---
ZAYDEN'S POV
The moment the bell rang, every guy in Section E exploded out of their seats like they'd been set free from a cage.
Chairs screeched.
Bags flew.
Someone threw a shoe at someone else.
Classic.
Me?
I just leaned back, crossed my arms, and watched the chaos like I was supervising a zoo I never asked to run.
But my eyes kept dragging back to the new girl.
Amara Reyes.
She jumped up, flustered, hugging her books like they were life support, and practically escaped the room.
Good.
The quicker she runs, the faster things go back to normal.
I turned to the guys.
"Alright," I muttered, cracking my gum, "she won't last a day. Just make sure she doesn't get… comfortable."
Kian snorted. "Bro, she looked terrified. She's probably transferring by tomorrow."
Jace shrugged. "Should we prank her?"
I glared. "Not too far. Just enough so she gets the message."
"She looks like trouble," I added under my breath.
Because she did.
The type of trouble that messed up routines.
The type that made teachers pay attention.
The type that got boys suspended.
We didn't need that.
The guys nodded, forming a circle around me like I was the mafia boss of the classroom.
(Which wasn't wrong.)
"She's not built for this section," I said.
And in my head, it was simple:
She leaves, balance restored.
But then again… she had that weird spark.
Stubborn eyes.
A little hurricane energy.
Annoying.
And interesting.
I looked out the window, not ready to admit that.
---
AMARA'S POV
Cafeteria time = survival time.
I walked in, already annoyed for reasons even I couldn't fully explain.
Okay fine.
One reason.
Zayden Hale.
His stupid chewing gum.
His stupid judging face.
His stupid king-of-the-universe posture.
And me being stupid enough to let him live rent-free in my brain.
I grabbed a plate and started scooping food.
And scooping.
And scooping.
And SCOOPING.
Anger has a way of making me forget people exist.
So there I was, shoveling rice like I was competing in some Olympic buffet event.
People around me?
Staring.
Some girl behind me whispered, "Is she… okay?"
No.
No, she was not okay.
Ugh! Stupid boy with his stupid eyebrows. Looking at me like I'm some virus. I hope his gum loses flavor immediately. I hope his hoodie shrinks in the wash. I hope his cha—
"Hi!"
I blinked.
A girl stood in front of me—tiny, cute, bright smile—like a human sunshine.
"Um… you're the new student, right? Section E?"
I nodded, calming my food attack mode.
"I'm Mika Cruz, Section B."
Aw. Friendly. Thank God.
She motioned at my overloaded plate.
"You… hungry?"
I looked at it.
I had enough rice to feed a small kingdom.
"…yeah."
We sat together, and she talked like we were old best friends.
She told me EVERYTHING.
Section E's history.
Why no girl ever survived.
Why the boys were wild.
Why the teachers avoided them.
And most importantly—
Zayden Hale.
The silent ruler.
The trouble magnet.
The reason girls had transferred in the past.
I stared at my plate, stabbing vegetables.
"Oh wow," I muttered. "I picked the easiest class."
Mika laughed. "If you survive Zayden, you'll survive the year."
Survive.
Like I was entering war.
Great.
We finished eating, and I headed back towards the class, Mika waving goodbye.
I took a breath and stepped toward the hallway
And went to the most beautiful door of hell
**"SECTION E"**
Splash.
Cold water drenched me from head to toe.
I froze.
The hallway froze.
My brain froze.
The bucket clattered to the ground in front of me.
Someone gasped.
Someone snickered.
And the smell hit me.
Detergent?
Flower soap?
What was this?? Jasmine-scented humiliation??
I blinked.
Then…
Then I laughed.
A full, chaotic, slightly unhinged laugh.
Everyone staring:
"…???"
Because this was the final confirmation.
The boys wanted me gone.
Bad luck for them.
I don't leave.
I destroy.
I picked up the bucket calmly.
Everyone took a step back.
I walked out of the hallway.
---
ZAYDEN'S POV
I was leaning back in my chair, watching the boys laugh about the "welcome gift."
"Bro did you see her face—"
"Bet she'll cry—"
"Should we apologize? Hah no—"
I cracked a small grin.
Not because I hated her.
Just because this was the usual.
Then footsteps echoed.
The class fell silent.
I looked up.
And my grin froze.
There she was.
Amara Reyes.
Soaked.
Dripping.
Bucket.
In.
Hand.
She didn't look defeated.
She didn't look scared.
She looked… dangerous.
And the way she walked?
Like she owned the consequences.
Holy hell.
"What the—" Kian whispered.
I straightened without realising.
She wasn't supposed to come back.
She was supposed to run.
She walked right up to my desk.
Right up to me.
And before I could say a word—
WHOOSH.
The ENTIRE bucket of water splashed over my head.
Cold.
Shocking.
Dripping down my hoodie, my hair, my pride.
The class:
"OH MY GOD—"
"NO WAY—"
"BRO—"
"WHAT—"
I blinked water off my lashes.
She stood in front of me, drenched as well, eyes blazing, breathing hard.
Two soaking idiots staring at each other.
A king drenched.
A girl refusing defeat.
My jaw tightened.
What…
just happened?