Lost But Found | ✔️ - Chapter 6: Chapter 6

The Dare
By lunchtime, Ava had successfully managed to avoid Jaxon.
It wasn't that she was scared of him—at least, that's what she kept telling herself. But there was something unsettling about how easily he saw through her. She'd spent years perfecting the art of deflection, of keeping people at a distance, and yet Jaxon Reed seemed determined to knock down every wall she had.
She didn't like that.
So, she stuck to her usual routine—grabbing a tray of food and heading to the cheerleaders' usual table.
Claire was already there, chatting animatedly with some of the other girls. The moment Ava sat down, her best friend leaned in. "Okay, spill."
Ava frowned. "Spill what?"
Claire rolled her eyes. "You and Jaxon. I saw the way he was all up in your space this morning. That boy is interested."
Ava snorted. "Jaxon Reed is interested in himself."
Claire wiggled her brows. "Maybe, but he's definitely paying attention to you."
Ava stabbed at her salad with her fork. "It's nothing."
Claire hummed, clearly not convinced. But before she could pry further, a loud chorus of voices came from the football players' table across the cafeteria.
Ava didn't even need to turn around to know who was at the center of it.
Jaxon.
And, of course, he was headed straight for her.
"Carter," he called, stopping in front of her table.
She sighed, setting her fork down. "Reed."
The whole table went silent, everyone watching the exchange with curiosity.
Jaxon smirked. "So, I've been thinking."
"That's dangerous," Ava deadpanned.
He ignored her, his grin widening. "You're always this mystery, right? You barely talk to people unless you have to, you disappear when you're not cheering, and, oh yeah, you also happen to be some kind of secret badass in a boxing gym."
Ava's jaw clenched. "Do you have a point?"
Jaxon leaned on the table, getting a little too close for her liking. "I think you should prove it."
She narrowed her eyes. "Prove what?"
"That you're not just all talk."
Ava scoffed. "You think I'm lying?"
Jaxon shrugged. "I think you don't let anyone see the real you. And I think that's because you're scared."
The cafeteria went dead silent. Even Claire sucked in a breath.
Ava's hands curled into fists under the table. "You don't know anything about me, Reed."
"You're right," he said easily. "So why don't you prove me wrong?"
She hated him. Hated how he knew exactly how to push her buttons.
But she wasn't about to let Jaxon Reed call her a coward in front of the entire school.
So she stood, grabbing her tray and leaning in just enough that only he could hear her next words.
"You have no idea what I'm capable of," she murmured. "But if you keep pushing, you'll find out."
Jaxon's smirk faltered, just for a second.
Then she walked away, leaving him standing there as the cafeteria buzzed with whispers.
Claire caught up to her in the hallway, breathless. "Okay, what was that?"
Ava exhaled, trying to calm the storm brewing in her chest. "That," she said, "was a mistake."
Because she knew Jaxon Reed well enough to know that he wouldn't let this go.
But she wasn't sure if she wanted him to.