The sky was painted in burnt oranges and dusky purples as Grace made her way across the quiet campus. Her steps were slow and purposeful as her fingers were loosely wrapped around a small notebook. The old library loomed in the distance, it was quiet and almost eerie at this hour.
It was supposed to be just another casual day, gathering intel as she pieced together the puzzle. But then she heard them. Voices that were low and urgent.
She paused immediately, ducking behind one of the tall stone pillars near the entrance. The familiar tone of Professor Callahan cut through the air followed by Derrick's unmistakable scoff.
"You're not listening. We've waited long enough," Callahan said angrily.
"You said patience, remember? That was your word," Derrick retorted back irritatingly.
Grace slowly peeked around the stone, just enough to see them and Callahan was standing stiffly in his pressed shirt and tie, Derrick stood near the library wall with that same smugness he wore when he lied to her face.
"I said patience when things were moving. Now they're stalling,' Callahan said impatiently.
He moved closer to Derrick, dropping his voice to a harsh whisper, though Grace could still make out the words, "Principal Duncan should've been gone the moment those videos went viral. His failure to control the school, to protect its reputation, he should've stepped down."
Grace's eyes widened. So it was about the principal all along.
"Maybe because we acted too soon? You said it yourself, Jax and Grace turned the school upside down after we leaked those videos. But instead of chaos, they got sympathy," said Derrick sarcastically.
Callahan slammed his hand against the wall near Derrick's head, causing Grace to flinch where she hid.
"No. We need more. We've already made Duncan look weak in front of the board. The parents are restless, and the committee is turning on him." Callahan said with a low growl.
Derrick shook his head, looking bored, "And you think the board will just hand you the principal's seat after that?"
"They won't have a choice."
Grace's heart hammered in her chest. She knew Callahan was ambitious but this was too low for him.
"We'll push him just a little more. Another scandal. Another blow. Then I'll step in as the one with the solutions," Callahan said dangerously.
Then Derrick shrugged, "Fine. But this time, I want in on the payoff."
Callahan then smirked, "You'll get your share son."
Grace heard everything. "Son." That was another confirmation they were really related. And then Derrick said something that made Grace's stomach twist, "I still think you should've let me ruin Grace a little more. She was falling for it."
Callahan's expression shifted with amusement, "Let her go. We will have others. For now, keep watching her."
Grace slipped back behind the pillar, adrenaline pumping hard, she knew she couldn't stay any longer.
---
Grace moved quickly, her heart pounding in her chest, until she reached a side gate. She checked twice over her shoulder before slipping out, then she pulled out her phone and speed dialed, "Jax, it's worse than we thought."
Jax was in his apartment and he heard the phone buzz on his nightstand. He was sitting at his desk, scribbling out plans, lists of connections and timelines. He had been restless for days, knowing something bigger was in motion, "Grace? Where are you?"
"By the old library. Callahan and Derrick were there." Her voice shook but it was steady.
"They're planning to push Duncan out. That's why they used us. We were their pawns."
Jax stood immediately, grabbing his jacket, "I'll meet you in twenty."
Later that night in an empty classroom, Grace paced as Jax listened, she told him everything she overhead.
"He wants the principal's seat. He's playing chess while everyone's playing checkers."
Grace nodded, "And Derrick really played me. What annoys me the most is that he pretended to care."
"They tried to destroy us, now it's our turn to destroy them." Jax snarled.
Then Jax pulled out his phone and slid it across the desk toward Grace, "I've been working on something."
Grace looked at the phone, folders of screenshots, audio recordings and even hacked schedules.
"I've been tracking Callahan for weeks. His meetings. His private calls. We just needed motive and now we have it."
Grace exhaled slowly something shifting behind her eyes, "Now we got proof and we go to Principal Duncan."
Jax's smirk returned with a dangerous glow, "Time to end this."
---
On Saturday evening, the sound of pins crashing blends with music and scattered laughter could be heard. It was a perfect, chaotic background for a much needed night out.
Grace, Amber and Maya walked into the bowling alley, while Grace clutched her oversized tote bag like it was her emotional support animal.
