The worst part of Mondays wasn't the early alarm. It wasn't even the pile of homework that seemed to magically reproduce every weekend. No, for Lila Hart, the real nightmare was walking into first-period English and seeing one name written on the partner list right beside hers.
Cole, Ethan.
She stopped dead in the doorway, staring at the board as if sheer willpower could change the chalk.
Behind her, Harper peeked over her shoulder. "Oh, this is going to be fun."
Lila groaned. "This is going to be hell."
Of course, Ethan was already there—slouched in his chair like he owned the place, long legs stretched out, tapping his pen against the desk in lazy rhythm. The moment he spotted her, his smirk bloomed like he'd been waiting all morning.
"Guess we're partners, sunshine."
"Don't call me that," she snapped automatically, sliding into the seat beside him because she had no choice.
He leaned closer, lowering his voice so only she could hear. "You keep saying that, but your eyes don't hate it."
Her jaw clenched. "My eyes hate you."
He chuckled, leaning back with infuriating ease. "Liar."
The assignment was simple: research a classic novel and present their analysis in a week. Lila flipped open her notebook, already scribbling ideas. "We should divide the work. I'll take the background and character study. You can handle themes and symbols."
"Or," Ethan drawled, stealing her pen right out of her hand, "we could work together. You know—like actual partners."
"Give that back." She reached, but he held the pen just out of reach, his grin infuriating.
"You're really cute when you're mad."
Her cheeks heated before she could stop them. She snatched the pen back with a glare. "I'm not here to play games."
"Neither am I," he murmured, leaning so close she could feel his breath against her ear. "I'm dead serious about you."
Her pulse skipped, but she shoved it down, forcing her voice to stay steady. "You're obsessed. That's not the same thing."
His eyes darkened, like the word obsessed was a challenge. "Maybe. But obsession gets results."
She rolled her eyes so hard it hurt. "You're impossible."
"And you're irresistible."
Half the class wasn't even pretending to focus anymore. Lukas and Zane were whispering furiously in the back row, grinning like they were watching a movie. Harper kept shooting Lila sympathetic looks from across the room.
The teacher cleared her throat. "Mr. Cole, Ms. Hart—focus."
"Yes, ma'am," Lila said quickly, burying her head in her notebook.
"Yes, ma'am," Ethan echoed, though his tone was far from obedient. His gaze lingered on Lila like she was the only thing worth studying.
By the time the bell rang, Lila's nerves were fried. She shoved her books into her bag, determined to escape before Ethan could say another word.
But of course, he blocked her path with that maddening smirk.
"You're not running from me that easily."
Her patience snapped. "Why? Why me, Ethan? You could have anyone. Half the girls in this school would crawl just to sit at your table."
He stepped closer, voice low, eyes locked on hers. "Exactly. They'd crawl. They'd beg. They'd worship the ground I walk on. But you?" His grin softened into something sharper, hungrier. "You look me in the eye. You fight me. You make me work for it. And that makes you the only one I want."
Her heart stuttered. For a moment—just a moment—she almost believed him.
Then she shoved past him, cold as ice. "Want all you like. You'll still never have me."
Ethan's smirk returned as he watched her leave, his voice a whisper meant only for her.
"We'll see about that, sunshine."