Everyone has rules.

Some are simple.

Some are strict.

And some are the kind that follow you your entire life whether you agree with them or not.

Rixxy Carter grew up surrounded by those kinds of rules.

The Carter family and the Hayes family had hated each other for nearly twenty years.

Nobody talked about it openly anymore, but everyone in Seattle’s wealthy circles knew the story. Or at least pieces of it.

A failed business partnership.

Millions of dollars lost.

A betrayal no one ever forgave.

And after that—

Two families that refused to even breathe the same air.

Rixxy had heard the warnings his entire life.

“Stay away from the Hayes family.”

“They only care about themselves.”

“They destroy everything they touch.”

As a kid, he believed it without question.

Why wouldn’t he?

When hatred is repeated enough times, it starts sounding like truth.

But the older Rixxy got, the less he cared about old family drama.

He had his own problems.

Basketball practice.

Grades.

College applications.

Trying to survive senior year at Westbridge High without losing his mind.

Love was the last thing on his mind.

Especially forbidden love.

That Thursday started like every other exhausting school day.

Rain clouds covered Seattle’s sky from morning till evening, turning the entire city gray and cold.

Rixxy spent most of the day half-asleep in class before basketball practice completely drained the rest of his energy.

By the time practice ended, it was already dark outside.

And raining hard.

“Yo, you need a ride?” his best friend Jay asked while spinning his car keys.

Rixxy shook his head. “Nah, my house isn’t far.”

Jay looked outside at the storm. “You’re gonna drown.”

“I’ll survive.”

“You say that now.”

Rixxy laughed lightly and grabbed his bag. “See you tomorrow.”

The second he stepped outside, freezing rain hit him immediately.

“Okay… maybe Jay was right,” he muttered.

He quickly pulled his hoodie over his head and jogged toward the nearest bus stop across the street.

That was when he saw her.

A girl stood beneath the shelter alone, trying to protect a stack of books from the rain.

She looked frustrated, cold, and completely unaware that her backpack hung halfway open.

Rixxy slowed slightly without meaning to.

Something about her caught his attention instantly.

Maybe it was her eyes.

Maybe it was the way she looked annoyed at the weather like she wanted to argue with the storm itself.

Or maybe—

It was just her.

“Uh… your bag’s open,” he said finally.

The girl looked up immediately.

And for one strange second—

Everything around him went quiet.

She had warm brown eyes that somehow looked soft and intense at the same time. Raindrops still clung to parts of her hair, and despite looking completely soaked, she somehow still looked beautiful.

She quickly zipped her bag and sighed dramatically.

“Great. My notes are probably ruined now.”

Rixxy laughed lightly. “At least your phone survived.”

She checked quickly before smiling faintly.

“Barely.”

That smile hit him harder than it should have.

Rain hammered loudly against the roof above them while cars splashed through puddles nearby.

For a few moments, silence settled between them.

Not awkward silence.

Comfortable silence.

“I’m Rixxy,” he said after a while.

The girl studied him briefly before answering.

“Becca.”

And somehow, hearing her name made this whole moment feel important.

Even though it shouldn’t have.

“You go to Westbridge?” Becca asked after noticing his varsity basketball jacket.

“Yeah. Senior year.”

Her eyebrows lifted slightly. “Seriously? Same.”

Rixxy frowned. “I’ve never seen you before.”

“That’s because I transferred recently.”

“From where?”

“Chicago.”

“That explains it.”

A loud thunderclap echoed across the city.

Becca flinched instantly.

Rixxy smirked. “You scared of storms?”

“No.”

“You sure?”

“Yes.”

Another thunderclap interrupted immediately.

Becca jumped again.

Rixxy burst out laughing.

Her eyes narrowed playfully. “Don’t start.”

“You literally jumped.”

“I did not.”

“You almost levitated.”

To his surprise, she laughed too.

A real laugh this time.

And hearing it made something warm settle inside his chest.

The storm continued for almost another hour.

And somehow, neither of them seemed eager to leave.

They talked about random things.

Favorite music.

Terrible teachers.

How much Seattle weather sucked.

Becca teased him for being obsessed with basketball while Rixxy mocked her for carrying way too many books.

“You know lockers exist, right?” he joked.

Becca rolled her eyes. “Not all of us survive school by throwing balls around.”

