C6 Chapter Six:When the Heart Starts to Notice

Jayden (POV )

Jayden Hale had always been the kind of guy people noticed — the captain of Crestview’s basketball team, the one who laughed loud, scored high, and never took anything too seriously.

But lately, he was the one doing the noticing.

And it was always her.

Elena Ward.

The quiet girl who sat by the window. The one who always seemed to drift through the halls like a secret no one had taken the time to uncover.

He’d seen her before — in class, at lunch, walking home alone. But ever since that day he’d walked her home in the rain, something had changed.

Now, even when she wasn’t looking, she was in his head.

The way she smiled shyly when she spoke.

The way her fingers brushed her hair behind her ear when she was nervous.

The way she said his name softly — like it meant something she didn’t want to admit.

And yet, he couldn’t ignore what he saw yesterday.

Noah.

The transfer student who seemed to know her better than anyone else — who looked at her like she was a memory and a promise at once.

Jayden leaned against his locker, headphones around his neck, pretending to scroll through his phone while his eyes searched the hallway for her. He found her near the stairs, talking quietly to Noah again.

No smiles this time. Just low voices, heavy and unsure.

Jayden’s jaw tightened before he could stop it.

He didn’t even know why it bothered him so much. He had no claim over her. He barely knew her. But something about seeing her with Noah made his chest tighten, his pulse beat faster, his thoughts blur.

“Bro, you good?”

His teammate Mason nudged him, breaking his trance.

“Yeah,” Jayden muttered, straightening. “Just… thinking.”

Mason smirked. “About her, huh?”

Jayden shot him a look. “What are you talking about?”

“Come on, man. Everyone’s talking. You’ve been staring at Elena Ward like she’s the only girl in Crestview.”

He rolled his eyes. “You guys see too much.”

“And you say too little,” Mason teased, then walked off toward class.

Jayden sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. Maybe Mason was right. Maybe he was starting to fall for her — quietly, unexpectedly, and completely.

⸻

Later that afternoon, basketball practice did little to clear his head.

Every time the ball hit the court, he thought of her voice.

Every time he made a shot, he remembered the rain sliding off her hair when they’d shared his umbrella.

By the time Coach dismissed them, he was restless.

As he walked out of the gym, he saw her again — sitting on the bleachers, sketchbook in hand. Alone.

For a moment, he just watched her. The way her brow furrowed slightly when she drew. The way the sunset touched her face, making her look like something out of a dream.

Then he walked over.

“Hey,” he said quietly.

She looked up, startled — then smiled softly. “Hey. You’re still here?”

“Yeah,” he said, dropping his bag beside her. “Practice ran late.”

She nodded, looking down at her drawing again.

“What are you working on?” he asked, trying to peek.

“Nothing special,” she murmured.

He grinned. “You always say that, but it’s never true.”

Elena’s lips curved slightly. “It’s just the court… and, um—” she hesitated “—you.”

Jayden blinked. “Me?”

She nodded, shyly turning the sketchbook. It was him — mid-shot, caught in motion, every line precise yet soft.

He stared at it for a long time, something warm flickering in his chest. “You really see me like that?”

“I just draw what I see,” she said quietly.

Their eyes met — and for a moment, everything else faded.

Then she looked away, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “Noah’s waiting for me outside,” she whispered.

Jayden’s heart sank, but he forced a small smile. “Right. Of course.”

He stood up, slinging his bag over his shoulder. “Guess I’ll see you tomorrow, then.”

She looked up. “Jayden—”

He turned, meeting her gaze.

“Thanks,” she said softly. “For… noticing me.”

He swallowed hard. “Always.”

As he walked away, her words echoed in his head. Noticing me.

She didn’t realize that noticing her had become the one thing he couldn’t stop doing — no matter how much it hurt.

⸻

Lot of love 🤍

Xoxo 💋