---
The school hallway buzzed with the usual Monday morning energy, but Zoe Harper was in her own world, giggling over something only she and her best friend Ella Cruz could understand. Zoe’s laughter was the kind that filled the air, warm and carefree, a sound that could only come from someone who found pure joy in the simplest things.
“Honestly, Zoe,” Ella grinned, nudging her as they weaved through the crowd. “I swear, sometimes I think you live on another planet. Who laughs this much on a Monday?”
“What can I say?” Zoe shrugged with a wide smile. “Life’s too short to be serious.”
Ella rolled her eyes in mock disapproval but couldn’t help laughing along. As they walked, Zoe’s bright energy seemed to ripple out, drawing glances from those around her. And from the shadows near the back entrance, a pair of intense green eyes tracked her every move.
Jaxon Wilder was leaning against the wall, observing with a mix of curiosity and something else he couldn’t quite place. He’d heard of Zoe Harper before—everyone had. The girl who laughed too much, who somehow managed to find sunshine even in the most ordinary moments. It was the kind of purity he hadn’t seen in… well, ever.
He narrowed his eyes as he watched her, captivated by her innocence and lighthearted spirit. She was different, an anomaly in a place that was all too familiar with judgment and gossip. Watching her was like looking at a light he knew he shouldn’t go near but couldn’t help feeling drawn to.
Zoe and Ella moved closer to his spot as they approached the cafeteria doors, their voices reaching him over the noise of the hall.
“Hey, there’s Jaxon Wilder,” Ella whispered, nudging Zoe subtly. “Careful, I’ve heard he’s trouble. And I mean, serious trouble.”
“Trouble?” Zoe glanced in his direction but didn’t linger. “I’ve heard that too, but I don’t believe in judging people by rumors.”
Jaxon smirked. It was almost amusing, hearing her say that with such sincerity. Most people avoided him, and he liked it that way. But something about her indifference stirred something deeper, making him want to know more.
Zoe shrugged off the thought, her attention already back on Ella, oblivious to the gaze fixed on her from a few feet away. She and Ella entered the cafeteria, and Jaxon let out a low exhale. This girl—this innocent, completely unaware girl—had no idea what she was stirring in him, what strange sort of pull she had.
---
In the cafeteria, Zoe and Ella settled at a table, chatting about their plans for the weekend. Zoe’s laughter floated above the chatter, a light that continued to catch Jaxon’s attention from across the room, even though he tried to ignore it.
“Why do you always have to be so happy?” Ella teased, giving Zoe a playful eye roll.
“I’m just… I don’t know, I like finding little things to smile about,” Zoe replied, her tone so genuine it would’ve seemed naïve if it weren’t so earnest.
Jaxon watched her as she animatedly described her plans, using her hands as she talked, her eyes bright with excitement. She had a way of drawing people in without even trying, and he wondered if she was even aware of it. The idea made him feel a strange possessiveness, a feeling that surprised him as much as it unsettled him.
He shook his head, trying to brush off the thought. Zoe was a distraction he didn’t need, someone who represented everything he’d long since distanced himself from. But as much as he tried to look away, his gaze kept drifting back to her, each laugh, each gesture tugging him deeper into whatever strange fascination this was becoming.
---
As the day continued, Jaxon found himself lingering near Zoe’s classes, watching her interact with teachers and classmates. She had a way of connecting with people that seemed almost effortless, her warmth and kindness radiating in a way that made everyone around her feel seen.
At one point, Zoe dropped her pen, and Jaxon, standing a few feet behind her, instinctively moved to pick it up before she did. He slid it toward her without a word, and for a brief moment, her fingers brushed his as she reached for it.
“Oh, thanks!” she said brightly, not even realizing it was him who’d helped her.
Jaxon didn’t reply, simply nodding and turning away before she could see the flicker of interest in his eyes. His heart raced slightly, a strange reaction he couldn’t quite understand. She hadn’t even noticed him—not really—but her touch, even accidental, left a lingering effect that frustrated him more than he’d like to admit.
---
By the end of the school day, Zoe and Ella headed to the library for some quiet study time, unaware of the silent figure who trailed them from a distance. Jaxon found himself hiding behind the bookshelves, watching Zoe as she focused on her work, her brow furrowing in concentration as she scribbled notes.
“She’s ridiculous,” he muttered to himself, though he couldn’t help the small smile that crept onto his face as he watched her struggle with a math problem. Zoe Harper, the girl who lived for laughter, struggling with simple math—it was an oddly endearing sight, and he found himself amused by her innocent frustration.
Ella finally closed her notebook with a sigh. “Okay, Zoe, if you keep staring at that problem, it’s not going to solve itself.”
Zoe groaned, leaning back in her chair. “Math and I were never meant to be friends.”
Jaxon stifled a laugh, biting his lip as he watched her. He was beginning to understand that Zoe was not only innocent but also completely unaware of the effect she had on others. Her cluelessness only added to her charm, making her seem like a breath of fresh air in a world full of people who tried too hard to be something they weren’t.
---
As Zoe and Ella finally packed up and left the library, Jaxon lingered behind, pretending to browse through books while he watched them exit. He knew this obsession—this silent, growing need to know everything about her—was irrational. He didn’t even know her, not really. But he was beginning to understand that this was no ordinary curiosity. Zoe had unknowingly opened a door he couldn’t close, sparking a desire in him that was becoming harder to ignore.
Walking out of the library after her, he noticed her laughter ringing out in the hallway as she waved goodbye to Ella and headed toward the exit. Jaxon remained at a distance, allowing her light to fade from sight, knowing he’d catch another glimpse of her tomorrow. But as he turned to leave, one thing was certain: Zoe Harper was more than just a curiosity now.
She was a presence in his life, one he couldn’t ignore even if he wanted to. And he didn’t want to.
For the first time, Jaxon felt that maybe—just maybe—he’d found someone worth the risk.
YOU ARE READING
Falling For Trouble
RomanceZoe Harper was sunshine. Unfiltered, blinding sunshine. Jaxon Wilder was the storm, the dark cloud rolling in, casting shadows and changing everything in his path. He'd never noticed her, not really. Zoe wasn't the kind of girl to show up on his rad...