“Basketball is a respected sport.”

“Sure.”

“You sound judgmental.”

“You sound defensive.”

Rixxy laughed again.

It felt easy talking to her.

Too easy.

Like he had known her longer than an hour.

Eventually, the rain softened into a light drizzle.

Becca checked her phone and sighed.

“My ride probably left already.”

Rixxy glanced around. “You want me to walk you home?”

She hesitated briefly.

Then nodded.

“Okay.”

The city streets glowed under wet streetlights as they walked side by side through downtown Seattle.

Cold wind brushed past them while they continued talking like they had no reason to stop.

For the first time in months, Rixxy felt strangely calm.

Like being around her quieted all the pressure constantly sitting in his mind.

Then they reached a massive gated property near the waterfront.

Modern architecture.

Security cameras.

Expensive black cars parked outside.

And beside the gate—

A silver plaque.

HAYES RESIDENCE

Rixxy stopped walking instantly.

His blood ran cold.

No.

No way.

Becca noticed his expression immediately.

“What’s wrong?”

Rixxy stared at the sign like it personally offended him.

Then slowly looked back at her.

“You’re a Hayes?”

Becca frowned slightly. “Yeah… why?”

Suddenly every warning from childhood rushed back into his head.

Stay away from them.

Never trust them.

They ruin lives.

Rixxy unconsciously stepped back.

And Becca noticed immediately.

“Okay… you’re definitely acting weird now.”

“No, I just—”

“You just what?”

Rixxy opened his mouth.

Then closed it again.

Because what was he supposed to say?

Sorry, our families hate each other so apparently I’m not allowed to like you?

“I just remembered I need to get home,” he lied awkwardly.

Becca looked hurt by the sudden shift in his behavior.

“Oh.”

For a second, guilt hit him hard.

Because she genuinely looked confused.

“Did I do something wrong?” she asked quietly.

“No.”

“Then what happened?”

Rixxy shook his head quickly.

“It’s complicated.”

Becca crossed her arms slightly.

“That sounds suspicious.”

Despite everything, Rixxy laughed softly.

And somehow, that tiny laugh eased the tension again.

“Well,” Becca said with a small smile, “complicated or not… I’m still glad I met you.”

Those words stayed in Rixxy’s head long after he walked away.

That night, the Carter mansion felt colder than usual.

His father sat in his office working while business reports covered the desk.

Mason, Rixxy’s older brother, barely looked up from his laptop in the living room.

Everything about the house felt tense.

Controlled.

Perfect on the surface.

Broken underneath.

“You’re late,” Mason said casually.

“Practice ran long.”

Mason nodded once before returning to his screen.

Normally, that would’ve been the end of the conversation.

But tonight, Rixxy’s thoughts wouldn’t settle.

“What actually happened between our family and the Hayes family?” he asked suddenly.

Mason looked up immediately.

The room went quiet.

“Why are you asking?”

“Just curious.”

“You were never curious before.”

Rixxy shrugged awkwardly.

But Mason was already suspicious.

“You met one of them, didn’t you?”

Rixxy froze slightly.

And that tiny reaction was enough.

Mason stood up slowly.

“You did.”

“It wasn’t planned.”

“Who?”

Rixxy hesitated.

Then quietly answered.

“Becca Hayes.”

The expression on Mason’s face darkened immediately.

“Stay away from her.”

“There it is again,” Rixxy muttered. “Why does everyone act like they’re evil?”

“You don’t understand.”

“Then explain it to me.”

Mason stared at him for a long moment before speaking.

“Dad trusted the Hayes family once. Business partners. Close friends.”

Rixxy stayed silent.

“Then one deal went wrong,” Mason continued bitterly. “And somehow the Hayes family walked away richer while ours lost everything.”

“What does that have to do with Becca?”

“She’s still a Hayes.”

Rixxy frowned slightly.

That answer didn’t feel fair.

“She seemed nice,” he admitted quietly.

Mason laughed humorlessly.

“That’s how problems start.”

Later that night, Rixxy lay awake staring at his ceiling.

Trying to stop thinking about her.

Failing completely.

Her smile replayed in his mind constantly.

The way she laughed.

The way conversations with her felt effortless.

The way she looked at him.

And the worst part?

