Training With My Worst Enemy

Chapter 1: First Day. "Finally, I'm here." Saint John High School was the most elite school in the country. To get in, your parents had to be filthy rich, or you had to earn a scholarship. Standing in front of the huge brick buildings, the campus looked even bigger than I had imagined. "Baby girl, make sure you stay out of trouble," my dad said from the driver's seat. "Stay in your own lane. I don't want you getting into any fights on your first day." "Sure, Dad. No need to worry," I replied. I had no plans to cross anyone's lane. But no one had better cross mine, either. I was here to focus on my studies, become the best track athlete in the school, and win a spot at the Athletic Academy. I threw my backpack over my shoulder and reached for the door handle. "And remember!" my dad called out, his voice loud enough to echo across the parking lot. "No playing with boys!" "Dad!" I groaned, rolling my eyes. A few nearby students giggled, and some even pointed at me. "Look, it's Daddy's little girl," a girl behind me whispered loudly to her friends. I ignored them and walked toward the entrance. Ever since I was a kid, my dad had always been strict about keeping me away from guys. Yet, ironically, he never stopped talking about his star player at school. The main hallway was longer than I expected. Before I could even reach my first classroom, three girls stepped directly into my path, blocking my way. It was Ella, Lia, and Zara—the group everyone called the ELZ. "Well, well. If it isn't the coach's precious daughter," Zara said, covering her mouth with a fake, dramatic gasp. "Did your daddy pack your lunch today, too?" I gripped my bag strap tightly, my knuckles turning white. I could easily punch them right in the face, but I had just made a promise to my dad. I wasn't going to ruin my first day. I let out a sharp breath. "If you could just get out of my way, I'd appreciate it." "Oh? You think you can talk back to us?" Ella stepped forward, and the two girls behind her laughed on cue. "She thinks she's special just because her dad is the coach," Zara said, rolling her eyes. "Ella is the best runner on the team. You can't even come close to her." "Can't even come close?" I took a step right into Ella's space, looking her straight in the eye. "Your so-called best runner is just an ant compared to me," I said, my voice cold and calm. "And honestly? You guys shouldn't call yourselves ELZ. You should call yourselves the Mean Girls." The air in the hallway grew thick, as if everyone had stopped breathing to watch us. Ella’s jaw dropped, her face flushing bright red with embarrassment and anger. She raised her hand, taking an aggressive step toward me. "What did you just call us?" she hissed. Before I could get into a defensive stance, a tall shadow fell over both of us. A cold, deep voice cut straight through the tense silence. "Is there a problem here?" The crowd immediately parted. Mike Vance came down the hallway like he owned every single square inch of the floor. He wore his pristine varsity jacket over a sharp black shirt, his dark hair styled effortlessly, and a lazy, arrogant smirk plastered across his face. Two guys from the football team trailed right behind him like loyal bodyguards. The moment Ella saw him, her glare completely melted into a sweet, innocent smile. "Mike!" she cooed, stepping away from me and batting her eyelashes. "Nothing's wrong. We were just. You know, welcoming the coach's new little daughter to Saint John." Mike didn't even glance at Ella. His icy gray eyes locked directly onto mine, looking me up and down with clear disdain. "She doesn't look like she needs a welcome," Mike said, his tone dripping with condescension. "She looks like she's lost. The JV track field is out back, Lin." Zara and Lia giggled on cue, while my blood immediately boiled. "I know exactly where I am, Vance," I snapped back, squaring my shoulders and refusing to back down from his towering height. Mike leaned in just a fraction closer, his smug smirk widening. "Then get to class. You're blocking the hallway, and some of us actually have important places to be." He didn't wait for my response. He brushed right past my shoulder hard enough to force me a step back—and walked down the hall as if I were nothing more than a minor inconvenience in his morning routine. Hey!" I shouted after him. "You think you're so special just because everyone revolves around you? To me, you're nothing!" Mike stopped in his tracks. He turned his head slowly, looking at me over his shoulder with a cold, lazy smirk. "Whatever you say, Daddy's little virgin," he said, his voice loud enough for the whole hall to hear. Cruel laughter erupted from the students around us. Zara and Ella giggled, covering their mouths as Mike turned back and kept walking, leaving me standing alone in the middle of the crowded hallway with my fists clenched tight. Before I could even open my mouth to yell back, a heavy bucket of dirty, freezing mop water was dumped over my head. The dirty liquid soaked straight through my clothes, clinging to my skin and running down my face. Laughter erupted through the hall. I clenched my fists so tightly my nails bit into my palms, my whole body shaking with pure rage. I felt like I was about to explode. Ella stepped forward, a nasty grin on her face. "That's what you get for crossing me, bitch." She strutted past me, and the rest of the students slowly dispersed, whispering and giggling as they went to class. I stood there dripping wet, desperately wanting to chase Ella down and punch her. Before I could make a move, my phone vibrated in my pocket. I pulled it out with trembling fingers. My dad's name flashed on the screen. I pressed the phone to my ear. "Hello, Dad." "Maya, get to my office right now," his stern voice boomed through the speaker. "I have something urgent to tell you.”