After a long night of thinking through every option, Jaxon, Lena, and Ethan finally agreedâthey needed to go to the principal.
It wasn't an easy decision. Jaxon had wanted to go right away, his frustration bubbling under the surface, but Lena hesitated. What if they brushed it off? What if it made things worse? Ethan had been the one to sigh heavily, running a hand through his hair before saying, "If we don't do something now, he's going to keep thinking he can get away with this. And I can't stand by and watch that happen."
That was what tipped the scales. Jaxon and Lena exchanged a glance, silently coming to the same conclusion. They couldn't just let it go.
So, together, the three of them walked into the office the next morning, ready to tell the truth.
---
The principal's reaction had been exactly what she had feared.
Jaxon sat at the edge of the bleachers, elbows on his knees, gripping his hands together tightly. The moment they mentioned that what Ryan did happened outside of school grounds, the principal all but shrugged. There was nothing he could doânot without concrete proof.
That was the moment Jaxon realized the system was built to protect the wrong people.
He clenched his jaw, staring at the court below.
"This is bullshit," he muttered under his breath.
Lena, sitting beside him, nudged his knee with hers. "I know. But you don't have to carry all of this alone."
Jaxon let out a slow breath, his eyes meeting hers. "It feels like I do."
Before she could respond, the gym doors swung open, and the basketball team made their way inside, their sneakers squeaking against the polished floor.
Lena noticed the way Jaxon straightened slightly, his entire posture shifting. He was preparing for a fight.
"Jaxon?"
His eyes stayed locked on a particular figure near the frontâRyan.
Lena followed his gaze, and her stomach clenched. Ryan walked in like nothing had happened, joking around with his teammates, grinning like he owned the place.
Jaxon stood abruptly. "I'm done."
"Wait, what?" Lena grabbed his wrist, concern flaring in her chest.
Jaxon exhaled sharply, glancing toward the court, then back at her. "If he plays, I don't."
Lena's eyes widened. "Jaxon, this isâ"
"The biggest game of the season? Yeah, I know." Jaxon's voice was even, but Lena could hear the storm brewing underneath. "But I'm not stepping on the court with him. Not after everything he's done."
Lena swallowed, watching as Jaxon's grip tightened into fists.
"I need to talk to Coach."
She let out a slow breath before nodding. "Okay. I'll be right here."
Jaxon hesitated, his eyes lingering on her for a second longer before he turned and strode toward coach's office.
Lena's pulse quickened. She knew Jaxon was risking everythingâhis position on the team, his future, his chance to play in front of college scouts.
But she also knew one thing for sure.
Jaxon Walker wasn't the kind of person who backed down from doing the right thing.
Even if it cost him everything.