HIGH SCHOOL SWEETHEARTS

Chapter 14 : A fracture in the Night .

Jax's POV:

After a few moments of silence on the balcony, Emma and I returned to the party, and I felt a renewed energy coursing through me. As we stepped back inside, the music thumped through the air, and laughter echoed off the walls. I spotted Miles and Alex at the snack table, their faces lit up with excitement as they joked about the latest horror movie.

"I'll be right back," I said to Emma, giving her a reassuring smile before heading over to my friends. They welcomed me with a round of high-fives and playful jabs about my newfound relationship.

"Look at Jax, all smitten," Alex teased, throwing an arm around my shoulder.

"Shut up," I shot back with a grin, trying to ignore the heat creeping into my cheeks.

But as the night wore on, I felt a growing sense of unease creeping into my gut. I glanced around the room, searching for Emma. She had wandered off with the other girls, and although I trusted her, something felt off.

Just then, a commotion broke through the laughter and music. Shouts echoed from the other side of the room, and my instincts kicked in. I didn't hesitate. "I'll be right back," I muttered, pushing through the crowd toward the source of the noise.

As I approached, I heard unmistakable voices rising above the din. It was Emma and Sophie, and I could tell from their tones that something serious was happening. My heart raced as I moved closer, trying to make sense of the argument.

"I can't believe you'd even think that, Sophie! How could you say something like that?" Emma's voice was sharp, filled with an anger I had never witnessed before.

"You don't get to act all high and mighty, Emma!" Sophie yelled back, her face flushed. "You think you're better than everyone because you're dating Jax now? Newsflash: You're not special. Your own mother chose me over you!"

The words hung in the air like a toxic cloud, and my stomach dropped. I knew that this was personal for Emma, and the raw hurt in her eyes struck me like a punch. I had never seen her like this—fired up and unapologetically furious.

"Sophie, that's completely uncalled for!" I interjected, stepping into the heated exchange. "What the hell is going on?"

Both girls turned to me, the tension in the room palpable. Emma's blue eyes glimmered with unshed tears, but she held her ground. "She thinks she can just joke about my family like it's nothing!" Emma shot back, her voice trembling with emotion.

I turned my attention to Sophie, who looked taken aback by my presence. "You can't just make jokes about someone's family, especially something that serious. That's not okay."

Sophie rolled her eyes, crossing her arms defensively. "It was just a joke, Jax! It's not my fault if she can't take a little teasing."

"Teasing? This isn't teasing!" I could feel the anger boiling within me, and I fought to keep my voice steady. "You don't know what she's been through. You have no idea how that kind of comment can affect someone."

Emma stood beside me, her breath coming in quick bursts. I could see her trying to rein in her emotions, but I could feel the hurt radiating off her. "You think just because my own mother chose me over that makes you better than me , huh? Well you're wrong," she said, her voice low but fierce. "I'm tired of you , of mom and this sick city . You don't get to do everything you want just because your dad spoiled too much because you didn't have a mother and now that you have one , that doesn't make you her real daughter, ever!."

Sophie scoffed, her expression softening slightly. "EXCUSE ME?? WHO THE FUCK YOU THINK YOU ARE!!."

I stood in shock, i never seen Emma so furious and her outburst made everyone silent .

There was a moment of silence, the air thick with tension. I could sense that the confrontation had shaken Sophie, but Emma has left.

With that, she turned on her heel and walked away, leaving Sophie speechless. I could see the conflict in Sophie's eyes as she watched Emma leave.

"Jax, I—" she began, but I didn't let her finish.

"You need to apologize to her, Sophie. That was out of line, and you know it," I said, my voice low and unwavering.

"I didn't mean—"

"Doesn't matter," I cut her off, my patience running thin. "You hurt her, and you need to make it right. If you care about our friendship, you'll do better."

I stepped away, my heart racing, searching for Emma in the throng of partygoers. I found her sitting in the backyard on the couch next the pool , her expression a mix of anger and vulnerability.

"Hey," I said softly, stepping beside her. "Are you okay?"

She looked up at me, her blue eyes shimmering with emotion. "I'm fine," she said, but the quiver in her voice betrayed her.

"No, you're not," I replied, gently taking her hand in mine. "I'm really sorry about what Sophie said. She shouldn't have brought that up."

Emma sighed, leaning back against the wall as she closed her eyes for a moment. "I just... I thought I was finally fitting in, and then she had to say something like that."

"You are fitting in," I reassured her. "And you stood up for yourself. That was brave."

"I don't feel brave," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "I feel like I'm always on the outside looking in."

I squeezed her hand, trying to convey my support. "You're not on the outside anymore. You're with me. I won't let anyone treat you like that, especially not Sophie."

She looked up at me, her expression softening. "Thank you, Jax. That means a lot."

"Come on," I said, trying to lighten the mood. "Let's get back to the party. I promise I won't let anyone ruin our night."

With a small smile breaking through her earlier frustration, Emma nodded, and we headed back into the lively atmosphere of the party. As we rejoined our friends, I felt a renewed sense of determination. No matter what happened, I would protect her—and together, we could face anything that came our way.