Chapter 1.

Maya’s POV.

"Please,” I begged, my voice trembling. "Please, just open it."

I was struggling to breathe. My palm slammed against the bathroom door again, but it was useless, laughter cut through from the other side.

I heard Tiffany giggle.

"Did she say something?" Jaxon asked, his voice filled with joy.

The walls of the bathroom pressed in. I pressed my forehead to the cool wood, tears dripping down my nose, my chin. I didn't care anymore. I couldn't.

"I….I…I….can't breathe." I stammered. "Please. Jaxon. Please."

"Maybe if you weren't so big, you'd have more air." Tiffany's voice.

More laughter. My legs folded.

I slid down the door while they were still laughing, landed on something hard.

"Don't cry," Tiffany called out. "You're already ugly. Don't give us nightmares.”

After what felt like an eternity, the door burst open. I threw my arm up, but it was too late.

The light burned. When I lowered my arm, Tiffany was there. Perfect blonde hair, pink lips and smile.

She bent down. Her voice went soft, like she actually cared.

"Aww. You okay in there?" She tilted her head. "So… you still want to be a cheerleader ?"

My whole body shook. My jaw hurt from clenching.

"No," was the curt response I managed to give.

Her smile grew. She straightened up, looked back at the others.

"See? That's more like it." She flicked her hair over her shoulder. "Come on, guys. The smell in here is ruining my perfume."

Their footsteps faded. The hallway went quiet.

I sat on the floor for a long time. I don't know how long. My body shook and I couldn't make it stop.

Hot tears kept coming even when I had nothing left. Finally, I crawled out. My backpack was soaked.

I opened it, my geography book. The pages were wet and wrinkled, the words blurred into nothing.

I wiped my tears and lifted my bag to hide my face as I walked out of the bathroom. Not like they'd care, but they'd come for me again.

I was seen as the ugly, chubby girl, who wore rags to school. That gave most students the upper hand against me, and they made sure to show me just how worthless I am.

I hated this school. But what choice did I have? Leaving meant becoming exactly what my father said I was….useless.

Being bullied by Jaxson was not enough, Tiffany took joy in making my life a living hell.

She used every opportunity to prove she was better than me in all aspects and I never argued.

I pushed open the school gate and stepped out into the cold and headed home.

The house was dark when I opened the door.

"Where the hell have you been?!" His voice hit me before I even got the door closed.

He was on the couch. Same spot he always was, empty beer cans on the table. His eyes red and mean.

I didn't answer. What was the point?

"Useless," he spat. "Lazy and useless. Coming in here at all hours. You know what? Quit school. You're not smart enough for it anyway. Get a job. Pull your weight around here for once."

My father's usual words. I'd heard them so many times they didn't even feel like words anymore. Just noise.

I walked past him. Up the stairs, my room was small. I sat on my bed and stared at the wall until my breathing went back to normal. Then I opened my laptop.

He said he'd stop paying. He meant it. He always meant the cruel things. So I needed money, fast.

I don't know what I did to deserve such hatred from my dad. He hated me ever since my mum ran away from him. But who wouldn't run away?

I scrolled through job listings. Fast food. Retail. Nothing that would pay enough, nothing that would work with school. Then I saw it.

“Live-in tutor and babysitter. Private residence. Room and board plus salary. Start immediately.”

My fingers shook as I typed out the application. I didn't have time to be careful or perfect, I just hit send and hoped.

An hour later, my phone buzzed.

The message came; “You're hired. Can you move in today?”

Today? I stared at the message.

I packed before I could think about it. There was no time. I wasn't wanted here anyway.

My clothes, my ruined book, a photo of my mom before she left. Not much else. My whole life fit in one bag.

I went downstairs. He was still on the couch. Still watching TV.

"I got a job," I said. "Live-in. I'm leaving." I paused. "Today."

He didn't look at me. Just waved his hand. "Good. Less money I have to spend."