He wanted to see her again.

Badly.

The next morning at school, Rixxy told himself he’d avoid her.

Simple.

Just keep distance.

No complications.

No drama.

That plan lasted less than five minutes.

Because the second he walked through the hallway—

He saw her.

Standing by the lockers laughing with a group of girls.

And somehow, the crowded hallway blurred around her.

Then Becca looked up.

And smiled the moment she saw him.

That smile alone nearly destroyed every warning he had ever heard.

Before he could escape, she walked toward him confidently.

“You disappeared fast yesterday.”

Rixxy rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. “Yeah… sorry.”

“You’re still acting weird.”

“I’m not.”

“You are.”

He sighed.

She noticed too much.

“Look,” Becca said softly, “if I offended you somehow—”

“You didn’t.”

“Then tell me what happened.”

Rixxy glanced around nervously.

People were already staring.

And if anyone recognized who she was—

This could become a disaster fast.

“It’s complicated,” he admitted quietly.

Becca crossed her arms.

“That answer keeps sounding more suspicious.”

Despite himself, Rixxy laughed again.

And seeing him laugh made Becca smile too.

“Well,” she said softly, “complicated or not… I still want to be your friend.”

Friend.

That word should’ve made things simpler.

Instead, it made his heart beat faster.

Because deep down—

Rixxy already knew friendship wasn’t going to be enough.

And somewhere inside her—

Becca was starting to realize the exact same thing.

Because sometimes the people we’re warned about the most…

Become the ones we can’t stay away from.

The morning sun stretched across the quiet streets of Brookhaven Heights, casting golden light over the expensive houses lined neatly beside one another. Inside the Williams mansion, Becca stood in front of her mirror, staring at her reflection while trying to calm the strange feeling in her chest.

She could not stop thinking about Rixxy.

Their meeting the previous night had been brief, unexpected, and somehow unforgettable. She barely knew him, yet something about his eyes stayed in her mind. Maybe it was the way he spoke with confidence mixed with mystery. Maybe it was how different he seemed from the boys she usually met.

Or maybe it was because deep down, she already knew he was trouble.

“Rebecca!” her mother’s sharp voice echoed from downstairs.

Becca sighed softly. “Coming!”

She grabbed her school bag and hurried downstairs where her parents were already seated at the dining table.

Her father folded his newspaper neatly and looked at her. “You’re late again.”

“Sorry, Dad.”

Her mother placed pancakes on a plate before her. “And don’t forget, tonight we have guests coming over. Senator Lewis and his family.”

Becca nearly rolled her eyes. Another boring dinner with rich family friends.

“Yes, Mom.”

Her father adjusted his glasses. “Their son, Jason, just got accepted into Harvard. You should learn from boys like that.”

Becca forced a smile. “I’ll try.”

But inside, she was already irritated.

The truth was simple.

Her parents already planned her future.

Good grades. A perfect reputation. Marriage to someone wealthy. A life controlled from beginning to end.

And somehow, after meeting Rixxy, that future suddenly felt like a prison.

Across town, Rixxy leaned against his motorcycle outside a small mechanic shop while his best friend, Jayden, worked under the hood of a car.

“You’ve been smiling since morning,” Jayden said suspiciously.

Rixxy smirked. “Am I not allowed to smile?”

“Nah. Not you.”

Rixxy laughed quietly.

Jayden slid out from under the car and wiped grease from his hands. “So who is she?”

“There’s no girl.”

“That means there’s definitely a girl.”

Rixxy shook his head, though the image of Becca instantly appeared in his mind.

“She’s different,” he admitted.

Jayden raised an eyebrow. “Different how?”

“She doesn’t belong in my world.”

Jayden’s expression immediately changed.

“That’s dangerous.”

Rixxy looked away.

He knew it was.

People from Brookhaven Heights didn’t mix with people like him.

Not unless they wanted problems.

Rixxy grew up on the rough side of the city where survival mattered more than dreams. His mother worked double shifts at a hospital while he handled whatever jobs he could find to help pay bills.

But there were also darker things.

Things he never spoke about.

Things connected to the dangerous people he had spent years trying to avoid.

“You should stay away from rich girls,” Jayden warned.

Rixxy chuckled softly. “Maybe.”

