Today didn't start like a disaster. It started like every other day- me trying to stay invisible.
I minded my business, stayed away from everyone, and focused on my classes.
My homeroom and English teacher had asked to see me before class.
When I got to the office, Mr. Robert Shaw wasted no time pointing out how I was practically a ghost in school. I was involved in extracurricular activities just enough to boost my record, but I wasn't actively participating in anything.
He wanted me to engage more, to interact, to "do more."
I hadn't meant to roll my eyes, but I did. He didn't make any sense. I was already doing the right amount of everything.
I didn't need him putting his nose in my business. And I politely told him.
"I will not be involved in any extracurricular activities because they hold no significance to me."
I was polite. That was my first mistake.
He looked stunned.
After lunch, we had his class. The topic? Relationships. That was our essay, and I had scored a perfect 100. But Mr. Robert wanted to expand more on the topic in class.
"The characters in the books you've read are all defined by relationships—mostly love," he began, his eyes gleaming mischievously. "So, I put it to you—tell me your understanding of love. I don't want generic answers. I want the real you, even if your opinions are controversial. The best responses will earn an extra ten marks."
The class gasped.
"So, who wants an extra ten marks?" Mr. Robert leaned back against his desk, folding his arms. "Remember, no generic answers."
Every hand shot up. Mine included.
"Me! Me!" Kayla, cheerleader and the most popular girl in class, practically jumped out of her seat.
"Yes, Kayla."
She ran a hand down her chest, then waved dramatically, her voice as sweet as a Southern belle. "I would say... love is life. Simple."
The boys stared at her, practically drooling, while the girls exchanged jealous glances. It was as if she had a freaking halo over her head at all times.
"Thank you for that answer," Mr. Robert said, sighing gently. "But that's not what I'm looking for."
The smile instantly vanished from Kayla's face.
"I think relationships help you connect... you feel tangible new feelings," a new voice spoke up.
Everyone turned.
Cade Morrison.
The top scorer in the Iowa high school basketball league. Most handsome. Most popular. Most scouted. The golden boy destined for the National League.
"Mr. Morrison," Mr. Robert mused. "I didn't even realize you were taking this class."
"I am." Cade's voice was smooth. "What do you think of my answer?"
Mr. Robert straightened from his desk. "It's a good answer. You're not wrong. But I don't feel like that's what you truly think."
"Relationships are scams."
The entire class turned to me.
Kayla burst into laughter, joined by her sidekicks, Tina and Angie—the two blondes who followed her everywhere. Meanwhile, the rest of the class stared at me in shock.
"Of course, she would think relationships are scams when she looks like that." Kayla shrieked, setting off another wave of laughter.
I didn't care. My eyes remained locked on Mr. Robert, indifferent.
"Why that answer?" he asked.
I sighed, leaning back in my chair. "It's simple. The person who benefits the most controls the relationship. It can be the man or the woman. Either way, it's control. Dating without commitment while having exclusive access to free sex. A monopoly. A waste of time."
Silence.
Everyone gaped at me.
"But you wrote the best essay about love," Mr. Robert said, stunned.
I shrugged. "Yeah. I just wrote what would get me the best marks. I don't believe a single word I wrote. You don't care about how I actually feel—you care about what you think I'm supposed to feel. If I had written my real opinion, I wouldn't have the best essay."
"Aren't you being fake then?"
Cade.
He was talking to me.
That was surprising. But my focus remained on Mr. Robert.
"Cade asked you a question," Mr. Robert said gently.
I blinked. "Why should I answer his question? It won't get me marks, so I ignored it."
Another round of gasps.
"I'm asking you now," Mr. Robert said gently.
I sighed. "Fine. If I had given this same answer in my essay, would I still have had the best essay?"
No answer.
"So, do I win?"
"Win?"
"Yes. The ten marks."
A long pause. Then-
"Yes."
I smirked, pressing a quick kiss to my fists in triumph.
Something made me turn-
And I caught Cade staring at me.
I raised a brow before looking away.
"See how happy she is?" Kayla scoffed. "Mark Monger. All she cares about is grades. Grades, grades, grades."
I ignored her.
"You know," Mr. Robert mused, "that's the longest I've ever heard you speak."
I stared at him pointedly. "You promised us marks. So I did my best."
"And if I hadn't?"
"I would have kept my mouth shut."
Cade bellowed a laugh.
I frowned.
That was strange. I had never interacted with him before. Yet he was staring at me like I was a problem he needed to solve.
Kayla noticed.
Rolling my eyes, I turned away. I didn't need any drama.
The bell rang, and I hurried out of class.
Later, at my locker…
As I was putting my books away, Kayla slammed my locker shut, barely missing my hand.
I turned, startled. "What the hell was that?"
She stepped closer, forcing me to press against my locker. "Stay the hell away from Cade."
"You heard her!" Angie parroted.
"Yeah!" Tina added.
I frowned. "I don't even know the guy—"
"You don't know Cade?" Kayla rolled her eyes, laughing. "Just stay away from him."
She raised her hand and swung.
I ducked.
The slap missed, but I lost my balance, falling on my butt.
Kayla smirked and knocked my books off the locker shelf, sending them tumbling onto my head.
Passersby laughed as she strutted away.
I sat there, breathing deeply, before picking up my scattered books. I stacked them back into my locker and shut it—not too loudly, but hard enough.
As I turned to leave, I noticed Cade watching me.
He was surrounded by his teammates, but his eyes were on me.
I swallowed.
The spit went down the wrong way.
I coughed, wheezing in discomfort.
What the hell was wrong with today?
I turned away quickly and walked off, reminding myself to stay as far away from him as possible.
But…
At the time, I thought surviving the day was my biggest problem.
I had no idea…
I was hours away from destroying Iowa's golden boy.