Surge - Maya Nicole Page 0,12

wore the swimmer's body better than anyone I had ever seen, including Olympic athletes. He had a long torso with broad, muscular shoulders and abs that were enough to get me to get back in the water.

"All right, I'll start." I moved my chair a smidgen away from Jax. "Besides the yearbook retreat, I visited ten colleges, got some reading done, and completed a level in my dance program."

"Are we allowed to ask questions?" Jax turned his body toward me so the distance I had created disappeared.

His leg touched mine, and all I could focus on was the heat permeating through my jeans. He cleared his throat after a moment and I blinked at him. "Questions?"

"Yeah, about what you did over the summer." He smirked. "Your answers aren't satisfying my curiosity."

"Is there something going on between you two?" Ashley asked with a roll of the eyes.

"No." We both answered at the same time, and the others laughed.

The last thing I wanted was for people to get the impression that something was going on with me and Jax. He was hot, but that didn't detract from the fact that he and his friends were taking a not so positive interest in me.

"Ask whatever questions you want."

"Are we talking ballet or exotic dancing?" The group laughed.

My ears felt like they were burning and I scrunched my nose. "Not that I have anything against exotic dancers, they can make a lot of money and express themselves in a way a lot of us can't, but no. I ballroom dance. I've been doing it since freshman year."

"Isn't that for old people?" Ashley was getting on my nerves. She was usually not a problem, but maybe Jax's attitude was influencing her.

"No. There are plenty of younger people who ballroom dance." Yes, I was one of the few dance students still in high school, but didn't any of them watch Dancing With the Stars or So You Think You Can Dance? "Who's next?"

"What kind of books do you read?" Ashton asked.

I didn't know how to answer that. I read a lot instead of watching television or playing video games and had discovered a whole new world through indie authors. I decided to keep it vague. "Paranormal stuff."

Ashley laughed and my face heated. She knew what I read because I had recommended several books to her last year. "Don't be shy. We're supposed to get to know one and other better. She reads reverse harem."

"Harem as in multiple partners?" Ashton's mouth hung open. "That's-"

I rolled my eyes. "The woman has three or more love interests and doesn't choose. They all love her and protect her. It's empowering to read." Jax's stare made me shift in my seat. "Jax, what did you do over the summer?"

"Swimming." We all looked at him to continue as he stared back at me. "I also volunteered my time with a non-profit organization that rehabilitates marine life affected by human negligence."

So much loathing dripped from his voice that we all reared back. He said human like he wanted to murder everyone in their sleep.

The rest of the group quickly shared before class ended. Once the bell rang, I pretended to be working on the computer until Jax left. I’d had enough confrontation for one day.

"Riley, make sure you shut the door all the way when you leave. I have a meeting." Mr. Garcia clicked off the projector and walked through the inner door that connected the classrooms in the building.

Jax walked out of the room without a glance back, and I breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank fuck."

Tory laughed. "He is something else. I guess when you have a body like that there has to be some kind of flaw to make the universe happy." She picked up her bag and turned off her screen. "See you tomorrow."

I was left alone and shut down my computer before taking a minute to put my head in my hands. Senior year was supposed to be the best year of high school. We were entering adulthood and making decisions that would affect our futures. We weren't supposed to act like children. Targeting me for something my father's company did was ridiculous.

"Riley." My head snapped up and I was face to face with Jax, who had somehow snuck back in the room without a sound. He was leaning against the door.

I put my bag over my shoulder and stood. "Stay away from me."

He laughed and held up his hands. "What do you mean? I'm not even near