𝐁𝐋𝐈𝐒𝐒𝐅𝐔𝐋 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐎𝐒 | SPINOFF

CHAPTER FORTY

GRAYSON
MEADOWS

Stella and I kept our distance, not just in school but outside of it too. Our friends found it strange, but we shrugged it off, saying we wanted some peace. The truth was, we hadn't spoken since coming back. She was insufferable, and I was the gas to her flames; together, we were a fire that only ever seemed to burn us both. It had been that way since we were kids—fights, fights, and more fights. Whether it was jealousy over who did better in school or me trying to protect her when she clearly didn't want it, we always found a reason to clash.

I could feel myself getting dangerously close to the edge, my fists clenched as I watched her in the middle of the dance floor, laughing with that guy like he was the funniest person alive. "I don't want him touching her like that," I muttered under my breath, feeling the words twist with irritation. Damon, standing next to me, raised an eyebrow and chuckled.

"Not because I'm jealous or anything," I added quickly, more to myself than him. "Just annoyed that every guy wants her. What's the deal with that? She's not that special."

Damon gave me a look that was half-amused, half-knowing. "Sure, man. Whatever you say. You keep telling yourself that," he said, barely holding back a smirk. "If she's not special, why do you care so much?"

I paused, jaw clenched as I tried to shake off his words. But they dug in, making me feel restless, angry. "Screw it," I muttered, shoving my way through the crowd. "I'll ruin her night if I have to. Maybe that'll put an end to this silence."

I found her, her hand clasped in his, swaying to the music. My blood boiled. Without a second thought, I grabbed her wrist, yanking her away from him. "Hey, man," I said to the guy with a smile that barely hid my anger, "just thought you should know—she's actually pregnant. No one wants to dance with a pregnant girl, right?"

His face contorted in disgust, and he stepped back, shaking his head before disappearing into the crowd. I grinned, satisfaction blooming in my chest as Stella turned to me, mouth hanging open in shock. "Why would you ruin that for me?" she yelled, her face flushed with anger, eyes blazing.

I shrugged, trying to play it off, but there was no denying the thrill it gave me to be the one pulling her back into my orbit, no matter how mad she was. Stella's eyes narrowed, a dangerous spark flaring up. "You are such an ass," she seethed, crossing her arms. "Just because you can't handle the fact that someone else might actually like me—"

"Oh, please." I cut her off, rolling my eyes. "I just saved you from making a terrible decision. The guy had bad news written all over him."

She shoved me, and I barely moved, snarling as she huffed in frustration. "Why do you always do this?" she demanded. "Can't I just have one night without you ruining it?"

I gave her a wicked smile. "Not a chance."

Before she could get another word out, I grabbed her around the waist and threw her over my shoulder. "Let's take this somewhere else," I said, ignoring her protests as I carried her through the crowd, heading for the backyard. She kicked and slapped my back, but I only tightened my hold, determined to get her away from the dance floor.

Once we were outside, I set her down beside the pool, her cheeks flushed and eyes furious. She glared at me, hands on her hips, catching her breath. "You really don't know when to stop, do you?"

I smirked. "I stop when you finally admit I'm right."

"Keep dreaming," she shot back before stepping forward and giving me a hard shove. I stumbled backward, barely managing to catch myself—until her second push sent me right over the edge, into the pool with a huge splash. The shock of the cold water hit me, and I surfaced to see her laughing, her hands over her mouth, triumph lighting up her face. I shook the water from my hair and narrowed my eyes at her.

"Oh, you think that's funny?" I growled, pulling myself out of the pool. Before she could run, I lunged, catching her around the waist and yanking her into the water with me. She squealed, flailing in my arms, but I didn't let go until we both went under, the cool water wrapping around us. As she cursed at me, I just laughed.

I can't stay away from this bratty princess even if my life depended on it. I'd rather stay her enemy than be a stranger.

When we surfaced, laughter and cheers broke out from the people around us who'd come outside to watch the scene. Stella's hair was plastered to her face, her expression a mix of shock and grudging annoyance as she splashed water in my face. "Jerk," she muttered, though her lips were twitching with a reluctant smile.

"Admit it," I said, grinning, "you love the chaos."

She rolled her eyes, but I didn't miss the small laugh she tried to hide. "You're unbelievable," she said, shaking her head as we both tread water, surrounded by the sound of our class students laughter.

Stella lunged at me, her hands pushing down on my shoulders as she tried to dunk me under. I fought back, grabbing her arms and pulling her down with me, both of us cursing each other and splashing as we struggled to stay above the water. She kicked her legs, splashing even more, and I leaned in, smirking as she tried to push me under again. "Fuck you, princess."

"Fuck you harder." she gritted out.

I smiled. "Yeah, you know I like it rough,"
earning a gasp from her. "Is that all you've got?" I teased, grabbing her waist and tugging her closer to unbalance her.

She huffed, her eyes flashing with determination. "Oh, you wish. I'm not done with you yet."

Our friends and classmates gathered around the pool, phones out and flashes going off as they snapped picture after picture, a chorus of laughter and cheers echoing around us. Stella looked up, her eyes widening as she took in the crowd, realizing we'd unintentionally become the main event of the night. She shot me a glare, but the annoyance on her face barely hid her embarrassment. "Great, they're taking pictures," she muttered, her voice laced with irritation as she shoved at my chest, even though she didn't pull away. "They're totally going to post this and say we're dating. Grayson, stop them!"

I shrugged, not bothered in the slightest. I leaned back, letting my smirk grow as I gave her a challenging look. "So what if they do?" I asked with a nonchalant shrug. "Who cares? They already know I'd never stoop to your level, anyway." My grin widened as her eyes flashed in frustration, and I could tell my calm reaction was getting under her skin. She opened her mouth, ready to snap back, but for a second, she hesitated, her cheeks turning the slightest shade of pink.

Her usual fierce expression cracked, and she stared at me, almost as if she couldn't believe my reaction. "What?" she finally managed, her voice losing some of its bite. "You don't care if people think that? Think... think we're dating?"

I moved a little closer, closing the small space between us, just to see how she'd react. "Why should I care?" I said, my tone casual but with an edge of teasing. "Why do you care that much about what people think, princess?" My words hung in the air between us, and I watched as her cheeks flushed even deeper, her bravado faltering slightly as she processed what I'd said. It was rare to see Stella so visibly flustered, and I wasn't about to miss the opportunity to mess with her a little more.

With a frustrated huff, she shoved me again, this time splashing water in my face, her composure fraying. "Ugh, you're impossible!" she practically yelled, the blush on her cheeks undeniable. I just laughed, dodging her next attempt to splash me, letting the water spray around us. "You're the one who dragged me into this fight, remember?" I pointed out, still grinning. "Maybe you secretly like all this attention, hmm?"

Her gaze sharpened, and she gave me a defiant smirk before splashing me again, this time with full force. "As if," she shot back, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "You're the one who can't stay away from me." There was a challenge in her eyes, like she was daring me to contradict her.

"Can't or won't?" I replied, meeting her gaze with an amused smile, leaning just close enough for her to notice without flinching. I could feel the tension between us, a strange mix of competition and something else unspoken. Her smirk faltered for a brief second before she quickly regained her composure, rolling her eyes as if to dismiss me, but I could see the small smile breaking through her usual scowl.

The crowd around the pool cheered louder, a mix of laughter and whistles as they continued capturing every moment. Stella's shoulders stiffened, and I could tell she was both exasperated and unable to hide her own amusement. There was something different in her gaze now, something softer, as if our fight had shifted into unfamiliar territory.