Enemies To Endgame

CHAPTER 4:FALL FOR ME

CHAPTERS 4

DYLAN

Laughter erupted, echoing through the halls. The moment everyone's gaze fell on me, they became quiet in an instant, shoving throw phones into their bag in a hurry.

My jaw clenched. I knew the video that they were watching. It was the one where that low life scholarship girl kicked me in the nuts and someone managed to get it on video, sending it for the entire school to watch.

The sound of the video caught my attention again, and I walked over to one student who was oblivious to my presence. I snatched the phone from him.

“Hey—”

His eyes widened in shock, upon realizing that it was me. His body shivered in fear, and he looked down, unable to meet my gaze.

“I…I'm sorry, Dylan. I didn't know it was you.”

I paid no heed to his apologies and threw his phone to the ground, stepping on it until it was completely destroyed. Other students watched in horror.

I turned to them, my face clenched with anger. “This serves as a warning to anyone who tries to defy me. I want that video off the group chat or each and everyone of you is going to pay.”

I stormed off with my gang,murmurs and whispers echoing in the background. I made my way to the sports area and sat down on one of the benches with the rest. I didn't feel like going to class. For some reason, I didn't want to face Riley yet. She must be feeling so victorious right now.

My friends were joking about the video, making fun of my face. They were lucky they were my friends otherwise they wouldn't get away with this.

They continued till the extent that I couldn't take it anymore. “Enough!” I snapped, diverting their attention.

“We get it. She hit me once, get over it.”

Jake—one of my friends—chuckled. “She didn't just hit you, dude. She challenged you. It looks like your days as king are coming to an end.”

I frowned at his statement. “Don't you dare make me. My days aren't over and it's only a matter of time before I get back at her.”

He snorted. “By pulling one of those pranks? It's obvious she's tougher than that. In fact, Riley Ashford already won my heart. I'm her number one fan.”

My fist clenched. I knew Jake was only trying to get on my nerves, and he's the best when it comes to pissing me off with what he refers to as ‘jokes’.

My other friend—Liam—jabbed him on the shoulder upon noticing my face. “You need to cool it, Jake,” he turned to me, “but you kind of need to up your game, Dylan. Riley Ashford has proven time and again that she doesn't care about your pranks.”

I sighed in defeat, rummaging through my thoughts. “But what can I do? I want to break her totally. Ruin her.”

Jake inserted. “You really need to think of something, dude. It's not like you can make her fall in love with you and then break her heart after. She won't even fall for you,” he said amidst laughter.

I knew he meant it as a joke, but I kind of fancied the idea. Logan noticed my sudden quietness and asked, “You're not actually doing it, right?”

That was the first time he spoke. He's usually the quiet one, but I never held anything against it. He was my best friend after all and we've been through thick and thin together.

I smirked. “We’d see.”

He gave me a disapproving look. “This is crazy, Dylan. You can't just play with someone's feelings like that.”

I huffed. “I never said I wanted to. And whose side are you really on? Me or that scholarship girl?”

He remained quiet after, not daring to answer that question.

*********

Monday came too quick. I walked into history class trying to act normal even though everybody was still snickering about that stupid video. Whatever. They’ll forget soon.

Mrs. Reynolds was already at the board with her annoying happy face. She clapped like we were in kindergarten. “Okay class, today I’m posting the partners for the big history project. No switching, no crying, my word is law.”

Everybody started whispering and leaning forward to see the list she was pinning up.

I didn’t even care at first. I was just scrolling on my phone thinking about how I was gonna start this whole plan with Riley. Jake’s dumb joke about making her fall for me was stuck in my head all weekend and honestly it was kinda perfect.

Then I heard Mrs. Reynolds say it clear as day.

“Riley Ashford with Dylan Sinclair.”

The whole class went “OOOH” like we were on some reality show. Heads turning left and right, looking at me then at Riley. A couple people even gasped for real.

Riley jumped up so fast her chair made that loud scraping noise. “Mrs. Reynolds please no, I can’t work with him, give me literally anyone else.”

Mrs. Reynolds just smiled that calm teacher smile. “Sometimes we learn the most from our enemies dear, it will be good for both of you. Now sit.”

Riley stood there for another second looking like she wanted to cry or scream, then dropped back in her seat looking dead inside.

I couldn’t help it, I smirked so hard.

This was too good.

After school I made sure I showed up to the library forty-five minutes late just to mess with her. When I walked in she was already sitting at the back table, books everywhere, looking stressed and mad at the same time.

I dropped my bag loud on purpose and sat down across from her like I owned the place.

She didn’t even look up, just kept highlighting her notes like she was trying to kill the paper.

I leaned over a little to see what she wrote. “You missed a source Ashford, page 127 has the actual treaty thing.”

She finally looked up, eyes all skinny and mad. “I don’t need help from you.”

I just shrugged and flipped the book open anyway, pushed it toward her. “Cool, fail then, I don’t care.”

She stared at me waiting for the joke or the insult but I didn’t say anything mean. So she got all confused and went back to her notes.

We ended up arguing for like a whole hour about dumb dates and sources and stuff. But somehow we finished half the project. She’s actually really smart when she’s not trying to murder me with her eyes.

At one point we both reached for the same book and our fingers touched. We just left them there for like three seconds, neither of us moved. I don’t even know why. Her hand was kinda shaking a little.

Then Logan walked past the glass wall outside, saw us, stopped for half a second, looked at our hands, then kept walking like nothing happened.

Riley snatched her hand back real quick and pretended to be super busy.

When we were done packing up I stood up and threw my bag on.

She was stuffing her books fast trying to run away probably.

I leaned down so only she could hear me.

“Tomorrow my place, 7 p.m.” I said it kinda soft on purpose. “And Riley? Don’t make me come get you.”

She froze and looked up at me with those big eyes, mouth open a little like she couldn’t believe I just said that.

I didn’t wait for her to answer. Just turned around and walked out.

This was gonna be way too easy.