THE LAST PESON I SHOULD FALL FOR

The moment I opened the door, I knew today would be a disaster. Students crowded the hallway of Ridgeview High, shouting over one another, but the noise wasn’t the problem. The problem was Ethan Cole, standing right in the middle like he owned the place. He spotted me instantly. His smirk arrived before his words. “Why so serious, Maya? Forget how to smile again?” I kept walking. “I smile when I see people I like.” “So never, then?” Students nearby snickered. Ethan loved an audience. I didn’t give him one. I brushed past, but he stepped sideways, blocking me. “Move,” I said. “Say please.” I clenched my jaw. “Please move… before I move you.” He laughed. “I’d like to see you try.” I stepped closer, ready to shove him, but a teacher shouted our names. “Cole! Rivera! My office, now!” Great. The first period hadn’t even started, and Ethan had already dragged me into drama. In the office, the principal eyed us like we were ticking bombs. “You two have been fighting for three years,” she said. “You argue in class. You argue in the halls. You even argue during fire drills.” Ethan shrugged. “We don’t argue during fire drills. She just talks too much.” I turned to him. “I talk too much? You breathe too much.” The principal slammed her pen down. “That’s it. I’m done separating you. From today, you’re partners for the school festival project.” “What?” Ethan and I shouted together. “You’ll work after school, in the library. Every day. Until the project is complete. If you fail this, you both lose festival privileges.” Ethan groaned. “I don’t even want festival privileges.” I crossed my arms. “Good. At least we finally agree on something.” The principal smiled like she’d planned this chaos. “Dismissed.” As we walked out, Ethan whispered, “This is your fault.” “My fault?” I stopped. “You blocked the hallway like a malfunctioning robot.” He opened his mouth to fire back, but his phone rang. He checked the screen and his smile faded. “Whatever,” he muttered and walked away quickly. That was strange. Ethan never walked away from an argument. Why did Ethan back off… and what was he hiding?