Chapter 11: Try Me
889 Words
The next morning, Ava became the most talked-about person in Class 12A.
Not because she'd broken Ethan's record.
Not because of the rumors.
Not even because of the scholarship.
No.
People were talking because she'd actually challenged Ethan Blackwood and survived.
The moment she entered the classroom, conversations stopped. A few students looked at her with admiration. Others looked at her like she'd completely lost her mind.
Ava ignored all of them and headed for her seat.
"You're brave," the girl beside her said.
"I'm tired."
"Same thing."
Ava laughed despite herself.
Across the room, Ethan was talking to Liam, Noah, and Jace. At least, she assumed he was. Liam was talking. Noah was laughing. Jace looked half asleep.
Ethan barely seemed interested.
Then he glanced up.
Their eyes met for a second.
Neither looked away immediately.
Neither smiled.
Ava broke eye contact first and sat down.
The girl beside her noticed.
"Oh, this year's going to be fun."
"No, it's not."
"It is for me."
---
The first lesson started ten minutes later.
Unfortunately, it was Literature.
Which meant another opportunity for Ethan to be annoying.
Ava was already preparing herself.
The teacher paced slowly in front of the classroom.
"Let's continue yesterday's discussion. Who can explain the significance of the ending?"
Several students avoided eye contact.
The teacher sighed dramatically.
"Wonderful. I've taught a room full of statues."
The class laughed.
Then Ava raised her hand.
The teacher pointed at her immediately.
Ava gave her answer, explaining the author's intentions and the symbolism behind the final scene.
When she finished, the teacher nodded.
"Very good."
Ava smiled slightly.
Then she heard it.
A chair scraping against the floor.
Ethan stood.
Of course he did.
The class immediately became interested.
Several students sat up straighter.
Others exchanged knowing looks.
Ava was beginning to hate those looks.
"Ethan?" the teacher asked.
"I disagree."
Ava rolled her eyes.
The teacher looked delighted.
"Again?"
A few students laughed.
Even Ethan looked mildly amused.
He explained his interpretation calmly, pointing out a few details Ava hadn't mentioned.
By the time he finished, the class was nodding.
The teacher folded her arms.
"Hmm."
There it was.
That annoying sound teachers made when they were impressed.
Ava waited.
Then smiled.
"Can I respond?"
The teacher blinked.
"So we're debating now?"
"Apparently."
The class erupted with laughter.
Even the teacher had to hide a smile.
"Go ahead."
Ava stood and looked directly at Ethan.
For the first time, she wasn't nervous.
She was annoyed.
Very annoyed.
"You didn't actually disagree with me."
A few students frowned.
Ethan raised an eyebrow.
Ava continued.
"You just repeated my argument and added extra details."
The room went silent.
Several heads turned toward Ethan.
Then back toward Ava.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
Ethan's expression didn't change.
"That's not what happened."
"Really?"
Ava picked up her textbook.
"Because from where I was sitting, it sounded exactly like that."
A few students laughed.
Liam immediately looked interested.
Noah nearly choked.
Jace actually looked awake for once.
The teacher pressed her lips together, clearly trying not to laugh.
Ethan crossed his arms.
"And from where I was sitting, your argument was incomplete."
The class collectively leaned forward.
Nobody was pretending to take notes anymore.
This was far more entertaining.
Ava smiled.
"Then maybe next time let me finish before deciding to rescue the discussion."
A student dropped his pen.
Someone else whispered, "Oh, she's good."
The teacher finally stepped in before things escalated further.
"Alright, enough."
Nobody looked happy about that.
Including the students.
---
The rest of the lesson passed surprisingly quickly.
But something had changed.
Ava noticed it.
The class noticed it.
Even Ethan seemed to notice it.
For the first time since she arrived at Kingsley, he wasn't treating her like an inconvenience.
Or a temporary problem.
He was paying attention.
Real attention.
The kind reserved for actual competition.
---
Later that afternoon, the class gathered for Advanced Mathematics.
Their teacher entered carrying a stack of papers.
A very large stack.
Immediately, the room groaned.
"Why are there so many papers?"
"Because your generation enjoys suffering."
The class laughed.
The teacher placed the stack on her desk.
Then smiled.
Students immediately became nervous.
Teachers smiled far too much before ruining lives.
The teacher folded his arms.
"I have an announcement."
A collective sigh filled the room.
"We'll be holding a major academic assessment next week."
The room exploded.
"What?"
"Already?"
"That's not fair."
"It should be illegal."
The teacher ignored them.
"This assessment will count heavily toward your term rankings."
That got everyone's attention.
Immediately.
Students straightened.
Conversations stopped.
Even Ethan looked interested.
The teacher continued.
"The student with the highest score will receive a recommendation for Kingsley's Academic Excellence Program."
Now the room was completely silent.
Everybody knew what that meant.
Prestige.
Recognition.
Opportunity.
And more importantly—
Competition.
Slowly, the teacher's gaze moved across the classroom before settling on two people.
Ava.
And Ethan.
The class noticed immediately.
A few students smiled.
Others exchanged looks.
Liam looked amused.
Noah looked excited.
Jace shook his head like he already knew what was coming.
The teacher smiled.
"This should be interesting."
Ava glanced toward Ethan.
At the exact same moment, Ethan looked at her.
Neither looked away.
And somehow, they both seemed to be thinking the same thing.
Game on.
- Writer
