The hallway was so quiet you could hear a pin drop after Cassia's demand. Ellie was practically vibrating with anger next to Louisa. Jayden, who had been a silent observer until now, finally moved. The subtle shift in his posture, the clenching of his jaw visibly relaxing, drew every eye.
He stepped forward, placing himself not directly between Louisa and Cassia, but slightly to the side, his presence nonetheless a clear statement.
His gaze, cool and steady, settled on Anya first. "There's no need for that, Sterling." His voice, though calm, carried a weight that silenced Anya's triumphant smirk.
The casual dismissal from the school's de facto king was a far more effective reprimand than any yelling.
He then turned his attention to Cassia, his expression softening infinitesimally, a ghost of the affection they once shared flickering in his blue eyes. "Cassia," he began, his tone measured, "let's not make this a huge deal."
Cassia's composure, which had been regaining its icy grip, wavered slightly at his direct address. "Huge deal? Jayden, she wore my irreplaceable dress! And now it's ruined!"
Her voice rose with a renewed surge of anger. "She needs to understand the consequences."
"I think everyone understands the situation is… unfortunate," Jayden said, his gaze flicking briefly to the stained garment bag in Louisa's lap. "But demanding immediate payment in the middle of the hallway isn't going to solve anything."
"And what will?" Cassia challenged, her arms crossed defiantly. "Are you suggesting she just walks away from this?"
Jayden's gaze returned to Louisa, a flicker of something unreadable in his eyes. "Wren said it was an accident. That she intended to return it."
He paused, then looked back at Cassia. "Perhaps we can discuss this… privately? Find a more… reasonable solution?"
His suggestion hung in the air, surprising everyone. Was Jayden actually defending Louisa? Offering her a way out? The whole hallway vibe totally shifted.
Anya scoffed. "Reasonable? For a thief?"
Jayden's gaze flicked back to Anya, a sharp warning glint in his eyes. "Let's stick to the facts, Sterling. Making stuffs up just make things messy."
He then turned back to Cassia, his voice softer now, almost persuasive. "Come on, Cass. Let's talk. In my study. We can figure this out, without the entire student body as our audience." He offered her a small, almost hesitant gesture.
Cassia hesitated, her anger battling with the fact that it was JAYDEN asking. Plus, having a private chat might be better than this public disaster.
The hallway buzzed with anticipation, everyone waiting to see how she would respond to his unexpected intervention.
Cassia's gaze flickered between Jayden's outstretched hand and Louisa, still kneeling on the cold floor, clutching the nylon bag like a shield.
The raw humiliation of yesterday, compounded by Anya's impulsive slap, warred with the undeniable pull of Jayden's presence and the subtle plea in his eyes.
The attention of the entire hallway was a tangible weight, pressing down on her decision.
Anya scoffed again, breaking the tense silence. "Don't fall for it, Cassia. He's just trying to protect her."
Jayden's gaze flickered to Anya, a sharp warning that made her bristle, but he didn't verbally engage. His focus remained on Cassia.
After a long, agonizing moment, a flicker of calculation replaced the anger in Cassia's eyes. A private conversation with Jayden, away from the judging eyes of the student body, might offer her a better opportunity to understand his baffling behavior and to ensure she received proper restitution.
Publicly refusing him might also appear petty or vindictive.
With a curt nod, she relented. "Fine, Jayden. Let's talk." Her tone, however, remained icy, promising that this was far from over.
She shot a final, venomous glare at Louisa before turning and walking with Jayden towards the administrative wing, leaving Anya fuming in their wake.
As Jayden and Cassia disappeared from view, the spell that had held the hallway captive finally broke.
A wave of murmuring rippled through the crowd, everyone was trying to figure out why Jayden was suddenly Team Louisa.
Anya, her face still flushed with anger, turned on Louisa, her eyes blazing. "This isn't over, Wren. Don't think for a second that King's little show changes anything. You still owe Cassia big time."
She gave the nylon bag a nasty look before stalking off, her own entourage trailing behind her.
Louisa finally looked like she might actually cry. Her shoulders slumped, and the hand that clutched the nylon bag trembled slightly.
"Lou," Ellie said softly, kneeling beside her, concern etched on her face. "Are you okay?"
Scarlett helped Louisa to her feet. "That was… intense. What do you think Jayden's playing at?"
Louisa shook her head, her mind still reeling. "I… I don't know. But I have a feeling this is just the beginning."
The temporary reprieve offered by Jayden's intervention felt fragile, a thin shield against the storm that was surely yet to come.
The stained dress in her bag was a constant, tangible reminder of the trouble she was in, and Jayden's enigmatic actions only added another layer of uncertainty to the already precarious situation.