I waited. For something, anything, a look, a word. But there was nothing. I walked out the door.

The address took me to Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills. I didn't need anyone to tell me this was elite.

I stood in front of the big gates, made a quick cross sign, and pressed the bell.

A man opened the door. Old, grey face. He looked at me like I was a package being delivered.

“Maya,” I managed to say.

"Follow me," he commanded.

I followed, the house was huge. Marble floors. Stairs that curved. Paintings on the walls that probably cost more than everything I'd ever owned.

"Your room is upstairs. Don't go into the east wing. Don't touch anything that doesn't belong to you. Meals are in the kitchen. Questions?"

"No," I whispered.

He stopped at a door. "Wait here. I'll get him."

He disappeared. I stood in the hallway. My hands were sweating. I wiped them on my jeans.

This was it. This was my fresh start. Away from school, from my dad. away from Jaxson….

Footsteps on the stairs.

I straightened my back, pasted on a smile. Ready to meet the boy I'd be taking care of.

I turned around, the smile died on my lips.

Jaxson stood in front of me.

Of all the houses in Beverly Hills…

It had to be his?

The butler's voice came from somewhere behind. "This is the boy you're to tutor.”

Jaxson smiled evilly.

Living in the same house with my bully? Fuck!

Chapter 2.

Maya’s POV.

I didn't wait for him to speak. I turned and walked toward the direction the butler had pointed earlier.

My hand found a door and I pushed inside.

Small room, a bed, desk and window. I dropped my bag and pressed my hand to my chest, trying to slow my heart.

"You can't just walk away from me." His voice came from the doorway.

I turned around. Jaxson leaned against the door, arms crossed, watching me.

"I'm tired," I responded, my voice barely above a whisper. "I'll start tomorrow."

"Tomorrow." He was closer now. "You said we'd start tomorrow." His hand reached out and knocked a small lamp off the dresser.

It hit the floor with a crack, I jumped. My back hit the wall.

He kept coming.

His hand landed on the wall beside my head. Then the other hand. I was in-between him.

My heart slammed against my ribs, I couldn't breathe.

Up close, he was different.

His jaw was sharp, his lips were full, the bottom one slightly bigger than the top. His nose had a small bump on the bridge, like it had been broken once. It should have made him less perfect. It didn't.

His eyes weren't just blue. They were grey-blue with flecks of gold. His skin was tan.

He leaned in, his mouth near my ear. His breath on my neck.

"I hate being controlled," he whispered. “So….. I will choose a day but definitely not tomorrow.”

Then he pushed off the wall and walked away. I pressed my hands to my face. What was wrong with me?

He was my bully, he locked me in that closet, he laughed while I begged. I hated him.

So why did my stomach flip when he got close?

No boy had ever been that close to me, ever looked at me like that.

“I hated him…..I hated him,” I chanted, until my heart finally slowed.

The next morning, I stood in the kitchen, clutching a mug of coffee I didn't want. I hadn't slept.

Footsteps. I looked up.

A man walked in. Tall, older. The same sharp jaw as Jaxson, but brown eyes. He smiled at me.

"You must be Maya,” he said in a low tone. "I'm Richard. Jaxson's father."

I nodded, my throat tight.

"Welcome to our home." He poured himself coffee. "I hope my son hasn't been too difficult. He can be... challenging."

I didn't know what to say, so I just nodded again.

"You're in the same school with Jaxson," Richard said. "Same grade, I'm told. So you'll ride together."

I smiled. “Th……”

"No." Jaxson said, interrupting me. He stood in the doorway, his eyes cold. "No way. She's not riding with me."

Richard's eyes narrowed. "Jaxson."

"She's…." Jaxson stopped, stared at me. His lip curled. "Fine. Whatever."

Richard smiled at me again, oblivious. "See? Settled."

I wanted to scream.

---

The car was black. Bigger than any car I'd ever been in. I sat on one side, pressed against the door.

