Chapter 2. Haunted Or Hunted?

Lola's studio apartment was dark and gloomy. The littlest light from the moon tried to seep in but barely reached inches over the floor. The wooden panels on the floor began to squeak as though someone had walked on them. Lola lay on her bed, with her head tossing back and forth as her mind filled with dreadful memories of a past not long forgotten.

the creaking continues closer to her bed and she's too deep in sleep to notice him watching over her. He sees how her face is contorted in pain from her nightmare and the sweat that is forming on her face so he leans down, strokes her hair away from her face, and whispers, "Wake up."

“No!” She sat up quickly in the bed and panted. She frantically looked around the room and into the dark corners of her apartment.

“Who— Who’s there?” Lola’s words were hoarse and frightened, and she felt a presence around her. Somebody was watching her, but why couldn’t she see them?

She shook her head free from the thoughts and the nightmares and laid back down. 

Maybe the pill was too strong, I should've taken a half.

She dragged a hand over her tired face and grimaced when she felt the sweat.

Lola turned and faced the open space, hopefully, the nightmare wouldn't continue- she reached out and grabbed her phone to see how many hours of sleep she would get. With a loud groan and no tears, she cried into her pillow and begged that she would fall back asleep; so she put the phone away and turned her head only to meet the corner of the apartment where two yellow eyes pierced back at her.

Lola screamed and flew up from the bed- she reached out and grabbed the switch for the lamp but tugged too hard and the lamp fell down on the floor with a thud as the frame fell off and rolled toward the corner. She leaned down, her breathing quick and uneven and she lifted the lamp and turned it on. 

The corner was as empty as always and the curtain blew to cover the spot where she thought a man had been standing. The window let in a small breeze and she closed her eyes, the nightmares were causing hallucinations- that had to be it.

* * *

Lola flew up in her bed to the ringing sound that pounded into her ears and caused the headache to grow so much she thought her head would burst. The sun was up, and she patted with her hand to find her phone. As she fiddled with her fingers to shut off the alarm, she recalled the dream she’d had.

“Shit.” She dragged her hand down her face and stared into the wall.

Looking at her phone, she sensed panic soaring through her. She jumped out of bed, and her ankle twisted on the thick history book on the floor.

“Come on,” she groaned and hastily pulled on the first shirt she saw. Lola was already late for the day’s assembly. They had all been warned to be on time because today was when they received a new classmate.

Usually, people weren’t allowed to enroll this late into the semester, but for some reason, they had made an exception. Not that a new classmate even made the top ten list of things on her mind.

* * *

The sweat ran down her back, and the chilly winds left cold trails on her shirt that pressed against her skin. She pushed open the assembly doors, panting and heaving Lola stumbled into the Aula and all heads turned to watch the latecomer.

“Lola, glad to see you made it. Did we not make it clear this entire week that we expected every student to be on time?”

She nervously looked around and licked her lips.

“You did, sir. I’m sorry, sir.”

“Take a seat.” Mr. Manor returned to his well-planned speech on which he had worked the whole week. Mr. Manor, the principal of Lilac University, was happier than anyone that this new student was enrolling in his school. He did little to hide his excitement as he presented the young man beside him. The guy that all girls were zooming in on was noticeable and exceptional in so many ways, even to Lola, who had never found herself caring too much about men.

“Allow me to introduce you all to your new schoolmate and, for some of you, your new classmate, Jax Blackwood.”

“I have no problem with that.” a girl muttered under her breath and narrowed her eyes hungrily.

“Hell no, he’s yummy,” some girls purred.

“Did he say Jax Blackwood?” another asked in shock, which gained him much attention.

“Yeah, why?”

“His dad has to be Michael Blackwood, the man who owns that big-ass house over by the lake. They’re not there often, but it’s like the most expensive house in town. I think they own businesses or something.”

Someone tapped on their phone and showed his picture.

“Is this him?” she asked and held a picture of Michael Blackwood.

“Michael Blackwood, a billionaire business mogul with business in hotels, casinos, and airports across the country. The well-versed business giant has expanded his empire internationally…” They stopped reading and stared in shock at each other. This time, when they looked back, Jax Blackwood was even more attractive than before considering he was the heir to that fortune.

Lola leaned down as usual, hunched in her seat not to be seen, but somehow, in the sea of people, Jax’s eyes found hers.

Dark-brown eyes that looked to hold many secrets, a face that didn’t reveal a single emotion, and a body that looked like a military-trained combat soldier.

“I do trust that you will all welcome him and help where help is needed. Jax is late to enroll with us, but there is no reason he shouldn’t be able to catch up with a little help.” Mr. Manor tapped Jax’s shoulder and smiled gratefully.

“Thank you, sir.” Jax walked with a straight back out of the auditorium with the eyes of both girls and guys following him out.

Everyone was quick up on their feet to walk to class and meet him. Lola, however, sat back and waited until everyone was gone before she picked up her bag and stood up from the seat. She waited another minute, having an idea of how long it took the students to reach the classrooms, and she stood up with a sigh. She took a moment to enjoy the silence before she turned around. A loud gasp escaped her lips, and her fear-stricken eyes stared straight into those dark brown orbs.

“You’re Lola,” he said as a fact and looked her up and down.

She didn’t answer at first. Her mind was too preoccupied with thinking about how close they were standing, and then her alarm bells went off when she remembered that nobody else was even close to the auditorium anymore.

He chewed down on a piece of gum, his jaw tensing with each bite, and he shrugged a soft shoulder. “Well?” he asked.

“I am.” Her brows hunched from confusion over how he knew her name, but he didn’t seem too bothered.

“I’m Jax. It’s nice to meet you.” He reached out his hand.

Lola was looking into his eyes, unaware of the hand held out for her to grab. She was contemplating whether or not to interact more with the strange guy; it hadn’t worked out well before, and she preferred to keep her head down.

“Likewise.” her hand nearly disappeared in his when he closed his fingers around her hand- two slow shakes before they stilled. Both stared into each other’s eyes. Lola focused on a black dot in his left eye to stay focused.

She pulled her hand back and nervously pulled her bag over her shoulder as she walked past him.

It was an odd interaction, but for her, it was nothing new. They had been after her once. She couldn’t trust that they wouldn’t be after her again so trusting people wasn't a luxury she could afford.

“Lola.”

She stopped and felt the shiver going down her back when he had called after her. She looked over her shoulder, glancing down at Jax’s arms as he moved through the seats. His shirt got caught in one of the headrests and lifted an inch- exposing his rippling muscles beneath.

Lola looked away the second she saw the shirt lifting, and she cursed herself for stopping for him. Jax stopped by the last row of chairs a few meters away from her. His eyes held hers captive. He must’ve known the effect he had; he must be used to it considering the way he used that gaze with an unbothered control.

“I’ll see you around,” he said with a low voice that made it sound not too welcoming.

Lola turned her head, the fear rising rapidly and her instincts telling her to run.