The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

Jackson hesitates, glancing away from me and looking down the stairs.

"Jacks!" I gasp, pulling his face back to look at mine, aghast at the idea that he wouldn't come. "You said you! You told my mom!"

"Ariel," he sighs, shaking his head and wrapping the arm around my waist tighter, pulling me closer so that my feet are barely on the stairs anymore, my weight all on him. "It's just...it's been a lot, okay? And I'm no good with this... people stuff, and there are going to be a lot of people there for winter break."

Understatement of the year, but I don't say anything that will encourage him on this ridiculous idea not to come.

"Maybe it's better for me to not go?" Jackson says, soft, hesitant. "To just take the next two weeks to get my head together, and stay here where it's quiet, and then I'll see you when you get back?" "Jackson," I cry, my heart breaking at the idea. God, not seeing him, for two weeks? After everything we've been through in the past few days?

He groans, clenching his teeth at the sound I make. "Don't ask me, Ari," he whispers, shaking his head, his eyes exhausted and sad. "Don't ask me for more today, because if you ask, you know I'll give it - I can't say no -"

"Baby," I murmur, taking a hand from his cheek and running it through his hair, not knowing where the pet name came from, not worrying about that now. But Jackson closes his eyes at the sound of it, hardly able to bear it. And even though he'd probably die rather than let anyone hear me call him that.....

likes it. He likes

Jacks," I whisper, a promise in every word. "I promise it will be good, we won't push you too far - we'll...we'll make sure you're happy. All of

me, and the bells

down the stairs, and I know he has to get to his

- fast, too short, not at all what I really want to do. I pull back, staring into his

whispers, looking up into my face. And I nod, knowing that's the best I'm going to get right now, and that he means it. He will try, but

has a tendency to run, doesn't

me on my feet and letting me go. "Get back to your

eyes and turning to dart up the stairs. "The train, Jacks!" I call over my shoulder. "I'll see you

hope to the ends of me that he comes, but part of me knows...well, I know that if he was going to come,

the top of the stairs, frowning furiously at me.

but Jesse

apologetic as he hands me a woefully under-packed bag. "I don't