Jaxson sat on the other, as far from me as possible. His jaw was tight. His hands were fists.

He kept glancing at the rearview mirror, like he was making sure no one was watching us.

We drove in silence for ten minutes.

"Stop the car!" Jaxson barked.

The driver glanced back. "Sir?"

"You fucking heard me. Stop the car!"

The car pulled over. Jaxson leaned across me and shoved the door open.

"Get out."

I stared at him. "What?"

"I said get out,” he said, his voice low and mean. "There's no way I'm showing up to school with you. You think I want people seeing me with someone like you?"

The words hit like a slap.

"I can't…." My voice cracked. "It's far. I don't know the way."

"Not my problem." He grabbed my bag and threw it onto the sidewalk. Then he pushed me hard.

I stumbled out of the car, landed on my hands and knees on the cold ground. The door slammed shut and the car drove away.

What did I do to deserve this? I had no money.

I walked the rest of the way. I didn't know how long it took. My feet hurt. My eyes burned but I wouldn't let them cry. I bit my lips hard.

I got to school forty-five minutes late.

The hallway was empty. Everyone was in class. I slipped into the bathroom and looked in the mirror.

I was a mess. My hair was wild, my clothes were dirty from the sidewalk. I looked every bit the riffraff I felt I was.

I splashed water on my face and tried to fix my hair. It didn't help.

The bell rang.

I walked to class. Opened the door. Every head turned.

"There she is," Tiffany sang. "Late and looking... well. Like she slept in a dumpster."

Laughter filled the classroom.

I kept my eyes on the floor and walked to my seat.

"Seriously though," Chloe whispered loudly. "Do you smell that? What is that?"

More laughter.

Jaxson sat in the back. He didn't laugh. He didn't look at me at all.

I stared at my desk. My hands shook, my throat burned. I pressed my nails into my palms.

Don't cry. Don't cry. Don't cry.

---

By the time I reached the house, my feet were blistered. Jaxson made me walk home again.

I went straight to my room, locked the door and sat on the floor.

The tears came. Hot, fast and ugly. I pressed my hands to my mouth so no one would hear.

I cried until even the tears betrayed me. Then I showered.

A knock.

"Maya." The butler's voice. "Young master is ready for his tutoring session. His room. Down the hall. Now."

I stared at the door. This was my life now. Must Jaxson always be on my face?

With a sigh, I walked down the hall, stopped in front of his door. Knocked.

"Come in."

I pushed it open.

His room was huge, dark walls, and a bed that looked too big for one person. And him, sitting on the edge, looking at me.

I stepped inside. The door clicked shut behind me.

"I'm here," I said. My voice was flat.

He didn't move or speak. Just watched me with those grey-blue eyes.

I waited.

Then he said, "Sorry."

I blinked.

“Uh?”

Chapter 3.

Maya's POV.

I blinked.

Like my eyes were trying to reset my brain because there was no way those words just came out of his mouth.

"Sorry?" I muttered.

He stood up. Walked toward me.

I stepped back, my back hit the door. He kept coming, stopped inches away. His eyes searched my face like he was looking for something.

I didn't know what, I didn't know anything anymore.

"For this morning," he said. His voice was low and husky. "Pushing you out of the car. Making you walk." He paused. "That was... fucked up."

He was close, I could feel the heat coming off him. My heart was doing that thing again. The stupid thing.

I couldn't breathe, not because of fear this time. Because of something else. Something worse.

"It's fine," I whispered. I needed him to move, needed air. I needed to think straight. "Really. It's fine."

I reached for the door handle behind my back.

His hand caught my wrist.

"Wait."

I looked up. His face was right there. Inches. His breath on my lips.

"I'm not done."

And then his mouth was on mine.

My brain stopped, it went blank.

He was kissing me. Jaxson. My bully, he was kissing me.

I should push him. I should. But my hands... my hands were in his hair. When did that happen? When did my fingers tangle in that dark mess? When did I start kissing him back?

