Jayden King - Rise of The Reegan

That day marked a turning point for Jayden. He had apologized to Benjamin, a gesture that melted the icy tension between them, even if only slightly. This wasn’t the first time they’d clashed, but deep down, Jayden knew things couldn’t keep spiraling the way they had. Time wasn’t waiting, and neither was the weight of his conscience.

For Jayden, change wasn’t an option; it was a necessity. He had grown into someone more compassionate, someone who tried to look out for others instead of shutting himself off from the world. Yet, this transformation came at a cost—an unshakable conviction that he was cursed. Jayden carried the guilt of having killed an innocent student, a young life snuffed out for no reason other than being in the wrong place at the wrong time. That guilt consumed him. No amount of kindness could rewrite the past, but redemption, however hard it seemed, became his only focus.

One night, as he walked through the quiet streets, an unsettling sensation prickled at the back of his neck. Someone was following him. He couldn’t see them, but he felt their presence—a shadow in the boundaries of his awareness. And yet, when he turned around, there was no one. The stillness of the night mocked him. The sense of familiarity kept grabbing his attention, as though he should know this ghost that haunted his steps, but he dismissed it, blaming his anxious mind for imagining things that weren't there.

As the days passed, life at school fell into its usual rhythm. The tension from his fight with Benjamin vanished slowly, but the undercurrent of change remained. Then, a new ripple disrupted the surface—a new student. Her arrival was anything but subtle.

She was strikingly beautiful, with long, glossy hair and an aura of quiet grace. Her presence captured the attention of everyone in the hallway. Every head turned, including Jayden’s. He couldn’t help but watch as she made her way to her locker, seemingly unaware of the stir she was causing. And then, it happened—a basketball came hurtling through the air and struck her in the back.

She flinched and spun around, confusion written all over her face. Her wide eyes searched the crowd, finally landing on the culprits—a trio of girls standing casually by the stairs, their smirks dripping with evil. These weren’t just any girls; they were the self-proclaimed rulers of the school since The Crows ceased to exist.

Unlike the infamous Crows, who once enjoyed spreading torment and cruelty, this new group wasn’t as destructive but had carved out their niche in bullying. They lacked the sophistication of their seniors but made up for it with audacity. Felix’s death had silenced the Crows, but in that void, these girls had risen, eager to claim the throne of high school cruelty.

The girl *Newcomer* stood frozen, her discomfort visible as the bullies erupted into laughter, their cruel amusement echoing in the corridor. The other students shifted their gazes, their silence as loud as the mockery. No one dared to step forward—no one except Jayden.

“Leave her alone!” Jayden’s voice cut through the air like a blade, sharp and commanding. The three girls froze, their laughter abruptly silenced. Rita, the leader of the group, narrowed her eyes but didn’t dare push her luck. Jayden’s reputation wasn’t something to toy with, and they’d been warned before. With a few grumbles, they turned on their heels and left, though their retreat was anything but graceful.

Jayden stepped closer to the girl, offering a kind smile to ease the tension. “Hi, I’m Jayden,” he said, his tone softer now.

She looked up, her expression cautious but grateful. “Rose,” she introduced herself, her voice as delicate as her name. “Thank you for stepping in. I didn’t know what to do.” A smile spread across her face, lighting up her features.

Jayden felt an unfamiliar warmth bloom in his chest. Her eyes—soft and expressive—seemed to shimmer when she smiled, making her already striking appearance even more captivating.

But Rose’s arrival was already stirring the school’s social ecosystem. To many of the girls, she wasn’t just the new student—she was a threat. For weeks, there had been an unspoken competition among them: who would be the lucky one to win a date with Jayden to the prom? Before Rose’s appearance, Rita, the self-assured leader of the new bully group, had been the frontrunner. She carried herself with an air of entitlement, fully convinced Jayden was hers for the taking.

But seeing Jayden smile at Rose—laughing with her—was like pouring gasoline on Rita’s already fiery temper. Her clenched fists and forced grin told a story of barely-contained jealousy as she watched them from across the hall.

Jayden and Rose, oblivious to the brewing storm, were already hitting it off. They chatted as they walked to class, their laughter echoing through the hallways. It didn’t take long for their growing friendship to become the talk of the school.

Rita, however, was outraged. By lunchtime, her frustration had reached a boiling point. She gathered her loyal minions in the corner of the stairwell, pacing back and forth as one of them ranted. “This girl needs to be dealt with,” she spat, her eyes flashing with determination.

“She’s nothing but a distraction. She’ll be gone soon enough.” Rita said.

Her cronies nodded along, eager to please but unsure how to contribute. Rita didn’t need their input, though. After an hour of ranting and scheming, she designed a plan—one she believed was foolproof. She would ensure Rose stayed far away from Jayden, at least until prom. Once Rita secured Jayden as her date, she was certain she could charm him into forgetting anyone else existed.

Meanwhile, Jayden and Rose spent the rest of the day together. After class, they joined Benjamin, Ivy, and Monty in the cafeteria, where they quickly fell into easy conversation. Rose fit in seamlessly, her friendly nature and genuine kindness earning her a spot among the group.

“I’m thinking about getting a new hair dye,” Ivy mused, twirling a strand of her hair thoughtfully.

“Go for the red!” Monty exclaimed, snapping his fingers with exaggerated enthusiasm. “It’s bold, it’s daring—totally you!”

The table erupted in laughter, but their cheeriness was interrupted by the sound of Rose’s phone buzzing. She glanced at the screen, her expression shifting slightly as she excused herself. “Sorry, I need to take this.” She stepped away to answer the call, her voice dropping to a murmur.