Locker Room: Wild Games

Chapter One: A Game of Desire

The bell rang, signaling the start of another school day at Ridgewood High. Harmony stepped out of her dad’s car, adjusting the hem of her sweater self-consciously. The morning air was crisp, yet she could already feel the familiar heat of insecurity creeping up her neck. She wasn’t ugly—not in the way some girls were whispered about—but she wasn’t the kind to turn heads either. She was plump, soft in all the places society told her she shouldn’t be.

But none of that had ever really mattered. Not until Jason Carter.

“Harmony, hurry up!” Mia called, flipping her long, honey-blonde hair over her shoulder. She was effortlessly stunning, the kind of girl who walked into a room and commanded attention without trying. Next to her stood Alyssa, their other best friend, scrolling through her phone with disinterest.

Harmony tightened her grip on her books and caught up with them.

“You won’t believe what happened,” Mia said, her voice laced with excitement. “Jason freaking Carter broke up with Rachel last night.”

Harmony’s heart skipped a beat. Jason Carter—the school’s golden boy, star of the basketball team, and every girl’s wet dream. He was the kind of guy girls fantasized about in the dark, whispering his name between shallow breaths.

“Why’d they break up?” Alyssa asked, unimpressed.

Mia smirked. “Rumor has it he’s got his eye on someone else.”

Harmony knew she had no business feeling anything about Jason Carter. Guys like him didn’t go for girls like her. But the way Mia was looking at her now, with that knowing glint in her eye, sent a shiver down her spine.

“You should totally go for it,” Mia said, nudging Harmony playfully.

Harmony scoffed. “Yeah, right. Jason Carter doesn’t even know I exist.”

Mia grinned. “He does now.”

Before Harmony could ask what that meant, she felt it—the weight of someone’s gaze. She turned just in time to catch Jason walking past, his athletic frame towering over the crowd. His scent lingered—a mix of expensive cologne and sweat.

And then, just as quickly as it happened, he was gone.

Harmony exhaled, trying to ignore the way her stomach flipped.

She was in trouble.

Chapter Two: Jason Carter’s Playground

Jason Carter was a king at Ridgewood High. He walked through the hallways like he owned the place, his letterman jacket draped over his broad shoulders, sneakers scuffing against the tiled floors with effortless confidence.

Girls loved him. Guys wanted to be him. And Jason? He thrived on it.

At seventeen, he had it all—talent, looks, and an ego large enough to fill the entire gymnasium. As the star shooting guard of the basketball team, his name was scrawled in bold letters across the school’s championship banners. He had a reputation, too. Not just as an athlete, but as a player in more ways than one.

Rachel, his latest ex, had been just another name on his growing list of conquests. Before her, there was Stephanie. Before Stephanie, there was Danielle. They all fell for the same thing—the cocky smirk, the way he said their names in that low, teasing voice, the way he made them feel like they were the only girl in the world.

Until they weren’t.

Jason got bored easily. He loved the chase more than the catch, and once the thrill faded, so did his interest. But this time, things were different.

This time, he had a plan.

Mia.

She was the real prize. The untouchable, radiant, queen-bee type that every guy fantasized about but never had the guts to approach. Jason wanted her—not just because she was gorgeous, but because getting her would solidify his status as the guy.

There was just one problem.
Harmony.

She was Mia’s shadow. Always there, always in the way. But Jason was nothing if not strategic. If he wanted Mia, he had to play the game right. And the game? It started with Harmony.

The first step was easy—get close, make her feel special. Flatter her just enough to reel her in but not enough to make it obvious. A few well-timed smirks, a couple of stolen glances in the hallway, and she’d be his.

Not because he wanted her.
But because she was the key to getting what he really wanted.

The only downside?

Harmony had no idea she was just a pawn in his game.