The walk back to the dorm was atleast normal, ladies still moved about flunting the same color of hair looking happy.
Corelia walked ahead, her nature calm as usual but alot of thoughts had crossed through her mind. Mainly the mission, they were nowhere close to sorting it out and right now they have another issue at hand, capturing the ruin wraith before it causes another disaster upon the guys. It would have been easy If they could who the target is but that part itself is confusing.
Mishell walked next to her, hands in her pockets, expression unreadable as always she looked less bothered but it was quite the opposite. She was worried about the mission too and annoyed there were too many distractions hindering them from accommplishing their goal. Lydia, however, was vibrating with leftover chaos from the hallway incident.
"Did you see Chloe's face before they left?" Lydia was saying, still laughing on their behalf. "It was embarrassing, they looked lost and wasn't expecting half your response. That moment should have been recorded for..."
"Lydia," Mishell cut in flatly. "Breathe."
"I am breathing trust me but I don't think Chloe is". She responded laughing so hard again
"You are being dramatic".
They turned the corner toward the dorm path and suddenly stopped not because they wanted to, they had to. A whole line of black shiny cars were packed infront of them like something big was about to happen.
Security guards stood everywhere, forming a loose barrier as students gathered at a distance, whispering, pointing, having their phones out ready to shoot.
"What now?" Mishell muttered.
Lydia leaned forward. "This is either bad news or good news."
Corelia didn't answer, she was just watching the cars carefully. Then the door of the middle car opened, Jax stepped out. For a split second the entire space froze, even the wind felt like it had paused to watch him. He looked annoyingly handsome and put together.
Hair styled just enough to look effortless, outfit clean well ironed, sharp, also pretty expensive from just the appearance. In his hands he was holding a bouquet of roses, fresh, red and ridiculously dramatic.
Vic stepped out of the car and just stared, noticing how most of the ladies had the same hair color. It only made him smile.
"They all copied her hairstyle". He whispered to himself.
Lydia grabbed Corelia's arm so hard it felt she was gonna break her.
"This Is It, a proposal." She whispered aggressively.
"Let go of my arm Lydia". Corelia said.
"Sorry". Lydia responded, letting go immediately.
Mishell blinked once. "Why is he holding flowers?".
Jax started walking toward them, slow, steady and confident like he wasn't walking through the school ground but a stage. As usual phones lifted everywhere instantly, student screaming their names, recording and whispering.
"Jax is here.."
"He's going to her"
"The girl from the video"
Mishell didn't move from her spot, she stared at him with no expression until he was standing right in front of her. He was close enough to make the air around them feel different. Then he smiled, a smile that actually looked real and different not his usual teasing one.
He lifted the flowers slightly toward her like an offering.
"Hey," He said.
Mishell stared at the roses in his hand then back at him.
"Why?" she asked.
Jax blinked like he wasn't expecting that question at all..
"Nice to see you too".
"Why are you being weird". She asked again.
"I am not, I bought this for you". He said, still holding the bouquet.
Someone literally yelling "OH MY GOD!! it's a proposal!"
Lydia looked like she might pass away from excitement alone. Corelia remained still, observing, her eyes moved around till it finally stopped on Vic. He was staring at her too, she tried to look away but It was still there, the stare.
Jax exhaled lightly.
"Thank you," he said simply.
Mishell frowned slightly. "For what?"
"For saving my life."
That made the noise around them spike even louder.
"It's nothing". Mishell said trying to walk away but he blocked her path again.
"Hear me out, It's not nothing Mishell". He said with all sincerity.
There was always something about the way he called her name, It always made her calm even If It was just for a second.
"Can I take you out? It's a date" He added.
Mishell crossed her arms together still not looking impressed.
"Why are you doing this?, tell me before I find out".
"Well..."
Five hours Earlier, the Q4 Management Section was louder than usual. Phones were ringing, messages were flooding in, reporters were gatheered in front of the buildings, news kept on replaying clips of the incident over and over.
Mr. Lee pinched the bridge of his nose, totally lost in thought. The Q4 sat opposite his desks quietly, they had demanded to be a part of the meeting.
"We need a response sir." A staff said.
"Fans are asking who she is" Someone else said immediately.
"They're demanding appreciation publicly" Another added.
"And they're sending gifts to the company already."
Jeremy leaned back. "This is kind of iconic though."
Foxy smirked. "I know right, our Qties are always grateful, we shouldn't let them down."
Vic nodded slightly. "Some unique and worthy for appreciation".
Jax say calmly still staring at the replay on the screen, he has never been this calm before and that bothered his friends.
"It's weird seeing him this calm". Foxy said slightely irritated. "What happened to the guy who only cared about looks".
"He almost died.. That's what happened...I'm still trying to recover from the shock". Jax responded, his calm nature disappeared Instantly like It was never there. "You see If I wasn't saved, Q4 would be over by now".
"Wooooh calm your pride down... Q4 would never be over". Jeremy said.
"Hello.. I am the face of this band, If I'm gone we are all gone". Jax added.
"Foxy you brought him back". Vic groaned.
" I spoke too soon". Foxy replied.
