a/n i want him to have the feeling of being approachable which is where this chapter comes into play.
As Jaxon drove through the streets, the soft hum of the engine was the only sound filling the car. His mind wandered as he approached the school, but a flash of an old, rusted truck caught his attention.
He turned his head slightly and immediately recognized the driver—Bella Swan. His expression remained neutral, but he instinctively pressed down on the gas, smoothly passing her and leaving the truck far behind. He didn't look back.
Arriving at the school, Jaxon turned into the parking lot, this time resisting the urge to show off with his usual exaggerated drifting. Instead, he smoothly pulled into a parking space, put the car in park, pulled the handbrake, and turned off the ignition.
As soon as he stepped out, the attention was immediate. Students in the parking lot turned their heads, whispering among themselves. Some admired the car, others just watched him, but Jaxon ignored it all. It wasn't anything new.
With his bag slung over his shoulder, he made his way toward the entrance, pushing past small clusters of students. When he reached his locker, he twisted the lock effortlessly and grabbed the books he needed for the day. Just as he shut the door, he felt it—a pair of eyes watching him.
His body reacted before his mind did, turning his head sharply to the right.
Edward Cullen.
The bronze-haired vampire stood a short distance away, his expression unreadable. The second their eyes met, Edward turned on his heel, walking off without a word. His family followed behind him, though Alice took a moment to glance back at Jaxon before disappearing into the crowd.
Jaxon exhaled through his nose.
Weirdo.
A few students nearby had noticed the interaction but didn't think much of it. Soon enough, the usual hallway noise returned to normal, and Jaxon refocused on his day. He adjusted the strap of his bag and headed toward his first class—history.
Reaching the classroom, he paused for a brief second. His eyes lingered on the word History printed on the plaque beside the door, and for some reason, his mind drifted. Something about the word stirred a distant memory.
Shaking it off, he stepped inside and made his way to the back, sinking into his seat just as the lesson began.
---
The history classroom buzzed with low murmurs as students settled into their seats. Mr. Garrison, a middle-aged man with a neatly trimmed beard and a sharp gaze, stood at the front, flipping through his notes. He cleared his throat, calling the class to attention.
"Alright, let's begin. Today, we're discussing early American conflicts and their long-term effects. Let's start with something simple." His eyes scanned the room before landing on a student near the front. "Eric, tell me—what was one major cause of the War of 1812?"
Eric, caught mid-yawn, sat up straight. "Uh… something about Britain messing with American ships?"
"More detail," Mr. Garrison pressed.
"They were… I think they were capturing American sailors and making them work for the British Navy?"
"Good. That's called impressment," the teacher confirmed. "The British were taking American sailors and forcing them into service. Now, Jessica—" he turned to a girl twirling a pen in her fingers, "—who was President during the War of 1812?"
Jessica blinked, then quickly flipped through her textbook. "Was it… James Madison?"
"Correct," Mr. Garrison said, nodding approvingly. "Madison was reluctant to go to war, but eventually, the pressure became too great. Now, let's mix it up a little…"
His gaze shifted toward the back of the room.
"Jaxon," he called, making several students turn in curiosity. Jaxon, who had been leaning back slightly in his chair, tapped his pen against the desk and met the teacher's eyes without hesitation.
"Yeah?"
"Tell me, what was one major outcome of the war?"
Jaxon exhaled softly, tilting his head as if thinking. "Well, for one, it boosted national pride. Even though there wasn't a clear winner, Americans felt like they proved themselves against a world power. The war also kind of ended Native American resistance in a lot of areas since they lost British support."
Mr. Garrison raised his brows. "That's a well-rounded answer. Any specific battle that solidified that national pride?"
Jaxon smirked slightly. "Battle of New Orleans. Andrew Jackson led U.S. forces and crushed the British, even though the war was technically already over."
A murmur rippled through the class. Mr. Garrison chuckled. "I see you've done your reading—or you've just got a good memory."
Jaxon shrugged, playing it off. "Something like that."
"Impressive.
Mr. Garrison adjusted his sleeves, glancing around the room. "Alright, since we're on the topic of Andrew Jackson—controversial figure, war hero, or something else entirely?"
A few hands went up. He pointed to a student sitting near the middle. "Mike?"
Mike, a lanky kid with glasses, hesitated. "Uh, he was a war hero, but… he also kinda sucked?"
Laughter rippled through the class. Mr. Garrison smirked. "Care to elaborate?"
Mike shifted in his seat. "Well, he won the Battle of New Orleans and was super popular, but he also did the whole Indian Removal Act thing. Forced a lot of Native Americans out of their land."
"Exactly," Mr. Garrison said, nodding. "Jackson was a man of contradictions. He expanded democracy for some while trampling on the rights of others. Now, let's go deeper—Jaxon, since you seem to have a handle on history, what do you think about Jackson's presidency?"
Jaxon, who had been casually tapping his pen against his desk, tilted his head slightly. "He was a populist, but that didn't mean he was good for everyone. He appealed to the 'common man'—at least, the white, land-owning ones. But like Mike said, the Indian Removal Act was one of the worst things he did. It led to the Trail of Tears, which was basically forced relocation, and thousands died."
A few students murmured at his directness. Mr. Garrison, however, looked pleased. "That's a solid take. Jacksonian Democracy did reshape American politics, but at a cost. History isn't just about who won battles—it's about who paid the price."
He turned back to the class. "Alright, let's talk about another president with a complicated legacy—who here knows about James K. Polk?"
A girl near the front hesitantly raised her hand. "Wasn't he the guy who wanted to expand the U.S.?"
"Correct. Manifest Destiny was a huge part of his presidency." Mr. Garrison paused, looking around. "Alright, Jaxon, since you've been on a roll—how did Polk's expansionist policies affect the country?"
Jaxon sighed, but there was a glint of amusement in his eyes. "Well, he wanted to expand the U.S. all the way to the Pacific, which led to the Mexican-American War. The U.S. ended up taking a huge chunk of land—Texas, California, and other territories. But that also led to more conflicts over slavery, since people argued about whether those new states should allow it or not."
"Exactly," Mr. Garrison said. "Expansion had consequences. The fight over new territories helped push the country closer to the Civil War. Great answer."
Some students stole glances at Jaxon, who simply stretched his arms behind his head. The bell rang shortly after, signaling the end of class.
As students gathered their things, Jessica passed Jaxon's desk, giving him a curious smile. "Didn't know you were a history nerd."
Jaxon smirked slightly, grabbing his bag. "I just listen."
She rolled her eyes playfully before heading out. Jaxon followed, stepping into the hallway, already thinking about his next class.
a/n: if you don't like this ill stop. meaning ill have to delay a lot of things since I've already wrote a bunch.