But even as he said it, he already knew he wouldn’t.

Brookhaven High buzzed with energy as students filled the hallways.

Becca walked beside her best friend, Mia, while pretending not to search the crowd.

“You’re distracted,” Mia noticed.

“I’m not.”

“You totally are.”

Becca hesitated before finally whispering, “I met someone yesterday.”

Mia gasped dramatically. “Finally! Who is he?”

“I don’t know much about him.”

“That’s even more interesting.”

Before Becca could answer, someone suddenly bumped into her shoulder.

Her books slipped from her hands.

“Oh my gosh, sorry—”

She froze.

Rixxy crouched down, helping her pick up the books.

“You should be more careful,” he said teasingly.

Becca stared at him in shock. “You go here?”

“Transferred last week.”

Mia looked between them suspiciously. “Wait… you two know each other?”

“Barely,” Becca replied quickly.

Rixxy smirked. “That hurts.”

His confidence made her nervous.

And for some reason, nervousness around him felt exciting.

A few students nearby began whispering.

Everyone knew Rixxy already.

The mysterious transfer student. The biker. The boy rumored to get into fights.

Exactly the type of person Becca’s parents would hate.

“You should go before your friends start thinking badly of you,” Rixxy said quietly.

Becca frowned slightly. “What if I don’t care?”

For a moment, silence passed between them.

Then the warning bell rang.

Rixxy stepped back with a grin. “See you around, Becca.”

And just like that, he walked away.

Mia grabbed Becca’s arm immediately.

“Girl… that boy is fine.”

Becca laughed despite herself.

But deep inside, something told her this was only the beginning.

Later that afternoon, rain poured heavily across the city.

Becca waited outside school under the front entrance while students rushed past with umbrellas.

Her driver was late.

Again.

She sighed in frustration.

Then suddenly, a motorcycle stopped in front of her.

Rixxy removed his helmet.

“Need a ride?”

Becca blinked. “You’re serious?”

“You waiting for a limo?”

She laughed softly.

Technically… yes.

Rixxy handed her the extra helmet.

For a second, she hesitated.

Every warning her parents ever gave her screamed inside her head.

Don’t trust strangers. Don’t ruin your reputation. Stay away from reckless boys.

But then she looked at him.

And against all logic… she climbed onto the motorcycle.

The moment the bike sped into the rain-soaked streets, Becca wrapped her arms tightly around his waist.

Her heart pounded wildly.

Not from fear.

From the feeling of freedom.

The city lights blurred around them as they rode through the rain.

For the first time in a long time, Becca felt alive.

When they finally stopped near a quiet bridge overlooking the river, the rain had slowed into a soft drizzle.

Becca removed her helmet slowly.

“That was insane,” she whispered.

Rixxy laughed. “Good insane or bad insane?”

She smiled.

“Definitely good.”

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

The sound of rain hitting the river filled the silence.

Then Rixxy’s expression suddenly became serious.

“You really shouldn’t be around me, Becca.”

Her smile faded slightly. “Why does everyone keep saying that?”

“Because it’s true.”

He looked away toward the dark river.

“There are things about me you don’t know.”

“Then tell me.”

Rixxy shook his head.

“You wouldn’t understand.”

“Try me.”

Their eyes locked.

And for a second, the world around them disappeared.

Rixxy slowly stepped closer.

Close enough for Becca to hear his breathing.

Close enough for her heart to completely lose control.

Then suddenly—

A black SUV pulled up aggressively behind them.

Rixxy’s face instantly changed.

Fear.

Real fear.

Three men stepped out of the vehicle.

One of them cracked his knuckles while staring directly at Rixxy.

“Well, well,” the tall man said coldly. “Look who finally decided to show his face.”

Becca looked between them nervously. “Rixxy… who are they?”

But Rixxy didn’t answer.

His jaw tightened.

The leader smirked darkly.

“You owe somebody money.”

Becca’s heartbeat quickened.

“What’s going on?”

Rixxy stepped slightly in front of her protectively.

“Get back on the bike, Becca.”

“What?”

“Now.”

The men moved closer.

The rain grew heavier again.

And suddenly, Becca realized something terrifying.

The boy she was beginning to fall for was hiding a dangerous secret.

And whatever trouble followed him… had finally arrived.

To Be Continued…