"Please... Please boys I am trying to think here". Mr Lee finally said something after minutes of being silent.
Jax went silent again, the sight of seeing
Mishell bleed always got to him and somehow It sadden his heart.
"I'll take her out," He said casually.
Mr. Lee blinked. "Excuse me?"
"A day," Jax clarified. "Hang out, something simple but nice."
"That's what you call a public appreciation?" Jeremy asked.
Jax shrugged.
"It's a date, It's gonna be all over the news so yeah."
"You always go on dates so I don't see how that's special". Foxy said.
"Well I have never been on a date with a non celebrity before so It's a big deal to me". He responded.
Foxy slowly leaned back. "True... JAX ASKS COLLEGE GIRL OUT, It's going to trend for months."
Mr. Lee sighed. " Not a bad Idea, atleast for now but please just make It simple. After this I don't want any distraction for you guys".
Jax smiled.
"Definitely, nothing serious just for the public".
"You certain she would agree to this?". Vic asked.
"Come on man, who would reject my Proposal?". Jax said proudly. " She won't resist when she sees how charming I can be".
The guys just smiled even though they highly doubted It.
Back to Mishell still watching Jax explain the whole situation to her.
"So this is about publicity."
Jax hesitated just a fraction, then nodded slightly. "Something like that, we both don't like each other but you managed to save me soo... We have to go on a date for the public..."
He didn't correct it and didn't explain further, just waited still holding the roses like it meant something.
Lydia looked like she had stopped functioning entirely.
Mishell stared at him for a long moment.
Then—
"No," she said flatly, clear and immdiate.
The silence that followed was violent, like the air itself had been slapped, the crowd no longer chanted his name or hers.
Jax blinked. "…No?"
"No," she repeated. Then added, as if it was the most normal thing in the world
"You don't need to do that or appreciate me publicly, I said it was fine."
Her hands were still in her pocket, before he could process it all she started walking away. Corelia followed instantly while Lydia was still standing there frozen, few minutes later she finally snapped out of it.
"She said no?....NO?" Lydia whispered then ran after them.
Jax didn't move, he just watched Mishell leave. He couldn't believe his ears.
Did she just reject him??
He thought and scoffed in disbelieve, roses still in his hand confused on why she rejected him. Vic walked up to him slowly, hands in his pocket, looking breath-takingly handsome. The whole crowd went wild again the moment they sighted him, he maintained a calm expression and just waved.
"Told you she is different". Vic said from behind Jax.
Jax turned, still looking confused.
"I have never been rejected before". He whispered.
" I know". Vic replied smirking.
"This is embarrassing". He said.
"Yes It is".
"It's would be all over the news".
"Definitely".
"The date was a bad Idea".
" Probably".
"Get me out of here before It get worse, It's so embarrassing". Jax stylished said raising up the bouquet to cover his face, which made Vic laugh so hard.
He then signaled the security to lead Jax into the car, and they obeyed instantly. Vic walked back down to his car and got in...
"MISHELL ARE YOU CRAZY?!" Lydia shouted from behind, trying to catch up with them.
Mishell didn't stop walking. "No."
Lydia finally caught up. "You just turned down Jax?!"
"Yes."
"WITH FLOWERS!"
"I noticed."
Corelia still stayed quiet but Lydia wasn't done.
" How on earth do you turn that such a man?".
"Lydia I have better things to do than go on a fake date with him, I don't care about what the public thinks".
"Every girl out there is dying to go out with Jax and you turned him down? Oh God". She said fustrated.
"You can go out with him".
" Corelia you are not saying anything". Lydia screamed.
"What am I suppose to say? Corelia asked, raising her arms up halfway.
"She turned down a global celebrity asking her out on a date, do you how insane that is?".
"Well we are here on a mission not to go on date". Corelia corrected.
"Its not just about the date come on, you both still have to save him and Vic from that supernatural thingy you talked about you, Isn't that right?..."
Mishell stopped walking and turned slightly.
"That has nothing to do with a date."
Lydia froze, then blurted, "It might!"
That made Mishell pause just for a second, Corelia watched her carefully because she had heard that part too.
The Ruin Wraith was still out there watching It's victim.
Mishell finally exhaled.
"I'm going to my room." She said and left.
"Corelia...." Lydia groaned already tired and fustrated.
"We have other ways to capture the ruin wraith that doesn't involve going on a date" Corelia responded. "And I also can't force her".
"I totally give up on you two". Lydia said and walked away.
It didn't even take the internet a second to explode again.
"JAX REJECTED?! NO—WAIT—SHE REJECTED HIM?!"
"MYSTERY GIRL SAYS NO TO DATE WITH Q4 JAX"
"WHO IS SHE?! SHE TURNED HIM DOWN LIKE IT WAS NOTHING"
Comments flooded instantly:
"She's not materialistic?? I respect it???"
"She's either rich or insane, no in-between."
"Why did she say no she had one Job 😭"
"Nah I like her energy. She's not chasing fame."
"Jax looked hurt… I feel bad for him"
"This is giving enemies-to-lovers and I'm HERE FOR IT"
But most importantly nobody understood her and that made it worse.