hated her, that didn't last long.
"Carter!"
She groaned under her breath, slamming her locker shut just as Jaxon appeared beside her.
"Do you not understand how to take a hint?" she asked, shoving her books into her bag.
Jaxon leaned against the lockers, looking entirely too pleased with himself. "Oh, I got the hint. I just don't care."
Ava sighed. "What do you want?"
He grinned. "To talk about your secret life as a street fighter."
She shot him a look. "It's not a secret life."
"Could've fooled me." He crossed his arms. "Seriously, how long have you been boxing?"
"Since I was twelve."
The answer slipped out before she could stop it. Jaxon's smirk faltered slightly, like he hadn't been expecting a real answer.
"Wait, really?" he asked, his teasing tone softening.
Ava shrugged. "Yeah."
Jaxon studied her, like he was trying to piece something together. She didn't like that look.
She didn't like how easy it was for him to see through her.
Before he could push further, Claire appeared, her usual bubbly energy radiating off her.
"There you are!" Claire looped her arm through Ava's. "I've been looking everywhere for you."
Ava glanced between her best friend and Jaxon, grateful for the interruption.
Claire raised a brow at him. "Why are you harassing my girl?"
Jaxon chuckled. "Harassing? Nah. Just having a friendly conversation."
Claire scoffed. "Right. And I'm the Queen of England." She tugged on Ava's arm. "Come on, we're gonna be late."
Ava didn't argue, letting Claire pull her down the hall. But as she walked away, she felt Jaxon's gaze on her, heavy and knowing.
And for the first time in a long time, someone seeing her scared her more than anything else.
End of Lost But Found | ✔️ Chapter 5. Continue reading Chapter 6 or return to Lost But Found | ✔️ book page.