Chapter 2 Unfinished Business

Kenzie

“Alright everyone,” Miss Ana clapped her hands together once the last student had settled into their seats, instantly quieting the classroom. “I know it’s the first day back, but unfortunately for all of you, summer vacation is officially over, so let’s get started.”

Everyone in the class groaned. 

She laughed, setting a pile of papers down on her desk before leaning against it with her arms folded. “It’ll be fine, I promise. You’ll have more work to do, but you’ll survive. Besides, senior year goes by much faster than you think, so enjoy every second while it lasts.”

I wished I shared her optimism.

Instead, every nerve in my body seemed to be focused on the person sitting beside me.

It had been three years since I’d last seen Jace Ryder, yet somehow being this close to him felt like no time had passed at all. The only difference was that the loud, reckless sophomore I remembered had disappeared, replaced by someone who sat perfectly still, and had a crazy good side profile. 

I couldn’t stop wondering whether he still remembered what happened, whether he’d spent the last three years hating me as much as I’d imagined he did, or whether I was overthinking it. 

Slowly, I let my eyes drift toward him.

Even sitting down, he somehow looked intimidating, the sleeves of his shirt hugging his arms as he easily spun a pen between his fingers without looking the slightest bit interested in whatever Miss Ana was saying.

As if sensing someone staring, his head turned and our eyes met.

I snapped my gaze back to the board so quickly I could almost feel my neck snap. 

Nice going, Kenzie.Way to make yourself look completely normal.

“I’d like you all to complete a short introduction project. Since we’ve got new students, returning students, and some very questionable memories after a three-month break, I figured we’d ease into the school year.”

My heart jumped. We had never done something like that, ever. And this was definitely not the right time to. 

She began walking between the rows, placing worksheets on each desk.

“It’s simple. Interview your partner, fill in the questions together, and then you’ll introduce each other to the class.”

Students immediately started murmuring. 

“Oh, don’t look so disappointed,” she teased. “This plays a part in your grades.” 

That caused an even louder collective sigh. 

“Let’s see…” Her eyes scanned from one side of the room to the other before suddenly lighting up. “Why don’t our star cheerleader and football captain work together?”

The room erupted almost instantly.

“Ooooh!”

“That’s actually perfect.”

“They’re literally sitting together.”

I froze.

Please don’t say my name.

Please don’t—

“Kenzie,” she said, pointing toward me before turning to the boy beside me. “And Jace, you two can partner up.”

Beside me, Jace let out the faintest sigh.

I just knew he hated the idea of it but was too cool to say anything. Unlike me. 

“Can’t I partner up with someone else? Avery? Candice?” I looked around the room. “Or maybe even Cass, she’s new too.” 

Miss Ana gave me a weird look like I was crazy. 

“Any reason why you don’t want to work with Jace?” 

Everyone turned to me, including Jace who was grinning from ear to ear. 

“Uhm…” 

“Great. Moving on.” 

I laid back in my chair in defeat. 

I could feel his gaze on me before even looking. I didn’t know if he was thrilled or angry about us being paired up, but I truly didn’t want to find out. 

Eventually, the class came to an end and I wasted no time in packing my things and rushing out of the class. But as soon as I got to the door, I heard a voice that wasn’t Avery or Candice’s call out my name. It was Jace. 

He held up the paper Miss Ana distributed. “Don’t we have a paper to do?” 

I nervously smiled. “Maybe later, I have to get to class.” 

I turned around and hurriedly walked out. Avery and Candice caught up to me and forced me to stop walking.

“Kenzie!” 

“Hm, yes?” 

“Are you okay?” 

I took a deep breath. “I’m okay, just first day nerves.”

“Or you mean Jace is so incredibly cute nerves?” 

I rolled my eyes. “Avery, please.” 

“What, I’m just being honest.” 

“Alright,” Candice said, narrowing her eyes at me. “Start talking.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“The weird tension.”

“There wasn’t any tension.”

“There was enough tension to power the entire school.”

I rolled my eyes. “You two are exaggerating.”

Avery walked quietly beside us, her backpack slung over one shoulder as she watched me with that annoyingly observant expression she always wore whenever she knew something I didn’t.

“No, Candice is exaggerating.”

“Ugh whatever.” 

“But…” Avery continued, “…there was definitely something.”

I looked away.

“Nothing happened.”

“So why didn’t you want to partner up with him?”

“Exactly my point.” 

“What actually happened between you two?” 

“It was a long time ago,” I mumbled.

Candice blinked. “So there was something.”

Before either of them could ask another question, the warning bell rang through the hallway.

“We’ll talk later,” I said quickly. “I don’t want to be late.”

The conversation thankfully died there even though I could still feel Avery staring as we walked to the next class. 

I was in the middle of choosing seats, but as luck would have it, I look up and see the one face I was hoping not to. 

“Oh, you’ve got to be kidding me.”

“What?” Candice asked. 

I didn’t respond. My eyes were fixated on the person walking through the door. 

Jace walked in with a smug look and took a seat at the end of the third row. Sean sat beside him saying something that had both of them giggling.

So he could smile. Just not around me.

“Kenzie?”

Candice followed my gaze before bursting into laughter.

“No way.”

Avery looked between the two of us before shaking her head.

“I guess you’re not escaping him today.”

“Apparently not.”

Luckily, this classroom was arranged differently. Candice slid into the seat beside me while Avery took the desk behind us, leaving Jace across the room without either of us having to acknowledge the other.

Thank goodness.

By lunchtime, I’d somehow managed to survive three classes without speaking another word to him.

But I kept seeing him everywhere. It was becoming excruciatingly painful to watch him laugh and talk to Sean and the other football players, especially with memories of the version of him that looked at me like I was the worst mistake he’d ever made.

The final bell echoed through the building before I knew it.

Thankfully, the rest of the school day passed Jace-free.

After stopping by my locker, I grabbed my cheer bag and headed toward the girls’ locker room. 

“You survived,” Candice smiled at me. 

“Barely.”

“Girl, today was not your day at all.” She laughed and Avery joined in. 

I stared at them. 

“It’s not funny.” 

She shrugged while tossing me my pom-poms. “It is.” 

A few minutes later, we were lined up inside the gym, waiting for Coach Carter to arrive.

She walked in carrying a clipboard under one arm, her whistle already hanging around her neck.

“Welcome back, ladies,” she said, smiling. “State Championships are only a few months away, which means we don’t have time to waste. This year will be harder than any season before, and if you plan on wearing this uniform until graduation, I expect commitment.”

The gym fell silent.

“Good. Let’s get to work.”

Practice dragged on for almost two hours before Coach finally dismissed us.

Every muscle in my body ached as I slung my bag over my shoulder and made my way toward the student parking lot.

Taking the shortcut past the football field had become a habit.

But today, I almost wished it hadn’t.

Most of the team had already left except Jace

He rounded the track one last time, sweat dripping down his forehead as he crossed the finish line just as Coach Thompson blew his whistle.

“That’s enough for today, Ryder.”

Jace bent over briefly, catching his breath before straightening again.

That was when he noticed me.

Our eyes met across the fence. For one strange second, neither of us looked away.

I quickly adjusted my bag and started walking again.

As I passed the gate, footsteps sounded behind me.

“Got something to say?”

I stopped.

Slowly, I turned around.

Jace stood a few feet away, his breathing still uneven from practice. 

I opened my mouth but nothing came out.

“Didn’t think so.”

Then he walked past me, leaving me standing there wondering why, after three years apart, he still looked at me like I’d ruined his life.