Outside in the dimly lit hallway, Jayden slumped against the wall, his head thumping back against the cool plaster. He closed his eyes tight, his jaw clenched so hard it ached. His mind was a chaotic, turbulent storm of conflicting emotions, spinning with a frustration that felt entirely beyond his control.
What is she doing to me? He thought, his hand rising to rub at his temples. He tried to manage his breath while walking back and forth in front of the room.
Every single time he found himself within arm's reach of Sarah, this unquenchable, terrifying heat flared up inside him, burning away his logic, his composure, and his pride. She possessed this infuriating, effortless ability to tear his carefully constructed world to pieces, leaving him raw, exposed, and entirely at the mercy of impulses he despised.
