HIGH SCHOOL SWEETHEARTS

Chapter 12 : An unwelcome Interruption

Emma's POV :

Just as the warmth of our moment settled around me, shattering the lingering tension of the night, the sound of heels clicking against the wooden floor pierced the air. My heart sank as I turned to see Amanda strutting onto the balcony, her perfectly styled hair bouncing with each step. She was the kind of girl who commanded attention without even trying, and in an instant, I felt the glow of our shared moment dim.

"Well, well, well, what do we have here?" Amanda's voice dripped with sarcasm, her perfectly manicured nails tapping on the railing as she approached. Her gaze shifted between Jax and me, a smug smile curling on her lips.

Jax's expression immediately darkened, his body tensing beside me. "Amanda, not now."

She laughed, the sound sharp and mocking. "Oh, come on, Jax. Don't tell me you're actually interested in her." She gestured toward me with a flick of her wrist, her disdain palpable. "What's her name again? Emma? How cute."

I felt heat rise in my cheeks, embarrassment mixing with anger. Who did she think she was? I wasn't just some girl to be dismissed or mocked.

"I'm your girlfriend, remember?" Amanda continued, her tone condescending as she placed a hand on her hip, drawing attention to herself. "You can't just move on to someone like her so quickly. It's not that easy."

Jax's jaw clenched, and I could see the frustration etched on his face. "That's not how it is, and you know it."

"Oh, really?" Amanda shot back, her voice dripping with faux innocence. "Because it seems to me like you're enjoying her company a little too much. Or maybe you're just trying to make me jealous?"

I opened my mouth, ready to defend myself, but Jax spoke first, cutting her off. "Emma has nothing to do with this, Amanda. You're not my girlfriend anymore. That's over."

Her smile faltered for a brief second, but she quickly regained her composure. "Oh, sweetie, you think you can just forget about me? I don't think so. We had something special, and you'll always come back to me. Just like you always do."

The bitterness in her voice made my stomach churn. I felt like I was watching a bad reality show unfold before my eyes, and I didn't want to be a part of it.

"Enough!" I finally blurted out, surprising myself with the strength of my voice. "You don't get to come here and talk to him like that. Jax can make his own choices, and he's not yours to claim."

Amanda turned her gaze on me, her eyes narrowing with irritation. "Oh, look at the little mouse trying to roar. How adorable. You really think he's going to choose you over me?"

I felt my heart race, not just from the confrontation but also from the way Jax's presence beside me felt like a shield against her. He was silent, but I could sense his annoyance brewing beneath the surface, and it gave me the strength to stand my ground.

"Jax and I were having a moment," I said, my voice steady, meeting her gaze with confidence. "You should leave us alone."

Amanda rolled her eyes, crossing her arms. "Moment? Please. It's just a phase, Emma. You'll be yesterday's news before you know it."

Jax stepped forward, cutting off Amanda's taunts before they could escalate further. "You need to leave, Amanda. Now. I'm done with this."

Her expression flickered between disbelief and anger, but she knew she was losing ground. "Fine," she said haughtily, tossing her hair back. "But don't say I didn't warn you, Jax. You'll regret this." With that, she turned on her heel and strutted back inside, the door slamming behind her.

As the echo of her footsteps faded, I turned to Jax, my heart racing from the confrontation. "I'm sorry—"

He shook his head, cutting me off. "You don't have to apologize. I'm sorry you had to deal with her."

The intensity of our moment had shifted, but I could still feel the energy between us. "I just didn't want her to ruin what we had," I admitted, my voice softer now.

Jax stepped closer again, his eyes searching mine. "She won't. I promise."

In that moment, the weight of Amanda's interruption faded, leaving room for something stronger—an understanding that we were both willing to fight against the chaos around us. And as he leaned in once more, I knew we were about to reclaim our moment, stronger than