The hum of the morning lecture usually lulled Mia into a state of semi-attentive boredom, but today, her mind was still replaying Kris's furious face at the notice board. A quiet, deep satisfaction settled in her chest – a balm to the glitter-induced fury of yesterday. She briefly caught Kris's eye across the room; his glare was a palpable force, but Mia merely offered a saccharine, innocent smile.
Just as Professor Albright was wrapping up his history lecture, a woman with a bright, theatrical scarf and an even brighter smile, Ms. Dubois, the drama club advisor, popped her head in. "Good morning, everyone! Just a quick announcement – our Drama Club is looking for volunteers for our upcoming play, 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'! We need actors, stagehands, costume designers, literally anyone with an ounce of creative spirit!"
Mia's internal gears immediately whirred. Opportunity for revenge.
She knew Kris's aversion to anything that smacked of theatricality or anything not involving a ball, a field, or a stock market chart. This was it. This was the perfect, public counter-strike to the glitter and the motorbike ride that had left her both furious and strangely intrigued.
Mia raised her hand, a delicate, almost demure gesture that completely belied the mischievous glint in her eyes. "Yes, dear?" Ms. Dubois beamed, pen poised.
"I'd like to volunteer a name, Ms. Dubois," Mia said, her voice dripping with artificial sweetness, designed to carry just far enough to reach a certain someone. Her gaze flickered to Kris, who was idly scrolling on his phone, oblivious. "Kris. Kris Windsor. He's incredibly... dramatic. And I think he possesses an untapped talent for expressive arts. A lead role, perhaps, in 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'?"
A ripple of hushed giggles, quickly suppressed, spread through the classroom. Kris's head snapped up. His eyes, usually half-lidded with boredom, widened in pure, unadulterated disbelief. His casual scroll-face contorted into a mask of shock and dawning horror. Mia reveled in it, offering him a saccharine, innocent smile. Checkmate, rich boy.
Ms. Dubois, delighted by the unexpected enthusiasm, happily scribbled Kris's name down. "Oh, wonderful! Kris Windsor, noted! We need more enthusiastic young men," she chirped, completely unaware of the silent war being waged. "Anyone else?"
Kris's gaze, now a furious, blazing inferno, bore into Mia. His jaw was clenched so tight, Mia half-expected it to crack. He opened his mouth, a heated protest forming, but then, a slow, predatory smirk began to spread across his face, returning Mia's own sweet poison.
He raised his hand. Casually. Lazily. As if he'd just had a sudden, brilliant epiphany.
Ms. Dubois, still radiating optimism, turned to him. "Yes, Kris? Are you volunteering for a supporting role, perhaps, to go with your lead?"
Kris didn't break eye contact with Mia. His voice, smooth as silk but with an underlying current that sent shivers down Mia's spine, carried clearly through the suddenly quiet classroom.
"Not quite, Ms. Dubois," he purred, his eyes burning into Mia's. "But I'd be absolutely thrilled to volunteer. You see," he paused, letting his gaze sweep over the class before returning to Mia, "Mia and I, we both love creativity too much. And I'm ready to assist you in anything, Ms. Dubois, as long as my dearest friend here... Mia, accompanies me."
Mia's triumphant smile shattered. Her eyes, wide with disbelief and horror, locked onto his. The words hung in the air, echoing with a chilling finality. Dearest friend. Accompanies me. He wasn't just retaliating. He was dragging her into it with him.
A collective gasp swept through the classroom, followed by a wave of hushed whispers and amused glances. James, who had been watching the entire exchange with a growing sense of dread, slapped his forehead with a resounding thud.
"You just had to provoke the beast, didn't you, Mia?" James muttered, nudging her under the desk, his voice a mix of exasperation and disbelief.
Mia ignored him. Her victory had turned to ashes in her mouth. She had wanted to punish him, to make him squirm. Instead, he had turned her weapon back on her, forcing them into a shared predicament.
Ms. Dubois, beaming, enthusiastically jotted down Mia Brown name right next to Kris Windsor. "Oh, how marvelous! A dynamic duo! Thank you, Kris! And Mia, looking forward to seeing you both shine in the drama club!"
Kris settled back in his seat, his smirk now a full-blown, utterly victorious grin. He gave Mia a slow, deliberate wink, as if to say, Two can play at this game, Princess. And I just raised the stakes.
Mia could only stare back, speechless, as the bell for class dismissal finally rang, its sound a hollow mockery of release. The air between them crackled, not just with renewed animosity, but with a terrifying new understanding: they were stuck together. And this time, there was no escaping the stage.