Falling For My Rival

Chapter 18: 0.5%

Three days after detention, Kingsley Academy found a new reason to lose its mind.

Another test.

Another set of rankings.

Another opportunity for students to argue about Ava Williams and Ethan Blackwood.

At this point, Ava was convinced the school needed a support group.

The assessment itself had been brutal. Even the smartest students walked out of the classroom looking defeated.

One girl claimed she had guessed half the questions.

A boy behind Ava swore he was transferring schools.

Nobody believed him.

Now everyone was waiting for the results.

Unfortunately, waiting turned out to be worse than writing the test.

By Thursday morning, students were already making predictions.

"Ethan's taking this one."

"No chance."

"Ava beat him last time."

"By one exam."

"So?"

"So Ethan doesn't lose twice."

Ava tried ignoring them.

She really did.

But it was difficult when people kept discussing her like she wasn't standing right there.

As she reached her locker, two students immediately stopped talking.

Then smiled awkwardly.

Ava sighed.

This was her life now.

---

The classroom buzzed with nervous energy when she arrived.

Students were unusually awake.

Nobody wanted to admit it, but everyone cared about the rankings.

Especially this year.

Especially now.

Ava dropped into her seat and pulled out a notebook.

Beside her, a girl leaned closer.

"Nervous?"

"No."

The girl raised an eyebrow.

"You've been tapping your pen for three minutes."

Ava immediately stopped.

"Traitor."

The girl laughed.

Across the room, Ethan looked annoyingly calm.

Not nervous.

Not stressed.

Just relaxed.

Ava hated that.

---

The teacher arrived carrying a stack of papers.

Immediately, the room quieted.

A few students sat straighter.

Others looked ready to faint.

The teacher placed the papers on her desk and smiled.

Nobody smiled back.

Teachers smiling before results should've been illegal.

"Overall, I'm impressed."

A collective groan filled the room.

The teacher ignored it.

"Several students performed exceptionally well."

Ava's stomach tightened.

The same thing happened every time.

The suspense.

The waiting.

The endless talking.

Then the comparison.

Always the comparison.

The teacher adjusted her glasses.

"The top two scores were separated by the smallest margin this year."

Instant chaos.

"How small?"

"One point?"

"Half a point?"

"Can you even get half a point?"

The teacher raised a hand.

The room quieted.

Mostly.

"In second place..."

Silence settled over the classroom.

Ava suddenly became very interested in the floor.

"...Ava Williams."

For a second, nobody reacted.

Then came the gasps.

The whispers.

The shocked expressions.

Ava blinked.

Second place.

The word felt strange.

Not awful.

Just unfamiliar.

Then she looked up.

Across the room, Ethan was already watching her.

And somehow she already knew.

---

The teacher smiled.

"And in first place..."

The room leaned forward.

"...Ethan Blackwood."

The classroom exploded.

Students cheered.

Others groaned.

Someone slapped a desk.

Someone else demanded a recount.

The teacher laughed.

"Ethan scored ninety-eight."

More cheering.

"Ava scored ninety-seven."

The reactions somehow got louder.

One point.

One single point.

That was it.

After weeks of competition, arguments, comparisons, and rumors...

One point separated them.

Ava wasn't sure whether to laugh or scream.

---

The rest of the morning became unbearable.

Every teacher seemed determined to mention the result.

Every student seemed determined to discuss it.

Even during lunch, people wouldn't let it go.

"See? Ethan's still Ethan."

"By one point."

"A win's a win."

"So is a loss."

The debates spread from table to table.

Ava focused on her food.

At least until someone dropped into the seat opposite her.

Ethan.

Of course.

He looked far too pleased with himself.

Not arrogant.

Not smug.

Just satisfied.

Which somehow annoyed her even more.

For a few moments, neither spoke.

Then Ethan leaned back slightly.

"You've been avoiding me."

Ava took another bite of food.

"No."

"You have."

"No."

"You definitely have."

Ava looked up.

"Did you sit here just to argue?"

"Maybe."

"That's sad."

Ethan laughed.

Actually laughed.

The sound caught her off guard.

For a second, neither looked away.

Then Noah appeared beside the table.

Followed by Liam.

Then Jace.

Apparently privacy was dead.

Noah grinned.

"So..."

Ava already hated where this was going.

"So what?"

"You gonna say it?"

Ava narrowed her eyes.

Liam looked suspiciously entertained.

Jace immediately started eating like he wanted no part of the conversation.

Ethan remained silent.

Watching.

Waiting.

Then Ava understood.

"Oh."

No.

Absolutely not.

Noah smiled wider.

"You know what we're talking about."

"Unfortunately."

Liam folded his arms.

"It would be the polite thing to do."

Ava stared at him.

"You threatened me two weeks ago."

"That's unrelated."

"It feels related."

Noah was struggling not to laugh.

Even Ethan looked amused now.

Which made Ava even less willing.

The silence stretched.

Everyone waited.

Ava picked up her drink.

Took a sip.

Set it back down.

Still nothing.

Finally, Ethan spoke.

"You're not going to do it, are you?"

Ava smiled sweetly.

"No."

Noah lost it.

Liam laughed.

Even Jace looked amused.

Ethan shook his head.

"Seriously?"

"You won."

"I know."

"So why do you need me to tell you?"

The table went silent.

Ethan stared at her.

Ava stared back.

Neither willing to surrender.

Finally, she stood and grabbed her tray.

"See you in class."

"Ava."

She paused.

Ethan waited.

The entire table waited.

For one second, it almost looked like she might say it.

Then she smiled.

A stubborn, infuriating smile.

And walked away.

Leaving Ethan without a congratulations.

And somehow making the victory feel a lot less satisfying.