Chapter 1
Bianca Blackwell almost texted Jaxon Gardner one hundred times during semester break because death would get to her if she didn't get at least one conversation with him. Ever since the midterm show, she felt as if Jax had the same feelings as she did towards him, and she hoped during the break she'd get a text from Jax finally confessing those feelings. Though a text wouldn't be as sweet as in person, Bianca needed something to help her survive the days until school started back up again.
During the break, Bianca kept her phone glued to her side at home so she wouldn't miss the buzz of a text. Even when she didn't get a notification, she pressed her phone on every minute in case a text magically appeared. That's when she decided she wouldn't send him a text; she would tell Jax how she felt in person if he didn't tell her first.
So the morning when semester break was over, Bianca clicked her phone screen on, revealing her lock screen of a photo she took from Jax's Instagram. He had a childish, toothy grin while his hands rested on a piano. Looking at the photo made Bianca's stomach churn with fluttering butterfly's that made her anxious with excitement. Her glossed lips curved into a smile that on the outside seemed small and subtle, but on the inside if one could see, beamed as bright as Jax's smile in the photo. Bianca's mom, who walked into the kitchen where her daughter had been, caught Bianca gazing at her phone screen. She snuck behind her and peered over her shoulder.
"That doesn't look like your co-star, Hunter," Mrs. Blackwell commented. Bianca's shoulders jolted and she fumbled desperately pressing the lock screen button to shut the phone off.
"We broke up a year ago mom," Bianca reminded. As her mom pulled out a chair next to her, Bianca felt the embarrassment about to come when Mrs. Blackwell gave her a teasing grin.
"Then who was that?" Mrs. Blackwell pointed to her daughter's phone. Bianca's cheeks warmed, and she pulled the phone close to her lap.
"Bee, you don't have to be shy around me," Mrs. Blackwell said. Bianca sighed, lifting her phone to the table and turning on the lock screen. Her cheeks got rosy as she showed her mom the photo up close.
"Aw, he's adorable", Mrs. Blackwell cooed, making Bianca cringe silently. "So who is he?" she asked again. This time, Bianca couldn't help but smile ear to ear.
"Jaxon Gardner from school," she said. "He's a DJ." Mrs. Blackwell noticed the enthusiasm in her daughter's voice and the admiration she had for the boy from Keaton.
"Then how come he's playing piano in this picture?" Mrs. Blackwell asked.
"Well he plays piano but he's shy about," Bianca explained. "He's classically trained in seven instruments."
"Oh, so this is the boy you worked with on that midterm project?"
Bianca's face beamed as she nodded.
"You like him don't you?" Mrs. Blackwell guessed from her daughter's expression.
"A lot mom," Bianca told her. "And I think he likes me too." Bianca paused to remember the midterm show when she and Jax had exchanged glances. They weren't sitting next to each other like she had wished, but the look Jax gave her felt like more than just a look of a friend. To Bianca, it totally was a 'I've got a crush on you look.'
"I guess this is the wrong time to mention this then," Mrs. Blackwell said.
"Mention what mom?"
"That Hunter's mother tells me he still really likes you Bee," she said. Bianca shut her eyes and rubbed her forehead.
"Mom, he's the one who broke up with me," she clarified.
"I know, but you two were so perfect for each other," Mrs. Blackwell said. Bianca shook her head so her mom could get the message.
"I didn't think we were," Bianca confessed. Her mom frowned slightly.
"So you're sure you don't like him?"
"I'm telling Jax that I like him today," Bianca said. "Does that answer your question?"
Mrs. Blackwell tried to smile, but Bianca wasn't convinced.
"Yes honey. I hope it goes well."
"It will," Bianca said, slinging her bag around her shoulder after standing up from the table. "Bye mom."
"Bye Bee." Mrs. Blackwell walked over to Bianca to kiss her head. "Remember, if Jax doesn't end up liking you back, there's still a boy out there for you."
Bianca headed towards the door, but she paused to say something first. "I will never like any other boy than Jaxon."
It was true. Bianca thought about it as she walked down the halls of Keaton. She felt more determined than ever to tell Jax that she liked him. I mean, she thought about him every single day during the break. She almost wanted to text him one hundred times. She had his picture as her lock screen. He deserved to know that she had a crush on him.
Bianca waltzed right into Mr. Park's classroom as confident as she felt on the first day of school. She saw Jax sitting next to Miles and he was wearing a dorky sweater only he could pull off as adorable. Jax had the cutest grin on his face that showed his dimples, making Bianca squeal on the inside. Hunter had dimples, but his never made her feel this way. Besides, Jax's were way cuter. Bianca smiled and started to walk towards Jax. She wanted to ask him how his break was, but Jax had said something at the same time.
"You go first," he said.
"How are you?" Bianca asked.
"Awesome," Jax said, grinning. Miles eyed both of them.
"I'm great too, thanks for asking," Miles said. Bianca sat down next to Jax, ignoring Miles and Mr. Park walked right in at that moment.
"Woah Mr. Park, still rocking the vacation button," Jax joked. Bianca turned to him and laughed unusually loud. She stopped when she saw that no one else had thought Jax's joke was that funny. Jax seemed to have enjoyed his own joke though, that's why Bianca laughed with him.
"Okay. Jax and his jokes are here," Mr. Park said. As Jax smiled and saluted to his classmates, Bianca gazed at him. She admired his silly personality so much that she could watch him tell jokes all day.
Mr. Park continued to take attendance, taking note that Alya was no longer in the class.
"So it's true?" Jax leaned to Miles. "She's really not coming back?" Miles looked down and shrugged.
Bianca waited for Jax to lean back in his chair and she prepared herself mentally, taking a deep breath, then faced the DJ.
"Can we talk after class?" Bianca whispered.
"Sure what about?"
"Well I kind of like someone," she told him. Bianca grinned and she almost squirmed out of her seat when Jax smiled shyly at her.
"Oh yeah? Me too," he confessed. Bianca's cheeks rose into wider smile. Her heart beat rapidly and she wanted to blurt out her feelings right there in front of everyone. Finally, would Jax confess his feelings for her?
"Really," Bianca asked. "Who?"
Just then, a girl poked her head into the classroom, wearing the most obnoxious smile Bianca had ever seen. She even waved her little fingers so utterly obnoxious at Jax. Bianca wished they would fall right off her hand.
"There she is," Jax cheered.
Bianca gaped as her heart shattered into a million stupid Jax pieces. There's who? Jax's crush? No way was that dancer girl, Jenna Jax's crush. He liked her. The one he had asked to the midterm show. The one he had sacrificed his biggest secret for. The one he gave a cute glance to. The one who couldn't stop thinking about him over break. Bianca was sure that he thought of her over the break too. Were her eyes broken? Surely they weren't the same eyes that saw Jaxon Gardner give her a cute glance at the midterm show.
Bianca turned away from Jax so he wouldn't see her face. She took in a breath but didn't let it out right away. Her brain felt like it had been mixed around with an electric mixer and her heart settled into her empty stomach, left to freeze. Bianca sunk into the chair as her hands clutched the edges. She pressed her lips together to keep her emotions from showing outwards to the other students.
Bianca Blackwell does not cry. Not in front of her Keaton friends.