Chapter 3 Rules of War
880 Words
Lena Carter
Lena hated losing control.
That was the first thing everyone learned about her at Westbridge Academy.
Control meant discipline.
Discipline meant winning.
And winning was the only thing that mattered.
Which was exactly why being partnered with Ethan Hayes felt like a punishment specifically designed to ruin her life.
“You’re late.”
Ethan looked completely unbothered as he dropped into the chair across from her in the library meeting room.
“I’m two minutes late.”
“You’re seven.”
“Wow,” he said dryly. “Should we call the police?”
Lena ignored him, sliding a stack of schedules across the table.
The Sports Leadership Program’s opening ceremony was in four days, and somehow she had ended up doing almost all the planning herself.
Typical.
Ethan picked up the papers lazily.
His eyebrows lifted.
“You made color-coded schedules?”
“Yes.”
“You’re terrifying.”
“I’ve heard.”
He leaned back in his chair, studying her carefully.
The library was unusually quiet around them, sunlight spilling through tall windows while students whispered between bookshelves nearby.
Lena focused on her laptop screen, refusing to acknowledge his stare.
“What?” she finally snapped.
Ethan smirked slightly. “Nothing.”
“Then stop looking at me.”
“You always this bossy?”
“You always this useless?”
“Ouch.”
She returned to typing.
Or at least she tried to.
Because Ethan wouldn’t stop talking.
“So,” he said casually, spinning a pen between his fingers, “what exactly happens if things don’t go according to your precious schedule?”
“They will.”
“And if they don’t?”
Lena finally looked up.
“Not everyone enjoys chaos as much as you do, Hayes.”
Something shifted in his expression for half a second.
Tiny.
Almost invisible.
But she noticed it.
Then he smiled again.
Fake this time.
“You think you know me so well.”
“I know enough.”
The tension between them sharpened instantly.
It always did.
Every conversation somehow turned into a fight.
And yet neither of them ever walked away.
Ethan suddenly reached across the table, pulling one of her papers closer.
His hand brushed hers accidentally.
The contact lasted less than a second.
But Lena’s entire body reacted anyway.
Annoying.
Very annoying.
She pulled her hand back immediately.
Ethan noticed.
Of course he did.
His smirk deepened slightly.
“You okay there, Captain?”
“Don’t call me that.”
“Why? It suits you.”
“Only my team calls me that.”
“So I’m not special yet?”
Lena stared at him in disbelief.
“How are you a real person?”
“I ask myself that every day.”
Before she could respond, the librarian glared sharply in their direction.
“Quiet.”
Ethan raised his hands innocently.
Lena pinched the bridge of her nose.
This was going to kill her.
An hour later, they were carrying decorations toward the auditorium stage for rehearsal preparations.
Or rather—
Lena was carrying decorations.
Ethan was walking beside her pretending to help.
“You’re unbelievable,” she muttered.
“I’m charming.”
“You’re lazy.”
“I’m energy efficient.”
She rolled her eyes hard enough to hurt.
The auditorium was mostly empty except for a few students setting up lights and sound systems.
Lena climbed onto the stage carefully, adjusting banners above the podium.
“You missed a corner,” Ethan called from below.
“I know.”
“You missed another one.”
“I said I know.”
“You’re getting aggressive again.”
She turned sharply. “Then stop distracting me—”
Her foot slipped slightly on the edge of the stage.
Everything happened too fast.
The banner twisted in her hand.
Her balance disappeared.
And suddenly she was falling.
Before she hit the ground, strong hands caught her around the waist.
The breath left Lena’s lungs instantly.
Ethan steadied her carefully against him.
Too close.
Way too close.
Her hands instinctively grabbed the front of his hoodie.
For one dangerous second, neither of them moved.
The auditorium noise faded into background static.
All Lena could hear was her own heartbeat.
Ethan looked down at her, expression unreadable now.
“You okay?” he asked quietly.
His voice sounded different.
Softer.
Lena swallowed.
“I’m fine.”
But she didn’t move away.
Neither did he.
And that was the problem.
Because Ethan Hayes was supposed to annoy her.
Not make her nervous.
Not make her pulse race every time he got close.
Not look at her like that.
Students nearby suddenly started cheering dramatically.
“OHHHHH!”
“JUST DATE ALREADY!”
Lena immediately pushed away from him.
Her face burned.
Ethan laughed under his breath, though his expression still looked oddly distracted.
“You almost died,” he said lightly.
“I slipped.”
“Tragic.”
“You’re still annoying.”
“And you’re still blushing.”
“I am not.”
“You definitely are.”
Lena grabbed another decoration aggressively.
“I hate you.”
Ethan smiled slowly.
“No,” he said quietly. “You really don’t.”
Her stomach flipped.
And she absolutely hated that he might be right.
- Writer
