HIGH SCHOOL SWEETHEARTS

Chapter 9 : The balcony .

Emma's POV :

The night air was crisp, a welcome relief from the stuffy house and overwhelming noise inside. I followed Jax out to the balcony, still trying to process what had just happened. The way he'd stepped in, how protective he'd been—none of it made sense. He barely knew me, but there was something in his eyes that night, something that felt... different.

I leaned against the railing, looking out at the dark expanse of trees beyond the yard. The breeze tugged at my hair, sending a light shiver down my spine. It was quiet out here, away from the chaos of the party, but the silence felt more intense with Jax standing just a few feet away.

He didn't say anything at first, just walked over to where I stood and leaned against the railing next to me. I stole a quick glance at him—his jaw clenched slightly, eyes staring out into the distance like he was thinking about something important.

After a few moments, he turned to me, his gaze softening. "You cold?"

I shrugged, trying to downplay it, but another breeze swept by, making me shiver again. Before I could respond, he was already pulling off his jacket.

"Here," he said, handing it to me.

I hesitated, but he gave me a look that made it clear he wasn't taking no for an answer. I took the jacket, wrapping it around my shoulders. It was warm, the smell of his cologne lingering on the fabric. I couldn't help but feel a little self-conscious, like I didn't deserve this small act of kindness.

"Thanks," I murmured, pulling the jacket tighter around me.

Jax leaned back against the railing, crossing his arms over his chest. For a moment, we both just stood there, the quiet between us heavy but not uncomfortable. It felt... safe, somehow.

"You didn't seem like you were having fun in there," he said after a while, his voice low and almost careful.

I shook my head, looking down at the ground. "I wasn't."

"Why'd you even come, then?" His tone wasn't accusing, just curious.

I sighed, my fingers fidgeting with the sleeves of his jacket. "Sophie. She and Miles thought it would be good for me to get out, meet people. But... I don't know. I guess I don't really fit in with this kind of thing."

Jax didn't say anything right away, but I could feel his eyes on me, like he was trying to figure something out.

"Does it bother you?" he asked finally.

I looked up, caught off guard by the question. "What?"

"Not fitting in," he clarified, his gaze steady. "Does it bother you?"

I blinked, not sure how to answer. Did it bother me? I'd always felt out of place, whether it was in New York with my grandma or here in Ridgeview. But I'd gotten used to it, learned to live with the distance between me and everyone else. Still, Jax's question dug deeper than I expected.

"I guess," I said softly. "Sometimes."

He nodded, like he understood more than he let on. There was something about the way he looked at me, something that made me feel like I didn't have to pretend around him. Like it was okay to admit the things I usually kept hidden.