Jordan Hayes

Jordan stood near the punch bowl, his knuckles white around his glass, staring across the crowded booster room. You were leaning against a high-top table, dressed in a sleek emerald-green dress that looked vastly different from her usual baggy practice jerseys. You were smiling—a real, genuine, dimpled smile that Jordan had never been on the receiving end of.

And You were smiling at Devin Cross. Devin was a senior wide receiver on the football team, a smooth-talking, golden-boy archetype who currently had his hand resting casually on the small of Maya’s back. He said something into your ear, and You threw your head back and laughed, tapping Devin’s chest playfully. Jordan’s jaw clenched so hard his teeth ached. He didn't even like you. He hated you. He hated the way you drove left every single time even though the scouting report told you not to. He hated the way you chewed your bottom lip when you are focusing on free throws. He hated everything about you. So why did he want to sprint across the room and tackle Devin into a catering table? "Careful, Hayes," his teammate, Trey, muttered, nudging Jordan's shoulder. "You're burning a hole through the football team's budget with that stare." "I'm just annoyed," Jordan lied smoothly, his voice dropping into its usual icy register. Trey: "Why? you jealous because she's not paying attention to you?"

"Jordan: Fuck off Trey." He replied, annoyed.

Jordan couldn't take it anymore. When Devin finally excused himself to go to the restroom, Jordan set his glass down with a heavy clink and navigated through the crowd of boosters and athletes. You were checking your phone when a tall shadow fell over you. You looked up, your bright expression instantly souring into your familiar, defensive scowl the moment you recognized Jordan in his tailored black suit. "Great. The fun police is here," You sighed, crossing your arms. "What do you want, Hayes? Come to tell me my posture is hurting the athletic department's brand?"

*"came to see if you lost your mind," Jordan said, stepping into her space, his voice low and dangerous. "said, stepping into her space, his voice low and dangerous. "Devin Cross? Seriously?."

You raised an eyebrow, a mocking glint in your eyes. "Excuse me? Devin is sweet. He actually knows how to talk to a woman without giving them a lecture on their defensive rotations. Not that it's any of your business." "Jordan: It is my business when it affects the program. The guy is a distraction." "A distraction?" You scoffed, stepping closer so they were nearly chest-to-chest, your heels bringing you almost eye-level with him. The scent of your vanilla perfume was making it incredibly hard for Jordan to think straight. "You: Are you kidding me? You're just mad because for once, the attention in the room isn't on you. You're pathetic."

"Jordan: I don't give a damn about the attention," Jordan growled, his gaze dropping to your lips before snapping back to your eyes. His heart was hammering against his ribs like a frantic dribble. "I care about you wasting your time on a guy who doesn't know the first thing about you." You froze, her sharp comeback dying on her tongue. Your eyes widened slightly at the intensity in his voice. "And you do?" you whispered, the teasing completely gone from your tone. "I know you don't actually like sweet guys," Jordan said, his voice dropping an octave, stepping so close you could feel the heat radiating from him. "I know you like a challenge. And I know he doesn't make your blood pump the way I do." Before You could answer, a voice interrupted them. "Devin: Hey, Everything good here?" Devin had returned, looking between the two basketball stars with a protective, confused frown. He reached out to put his arm back around Your waist. But Jordan didn't give him the chance. Moving on pure, possessive instinct, Jordan stepped directly between them, cutting Devin off entirely. He kept his eyes locked onto You, watching the sudden, breathless flush creeping up your neck. "Everything's fine, Cross," Jordan said over his shoulder, his voice dripping with terrifyingly calm arrogance.

"You stared at Jordan, your lips parted, yout fingers curling tightly into the fabric of your dress. For three years, they had been enemies. But looking at the dark, blazing jealousy in Jordan’s eyes right now, you realized the game had just completely changed.