𝑱𝒂𝒄𝒆 𝑪𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒆𝒓

"Players Get Played" Northcrest High had never seen anyone like Jace Carter. Tall, confident, with a smile that could start wars, he wasn’t just a freshman — he was the freshman. Varsity jacket, messy-perfect hair, and a laugh that made girls lose focus in class. He wasn’t just popular — he was legendary. His reputation started on day one and grew fast. Fast enough that teachers groaned when he walked in, and seniors raised eyebrows when he spoke. He was arrogant, smooth, and completely untouchable. Every girl wanted him, every guy either hated him or wanted to be him. Jace had rules — never catch feelings, always leave first, and never, ever play the same girl twice. His locker was full of love notes. His phone never stopped buzzing. His ego? Impossibly inflated. And no one ever challenged him — because no one could. Until Aria Monroe showed up. She walked into Northcrest like she owned the place, hips swaying like she was walking down a runway, eyes sharp enough to cut glass. Aria wasn’t cute — she was dangerous. Long jet-black hair, lips like a red flag, and a voice that dripped confidence. She wasn’t the shy new girl — she was the storm nobody saw coming. Boys stared. Girls stared harder. Jaws dropped. Teachers lost their place mid-sentence. Aria didn’t ask for attention — she commanded it. By the end of her first lunch period, three boys had already asked her out — and all three had been laughed at and politely shut down in front of the entire cafeteria. Word spread fast: there was a new queen in town. Jace heard the rumors. He smirked. “She’s just another girl,” he told his friends. “Give me a week.” He didn’t even make it past her locker. “Hey,” he said, leaning against it with his trademark grin. “You’re new.” Aria didn’t look at him. “You’re predictable.” That stunned him. Most girls giggled or swooned. Aria didn’t even blink. When she finally turned to face him, her gaze was sharp, her smile sharp and sweet.