HIGH SCHOOL SWEETHEARTS

Chapter 1 : The after maths of the party.

                                    Jax''s POV

The piercing sunlight stabbed through the heavy curtains, landing right on my face. I groaned, rolling over in bed and instantly regretting it. My head felt like it was about to split open, the dull throb from last night's party at my dad's mansion still pounding behind my eyes. The smell of booze and cigarette smoke clung to my skin, a reminder of how far I'd let things go.

I blinked at the clock on the wall. 7:30 AM.

"Shit,"  I muttered. First day of senior year and here I was, hungover and barely able to think straight.

The night before was a blur. Music blasting, people I barely knew drinking and crashing at the house, the endless supply of my dad's expensive liquor flowing until the early hours. That old man was never around to care what I  did—some big corporate deal always had him flying across the world. The mansion was my playground, but today, I was paying the price.

Dragging myself out of bed, I stumbled into the bathroom and splashed cold water on my face then took a cold shower to wake the shit out of me . I stared at my reflection in the mirror—messy dark hair, eyes bloodshot, the shadow of a smirk still hanging on his lips. Typical.

"First day of school," I muttered to myself , shaking my head. "Perfect."

Throwing on a black T-shirt and jeans, I grabbed my leather jacket from the chair. I felt the weight of expectations pressing down on me—teachers expecting me to screw up, the other students either intimidated or eager to see what I'd pull next. It was all a game to me, one I was good at playing.

As I walked down the grand staircase of the empty mansion, the silence hit me. It was always like this after a night of chaos—quiet, empty, and lonely. But I didn't care. I'd be out the door soon, back into the only place where I felt even a little alive: the unpredictable world of Ridgeview High.

Hungover or not, the show had to go on.

I went inside the garage and I grimaced as I saw all the thrown red cups around. I needed to call Harry for a deep house cleaning and I doesn't think I can handle her lecturing with the shitty headache I have right now .  I kicked the plastic cups from his way and opened the door of my sleek black Mustang.

I drove away from the garage and started my car , I played Swimming Pools by Kendrick Lamar on the screen. I passed the private neighborhood with its fancy houses . This was the richest neighborhood in the small city of Ridgeview . I kept driving as I noticed my best friend Alex standing on the porch of his house with his girlfriend  Olivia . Alex has been my best friend since middle school , he had always been the loud one, the life of the party, and Jax's partner-in-crime. Olivia was his balance—a little quieter, but tough, and never afraid to tell Alex when he was being an idiot which i liked about her .

I pulled on the roadway and rolled down the window . "What's up man?!" I smirked as Alex approached me with a smile .

"You look like shit" Alex smirked and opened the door for Ol and climbed in the passenger seat next to me .

"Well don't except me to look perfect after last night" I smirked as he started driving to the high school.

"Jax ? Can you tell that bitch to stop texting me ?" Ol said annoyingly from the backseat

"Who?"  Alex and I  said in the same time.

"Amanda?! The fuck she thinks i am for begging me to let her talk to you" she rolled her eyes and continued typing harshly on the screen of her cellphone. Amanda was my ex girlfriend from a last year , our relationship wasn't that serious , we just hooked up . She was a rich girl from a rich family, the type that doesn't take no for an answer, always the receiving the princess treatment from her daddy . The reason I ended things is because i didn't do relationships before they started into something annoying and she's been trying to get back with me since .

* * * * * *

I parked my car near the front of the parking lot like i always did , no one dared to take my spot . I stepped out , throwing my sunglasses on despite the overcast sky, my head still aching from last night. I lightened a cigarette , taking a long drag . Olivia wrinkled her nose but didn't say anything. She'd long since stopped trying to get me to quit.

She looped her arm trough Alex's , her eyes scanning me . "You should've stayed sober, Jax. First day back and you're already trashed?" She smirked, but there was a hint of concern behind it.

I shrugged "it's tradition."

Together, we made our way toward the school entrance, weaving through the crowds of students catching up after the summer. The buzz of energy in the air was unmistakable—laughter, shouts, the hum of excitement everyone felt, except me. In my eyes , this was just another year to get through.

As we approached the doors , I noticed the usual stares. People watched me like I was some sort of walking myth—the rich bad boy, untouchable and unpredictable. My reputation preceded me, just the way I liked it. I gave the crowd my trademark smirk, the one that made people whisper and roll their eyes, but deep down they all wanted to see what I'd do next.

"Showtime," Alex whispered with a grin, nudging me.

I walked in like I owned the place, my boots echoing through the crowded hallway. People parted without me even asking, some of them nodding in acknowledgment, others trying not to make eye contact. I gave a few half-hearted nods back, but mostly kept my focus forward. This was my territory, and everyone knew it.

Senior year had officially begun, and I was ready to play the part.