Where the dust settles, and life feels lighter again.
The weeks after the duel passed like a slow sunrise—soft, steady, and warm.
For the first time in a long while, Samantha Faye Lopez wasn't waking up with her heart pounding from the weight of expectations. The alarm rang, the sunlight crept through her curtains, and instead of reaching straight for her notes, she took a moment just to breathe.
Her world hadn't changed overnight—but she had.
---
In class, the familiar rhythm of lectures and scribbled notes returned. But this time, it wasn't a quiet race between two prodigies.
It was laughter echoing between seats. Mira doodling hearts and formulas in the margins of Faye's notebook. Clint occasionally tossing paper balls at Jason when he made another pun in English class.
Even Mr. Valdez had noticed. "Lopez, Blake—you're surprisingly quieter lately. Should I be worried or grateful?"
Jason chuckled. "Maybe both, sir."
Faye only smiled faintly and kept writing, but there was a softness now—a peace that hadn't been there before.
---
When midterms rolled in, they studied together almost every day—long hours of flashcards, snacks, and sarcastic commentary.
At one point, Clint stretched his arms dramatically. "If I fail this, I'm haunting you all."
"You can't fail," Mira said, flicking his forehead. "You're too annoyingly smart."
Jason grinned. "Don't jinx it."
Faye smiled quietly at the sight of them—this mismatched little group she'd once kept at arm's length. The girl who once studied alone in corners was now surrounded by laughter, coffee cups, and friends who understood more than any medal ever could.
---
Exam Week came and went.
The campus buzzed with nervous energy—whispers about scores, rankings, and scholarships once again.
But Faye no longer felt that familiar sting of fear; she'd done her best, and for once, that was enough.
Jason nudged her as they walked to the bulletin board. "Ready for the big reveal?"
She shrugged, half-smiling. "As ready as I'll ever be."
Mira and Clint trailed close behind. The four of them joined the growing crowd, students pointing and murmuring as the new Top 10 Midterm Rankings were pinned up.
For a second, no one spoke.
Then Mira gasped. "Wait… is that—?"
Jason leaned forward, squinting. "No way."
Rank 1 – Clint Sebastian
Rank 2 – Samantha Faye Lopez (–2 points)
Rank 3 – Jason Blake (–5 points)
Rank 10– Mira Santos
The hallway exploded into cheers and teasing.
"Clint?! Bro, you overtook them?!"
"Mr. Chill is top 1?!"
"I didn't see that coming!"
Jason groaned dramatically, slapping Clint's back. "You traitor! You were supposed to keep us humble, not destroy us!"
Clint just grinned. "Guess all that haunting threat worked."
Faye stared at the board, then laughed softly—really laughed, for the first time in ages. "Congratulations, Rank 1."
Clint blinked, surprised. "You're… not mad?"
"Why would I be?" she said, smiling. "You earned it. And honestly, it feels nice to lose to a friend."
Jason whistled. "Wow. Growth."
She rolled her eyes but couldn't help smiling. "Don't ruin the moment."
Mira beamed. "This is the most wholesome academic rivalry ever."
Jason slung an arm around both Faye and Clint. "Fine, fine. But next time, I'm taking that spot back. Fair warning."
Faye nodded, her grin steady. "Then I'll be right behind you."
---
The four of them walked down the hallway together, the air filled with laughter instead of tension. Outside, the late afternoon sun painted everything gold.
For once, no one was thinking about scholarships or rankings. No one was measuring worth in numbers or medals.
They were just friends.
Smart, tired, still dreaming—and learning that being at the top wasn't about standing alone anymore.
---
Because once the pressure breaks, what remains are the people who make the climb worth it.