The classroom buzzed with noise as students slowly settled into their seats.
Laughter echoed around the room. Chairs scraped against the floor. Someone at the back was arguing loudly about a football match.
But my mind wasn't focused on any of that.
I sat stiffly at my desk, staring down at my notebook.
My pen wasn't moving.
I could still hear Adrian's voice in my head.
"See you in class… step-sister."
My grip tightened around the pen.
That idiot.
I glanced across the room.
Adrian was leaning back lazily in his chair like he had absolutely no worries in the world. His long legs stretched comfortably under the desk, one arm resting behind his head.
And of course…
Two girls had already taken seats near him.
One of them giggled at something he whispered to her.
The other twirled her hair nervously.
Pathetic.
Lisa leaned toward me from the next desk.
"Chelsea," she whispered excitedly.
I sighed.
"What?"
Her eyes darted toward Adrian.
"You're pretending not to look at him again."
"I'm not pretending," I said quietly. "I'm ignoring him."
Lisa smirked.
"Same thing."
Before I could respond, the classroom door suddenly opened.
Our teacher walked in.
"Good morning, class."
Everyone quickly straightened up.
"Good morning, sir," the class replied.
The teacher placed his books on the table and looked around the room.
"Today we're continuing our discussion from yesterday," he said.
My brain switched automatically into focus mode.
Finally.
Something normal.
The teacher began writing a question on the board.
A complicated one.
I read it carefully, already forming the answer in my head.
Of course I knew it.
I always knew the answers.
The teacher turned around.
"Who can solve this?"
My hand lifted slightly.
But before I could speak
A voice answered.
Confident.
Clear.
"Forty-two point six."
The entire class turned.
Adrian.
My eyes widened.
The teacher looked impressed.
"Correct," he said.
Adrian simply shrugged.
Like it was nothing.
My jaw tightened.
Lisa leaned toward me again.
"Whoa," she whispered. "Your rival is smart."
I didn't answer.
But inside, my frustration burned.
He stole my answer.
Again.
The teacher continued the lesson, asking more questions.
And somehow…
Adrian answered several of them.
Correctly.
Every single time.
I couldn't understand it.
He didn't look like someone who cared about studying.
He spent half the class leaning back in his chair or casually spinning a pen between his fingers.
Yet somehow…
He kept answering correctly.
It was irritating.
Extremely irritating.
At one point, our eyes met across the room.
Adrian raised an eyebrow slightly.
Like he knew exactly what I was thinking.
Then he smirked.
I looked away immediately.
When the bell rang for break time, the class exploded into chatter again.
Students rushed out into the hallway.
Lisa grabbed my arm.
"Come on," she said. "Let's get some snacks."
I nodded and followed her out.
The hallway was crowded as usual.
Students walked in groups, laughing and talking loudly.
We made our way toward the courtyard.
But suddenly Lisa stopped.
"Oh look," she whispered.
I followed her gaze.
And of course…
There he was.
Adrian stood near the stairs with a girl from our class.
She was leaning against the wall while he stood close in front of her.
Too close.
He said something that made her laugh softly.
Then he leaned even closer.
My stomach twisted.
The girl looked slightly nervous, but she didn't move away.
Adrian brushed a strand of hair from her face.
"Relax," he murmured.
I looked away immediately.
Disgusting.
Lisa elbowed me.
"You see?" she whispered. "That guy is dangerous."
"No kidding."
"He's already breaking hearts."
I crossed my arms.
"Well he won't break mine."
Lisa laughed.
"Sure."
Just then Adrian's gaze lifted.
And landed directly on me.
For a moment, he didn't move.
He just watched me.
Then slowly…
He smiled.
Not the same playful smile he gave the other girls.
This one felt different.
More challenging.
More personal.
Like he was provoking me.
I rolled my eyes and turned away.
"Let's go," I said.
But as we walked away, I could still feel his eyes on me.
Watching.
Studying.
Like I was some kind of puzzle he wanted to solve.
And somehow…
That annoyed me even more.
Later that afternoon, when the final bell rang, I packed my books quickly.
All I wanted was to get home.
But the moment I stepped outside the school gate…
I stopped.
Adrian was already there.
Leaning casually against the fence.
Waiting.
My heart skipped.
"What are you doing here?" I asked.
He pushed himself off the fence.
"Going home."
"So go."
He smirked.
"We live in the same house now, remember?"
I sighed in frustration.
"Don't remind me."
Adrian started walking beside me.
The silence between us lasted a few seconds.
Then he spoke.
"You were angry in class today."
"I wasn't."
"You were."
I glared at him.
"You stole my answer."
He laughed.
"You didn't even say it yet."
"That's not the point!"
Adrian looked amused.
"You really hate losing, don't you?"
I stopped walking.
"I don't lose."
He stepped closer.
His voice dropped slightly.
"Then I guess this semester is going to be very interesting."
I frowned.
"What do you mean?"
Adrian's smirk returned.
"It means," he said slowly,
"I like a challenge."
Then he walked ahead of me toward the house.
Leaving me standing there.
Completely annoyed.
And somehow…
Completely certain that Adrian had just started a game.
And I had no idea how far he was willing to take it.