RIVALS,RUKES AND RIGHT HOOKS
860 Words
By Tuesday morning, Crestwood Academy had returned to its usual rhythm — gossip in the halls, designer shoes clicking against polished floors, and that constant background hum of competition.
I was halfway to my locker when I heard my name.
“Hey.”
I turned, and there she was.
Scarlett Monroe.
If Daniella was the sun, warm and magnetic, Scarlett was an ice sculpture — perfect, cold, and untouchable. Platinum-blonde hair, lipstick the color of danger, and an expression that said she’d rather stab you with her stiletto than be seen standing next to you.
We weren’t friends. We weren’t enemies either.
We were… something worse.
“Morning,” I said flatly.
Her eyes flicked over my outfit — Crestwood’s standard uniform, but fitted to my liking — and lingered just long enough to be insulting. “You and Daniella seem close.”
“Observation skills on point,” I said.
She ignored the jab. “You’ve met her brother, then?”
Ah. So that’s where this was going.
“Yeah,” I said. “Why?”
Her lips curved, but it wasn’t a smile. “Let’s just say… Daniel’s mine. He doesn’t know it yet, but he will.”
I blinked. “That’s… creepy.”
Her expression iced over. “It’s not creepy if you’re destined for each other. And trust me — he’s not interested in girls like you.”
I tilted my head, feigning thoughtfulness. “Then you shouldn’t be worried, should you?”
She took a step closer, her perfume sharp and sweet. “Stay out of my way. Because if I think you’re getting too close to him… I’ll make sure your life here becomes very unpleasant.”
I smiled. “Scarlett, you’d have to actually be a threat for that to work.”
Her eyes narrowed. “We’ll see.”
---
The first chance to “see” came faster than either of us expected.
It was gym class, and Coach had decided today was “self-defense training.” Half the class groaned. I didn’t.
While most girls paired up and barely tapped each other in slow-motion practice, I was paired with a boy from the martial arts club. He went easy on me at first, assuming I was just another rich girl with zero coordination.
Big mistake.
Three moves in, I had him on the mat, my knee at his side and his arm locked in place. Gasps rippled through the room.
When I stood, dusting myself off, I caught Daniel watching from the doorway. He wasn’t supposed to be there — this was a different year group’s class — but there he was, leaning against the frame, eyes fixed on me.
He didn’t smirk this time. He just watched.
---
After class, Scarlett was waiting for me outside.
“Where’d you learn that?” she asked, voice tight.
“Kung-fu,” I said, brushing past her.
“That’s cute. But let’s see how you handle something without mats and referees.”
I stopped. Slowly turned. “Are you threatening me?”
She smiled sweetly. “Just… curious.”
---
By the end of the day, the “curiosity” turned into action.
I was leaving the science block when two of Scarlett’s friends “accidentally” blocked the hallway.
“Oops,” one said, stepping in front of me.
“Move,” I said, my voice even.
They didn’t.
Instead, Scarlett appeared behind them, arms folded. “Relax, I just want to talk.”
I sighed. “You have thirty seconds.”
The next few moments happened in a blur — one of her friends reached for my bag, maybe to spill it, maybe to shove me. I didn’t wait to find out.
A quick pivot, a sweep of my leg, and she was on the floor before she knew what happened. The other girl lunged; I sidestepped and gave her wrist a sharp twist, just enough to make her yelp.
Scarlett froze.
Then a slow clap echoed from behind me.
Daniel.
He was leaning casually against the wall, that damn smirk back in place. “Well, well. Remind me never to piss you off.”
Scarlett’s face went pale. “Daniel, this isn’t what it looks like—”
“It looks like you tried to mess with her and lost,” he said. His voice was calm, but there was an edge to it that made Scarlett flinch.
He stepped forward, just enough to tower over her. “Don’t try it again.”
Scarlett’s jaw clenched, but she didn’t reply. She turned and walked away, her friends scrambling after her.
---
When they were gone, I turned to him. “I didn’t need your help.”
“I know,” he said. “But it was fun to give it anyway.”
I crossed my arms. “Why do you keep interfering in my life?”
His eyes softened for a fraction of a second. “Because watching you handle people is my new favorite hobby.”
And then he walked away, leaving me standing there, annoyed at both him… and myself.
Because I was starting to enjoy it too.
- Writer