His hands found my waist. Pulled me closer. Then higher. His palm cupped my breast and I made a sound I'd never heard myself make before.

Something small, something desperate.

He broke the kiss. His forehead pressed to mine. His breathing was ragged.

"Say you want more." His voice was rough. "Say it."

I couldn't think, couldn't breathe, couldn't do anything but feel. The heat of him. The hardness of his chest. The way his thumb moved against my right nipple.

"Please," I whispered. I didn't know what I was begging for.

“Please what?” he asked, his voice low and husky.

“Please kiss me,” I replied, pulling him closer.

His lips found my neck.

I tilted my head back and let him. My hands gripped his hair, pulling him closer, needing more.

An alarm blared, ruining everything.

Jaxson jerked back like he'd been burned. He stared at me. His eyes were wild.

"Shit." He ran a hand through his hair. "Shit. I have somewhere to be."

He grabbed his bag. His jacket. Didn't look at me.

The door slammed.

I stood there, pressed against the door. My lips tingled, my chest heaved, my whole body was on fire.

I touched my mouth with shaking fingers.

He kissed me, Jaxson kissed me.

And I kissed him back.

I don't remember walking back to my room. One moment I was against his door, the next I was sitting on my bed, touching my lips like they belonged to someone else.

I pressed my hands to my burning face. My world was interrupted when a knock came in.

"Maya." The butler. "A word."

I opened the door. He stood there.

"The child you'll be babysitting arrives next week. Chelsea. She's ten. Young master's sister."

Sister? Jaxson had a sister?

"Where is she now?" I asked.

"With Mr. Richard. They're visiting family." He paused. "You won't interact with her until they return. Questions?"

I had so many questions. About Jaxson's mother. About why no one mentioned her. About why this house felt so empty for such a big family.

"No," I said.

He left.

I spent the rest of the day in my room. Staring at the ceiling. Touching my lips. Wondering.

Jaxson didn't come back that night. I knew because I listened. Because I hated that I listened. Because I caught myself waiting for footsteps that never came.

******

Morning came too fast.

The driver dropped me at the gate, Jaxson left earlier to school.

I pushed it open.

People were staring, a group of girls by the steps. Some guys near the basketball court. They looked at me and whispered.

One girl covered her mouth. Another shook her head with something like disgust.

I glanced down at my clothes. Same as always. Hand-me-down jeans. A sweater with a small hole near the cuff. Nothing new.

So why were they looking at me like that? I walked faster. Kept my eyes on the ground. I pushed open the classroom door.

Silence.

Every head turned. Every single person in that room stared with the same expression.

Disgust.

"There she is." Tiffany's voice cut through, "The desperate chick."

I frowned. "What?"

“I always knew you were pathetic." She stood up. Walked toward me. "But this? This is a new level. Even when he looks disgusted, you still cling to him?”

"I don't know what you're….."

She turned her phone around and my world stopped.

It was me!

Against a door, my hands in his hair, my lips moving against his. My voice, saying "please kiss me" over and over.

Begging, while Jaxson's face stayed cold, he did nothing. He just stood there and let me make a fool of myself.

But that's not what happened. I grabbed the phone. Tiffany let me.

The video was edited. He made it look like he was rejecting me, like I was some desperate, disgusting girl throwing herself at him while he tried to escape.

I scrolled through the comments under the video.

“Desperate.”

“Embarrassing.”

“Someone get her some self-respect.”

“Imagine begging like that and still getting rejected.”

Tiffany snatched her phone back. My vision blurred.

The bell rang.

Everyone moved to their seats, laughing and snickering, while my phone buzzed, messages from numbers I didn't know.

“Saw the video. Yikes.”

“Do you have no shame?”

“Delete yourself fr.”

I turned my phone off, and for the first time, I didn't tell myself not to cry.

Because what was the point?

Jaxson kissed me just to destroy me.