Maya finally breathed out, "If I hear the word suspension one more time, I'm throwing myself into the gutter. And I'm not talking about the bowling lane."
Amber grinned, "Which is why we're here. Stress therapy through competitive humiliation."
Grace chuckled, shaking her head as they approached the counter to the rent shoes. Just as Maya was about to launch into her 'bowling strategy,' Amber froze mid-step, "Uh. is that Jax?"
Grace following her gaze, "Of course it is."
And sure enough, Jax was there, leaning casually against a vending machine, tossing a bowling ball between his hands like it was baseball. Rowan and Theo were beside him, arguing about something pointless, probably.
"Fate...you messy little bitch," Maya dramatically whispered.
Jax spotted Grace and there it was. That look. Like the room narrowed, and all the lights filtered through the cocky grin.
Grace exhaled and squared her shoulders, "Play it cool."
"You're so not cool right now," Amber snickered.
They moved to their lane, Lane 9. Coincidentally, the guys were in Lane 10. Was that a coincidence or cosmic joke? No one knew.
It was fun mid-way through the game. More fun than they expected. Maya kept aggressively trying to beat Theo's score, who was playing along like it was the Olympics. Amber and Rowan sneaked glances at each other when they thought no one was looking.
Grace threw a spare, turning with an easy smile, only to find Jax watching her from his seat, chin dropped on his hand. "You bowl better than I thought," Jax teased.
"You thought wrong," Grace smirked.
They held their gazes for another second too long and then Amber coughed on purpose, then Grace snapped out of it.
"Okay, I'm getting snacks. Anybody want anything?" asked Grace.
"Fries! And a milkshake," Amber grimaced as she turned to Theo. "You? What do winners drink?"
"Victory. In the form of soda." Said Theo.
Grace headed toward the snack bar and Jax stood and fell into step beside her without asking.
At the snack counter, they stood in line, not saying anything at first. Jax swayed lightly hands in his pockets, "So...what are we?" Jax asked casually.
Grace frowned, caught off guard, "Ordering snacks."
Jax chuckled, shaking his head, "No, Grace. We. What are we?"
Grace looked at him pretending to contemplate, "Like a metaphor?"
Jax nodding, "Exactly. Metaphorically speaking."
Grace's lips curved slowly, amusement sparking in her eyes, "We're a matchstick and gasoline."
Then Jax lifted a brow, "That sounds dangerous."
"It is." Grace replied.
He grinned, but it was softer this time, "I was thinking more...storm and anchor."
Grace titled her head, "And which one are you?"
Then Jax gazed at her deeply, "depends on the day."
Then they both realized they were both holding up the line and Grace quickly ordered some fried and two milkshakes while Jax handled the sodas.
As they waited, he nudged her lightly with his shoulder, "Thanks for not slapping me when I climbed into your bedroom."
Grace who was grinning replied, "I was close."
Back at the lanes, Maya was shouting, trying to psych Theo out as they bowled. Amber sat on the bench next to Rowan, pretending to check her phone.
"This is kinda fun," Amber said quietly.
Rowan glanced at her smirking, "Only kinda?"
Then Amber shot him a mocking glare and Rowan leaned in, brushing his fingers against hers briefly, "Don't let anyone catch you blushing."
Then Amber whispered, "I'm not blushing."
"Whoa! Amber! Are you blushing?" Maya said loudly.
Grace and Jax came back at the exact wrong moment, balancing trays of snacks.
Amber flailed, "No! It's hot in here."
"It's an air-conditioned bowling alley," Grace suspiciously mused.
Maya gasped stepping closer to Rowan, "Wait. Was it you?"
Rowan, ever the calm one, shrugged, "I plead fifth."
Jax smirked as Amber tried to bury her face in her milkshake, "You guys are terrible at hiding things."
Grace sat beside Amber and grinned knowingly, "It's okay. We won't tell. Yet."
Amber groaned as Rowan offered her a high-five that she reluctantly returned.
Then Maya winked at Grace, "This is the best bowling night ever."
As they dug into the fries and drinks, the tension ceased and for the first time in a long time, everything felt normal.
And Jax? He stole one of Grace's fries and didn't even deny it.