Jayden King - Rise of The Reegan

"I would rather enjoy your company than stay at a party where you aren’t," Jayden said, his voice soft but earnest. As soon as the words left his mouth, panic gripped him. *What if she doesn’t feel the same? What if I’m reading this all wrong?* His palms grew warm, and a nervous sweat pricked at the back of his neck. "I… I’m sorry," he added quickly, his voice trembling as self-doubt clouded his mind.

Rose didn’t respond right away. Instead, she exhaled a shaky breath, her shoulders sagging under the weight of something unseen. "I recently lost my brother in an accident," she began, her voice quiet but laced with pain. "My parents sent me here hoping I could have a fresh start, but…" She lost words as her gaze dropped to her hands, trembling in her lap. "Since I arrived, you’re the only thing that makes me forget, even for a little while."

Her confession hung heavy in the air, raw and vulnerable. Jayden could see the grief written on her expression, the tears welling in her eyes threatening to spill over. She didn’t just miss her brother—she carried the pain of his absence with her every moment of every day.

Before the sadness could overtake her again, Jayden stood up, extending his hand toward her with a small, encouraging smile. "I have an idea let’s make our own prom right here," he said, his tone gentle but full of motivation.

Rose hesitated, looking up at him, before her lips curved into a faint smile. She placed her hand in his, and he pulled her to her feet. They began to sway together under the silver glow of the moonlight, their movements uncoordinated but perfect in their simplicity. There was no music, no rhythm to guide them—just the quiet night and the soft connection between their hearts.

"The moon is so beautiful tonight," Rose murmured, her gaze lifting to the sky.

Jayden didn’t even glance upward. "Yes, it is," he said, though his eyes never left her. To him, the moon couldn’t compare to the way her face glowed in its light, her features radiant and serene. Gently, he cupped her face in his hands, his thumb brushing against her cheek.

Rose’s cheeks flushed a soft pink, and her breath caught as he leaned closer. Her heart raced as she realized what was about to happen, and just before his lips met hers, she giggled nervously and pulled back. "Not here," she whispered with a shy smile.

She took his hand and led him into her house. "Give me a second," she said, slipping into the bathroom.

Left alone in her room, Jayden walked slowly, his nerves running wild. He glanced down at his hands and breathed into his palm, making sure he didn’t smell bad. Satisfied, he ran his fingers through his hair, smoothing it down in front of the mirror. His reflection stared back at him, wide-eyed and hopeful. He tugged at his collar, trying to look presentable, when something caught his attention.

A picture frame lay turned over on the dressing table. Curious, he picked it up, expecting to see a family photo or perhaps a childhood memory of Rose. But when his eyes fell on the image, his excitement drained away, replaced by a sharp pain of heartbreak.

The photograph was of Rose, her parents… and Felix. Jayden’s breath hitched as the realization struck, her words echoed in his memory "I recently lost my brother!"

“This… was her brother?” Jayden whispered, his heart pounding as the realization hit him like a slap across the face. The picture on the table blurred as tears welled up in his eyes. “The innocent student I killed?” His chest tightened at the thought, and his breaths became shallow. The room felt suffocating. He staggered back, panic clawing at him.

“She’ll hate me,” he muttered, his voice cracking. His mind spiraled into chaos. *What am I doing here? How could I let this happen?* The weight of his guilt threatened to crush him. “I can’t stay. I have to get out of here.”

Without another thought, Jayden bolted from the house, his footsteps echoing faintly in the quiet street. The cool night air did little to soothe the storm raging within him. His heart hammered against his ribs as he ran, not knowing where he was going—only knowing he had to get away from her.

Inside, Rose emerged from the bathroom, her smile fading when she saw the empty room. “Jayden?” she called softly, confusion flickering in her voice. She glanced around, hoping he was nearby, but the silence was deafening. Her brow furrowed, and worry crept into her chest. She stepped outside, scanning the street, but he was gone.

The cool breeze rustled her hair as she stood on the porch, her arms wrapped around herself. *Why did he leave? What happened?* she wondered, her mind racing. Then, her phone vibrated in her pocket. Pulling it out, she saw a message from Jayden: **“Sorry, there was an emergency.”**

Rose stared at the screen, her lips curving into a faint, disappointed smirk. “An emergency?” she whispered to herself, not buying the excuse. But as much as she tried to brush it off, the memory of how he had looked at her earlier lingered. His gaze had been so intense, so full of unspoken emotion. She sighed, a small smile tugging at her lips despite the ache in her chest. *Whatever happened, it doesn’t change how he feels. The kiss we missed tonight will happen. I know it will.*

But she wasn’t the only one struggling to sleep that night.

Miles away, Jayden sat in his room, his head in his hands. His breaths came in ragged gasps as tears slipped silently down his cheeks. “What have I done?” he whispered, the guilt ripping him apart from inside like a merciless predator. Memories of Felix’s face flashed before him, and the photo on Rose’s dresser burned in his mind. *How can I ever face her now?*

His hands balled into fists, his knuckles white. He felt trapped, torn between the girl he cared for and the monstrous truth of his past. “What can I do to undo what I’ve done?” he asked aloud, his voice breaking. The silence of the room offered no answers. Exhausted and broken, Jayden eventually collapsed onto his bed, his tears soaking the pillow.

Everything changed that night.

For Rose, her thoughts revolved around Jayden—the way he made her feel, the way he looked at her, the warmth of his touch. She couldn’t shake the certainty that their connection was real, that whatever had caused him to leave wasn’t the end.

But for Jayden, the night was a harbinger of his inner conflict. As much as he cared for Rose, the weight of his secret pressed down on him like a stone. While Rose dreamed of a future together, Jayden lay awake, plagued by the haunting question: *How can I escape her without breaking her heart—or my own?*