Fortwood Academy: Owen Cross

Chapter 2

The weekend rolled in quietly, but Ava's mind was anything but quiet. Every second since the conversation with Owen had been filled with thoughts of him—how he had seen right through her defenses, how he wanted to know her. It made her both nervous and curious. Why would someone like Owen Cross—a boy who had the entire school wrapped around his finger—care about getting to know her?

By the time Monday morning arrived, Ava was more determined than ever to avoid Owen. It was the only way to maintain the peace she had so carefully built around herself. But Fortwood Academy had a way of pulling people together in unexpected ways, and it didn't take long before Owen crossed her path once again.

Ava was at her locker, rummaging through her books when she heard the familiar sound of footsteps approaching. Her heart sank. She didn't have to look up to know who it was.

"Hey, Ava."

His voice was warm, casual—like they had been friends for years. She glanced up to see Owen standing beside her, his signature easy smile on his face. There were a few other students in the hallway, but they kept their distance, watching the interaction from afar like it was a scene from a movie.

Ava forced a smile, quickly shoving her textbooks into her bag. "Hi."

Owen leaned against the locker next to hers, watching her with an amused expression. "You always look like you're in a hurry."

"I have class," Ava mumbled, closing her locker and trying to edge past him.

"You've got five minutes," he pointed out, blocking her escape with a teasing grin. "Plenty of time."

Ava bit her lip, not wanting to be rude, but also feeling the familiar anxiety building inside her. She wasn't used to this kind of attention, especially not from someone like Owen.

"Why are you always talking to me?" she blurted out, her frustration slipping into her voice.

Owen blinked, surprised by her sudden outburst. "What do you mean?"

"I mean... you could talk to anyone. You're Owen Cross. Everyone here either wants to be your friend or be noticed by you." Ava's voice softened as she tried to explain herself. "I don't get why you're spending time on me."

Owen stared at her for a moment, his smile fading slightly as he straightened up. "You think just because people like me, I can't be interested in someone who's... different?"

"I'm not different," Ava said quickly. "I just... I keep to myself."

"And that's what I like about you," Owen said, his voice sincere. "You're not caught up in all the drama. You don't care about the social ladder. That's rare around here."

Ava didn't know what to say. She had spent most of her time at Fortwood trying to be invisible, and now Owen was telling her that was exactly what had caught his attention.

"I don't know what you want from me," she admitted, feeling vulnerable under his gaze.

Owen's expression softened, and for the first time, Ava saw something deeper in his eyes—something more than the charm and confidence he usually showed the world. "I'm not trying to get anything from you, Ava. I just want to know you."