Rival Romance

Mrs. Stokes’ tiny bell dings, and everyone’s pencils fall.

I scan through my paper one more time and question five glares at me.

It’s probably wrong.

My face is pinched into a frown, but I force a neutral expression when I feel Caleb’s eyes on me. I can’t give him the satisfaction of seeing me unsure of myself. So I sit up in my chair until Mrs. Stokes takes my paper away, then grab my bag and bolt out of the class to wait for Jessica.

Crickets are already squealing outside. I peek out the window and notice that the sun’s already setting, which means it’s almost seven in the evening. I slide my phone out of the side pocket of my backpack, and sure enough, it’s 6:41pm.

Everyone else pours out: tired, frustrated expressions on their faces. I lean against the wall beside the sink, watching out for pink hair.

The door across me reflects my face, and a touch of concealer perfectly manages to cover the massive eye bags I’m sporting. I haven’t slept in days now, studying for this test; only to forget the most basic nomenclature. I can’t remember the last time my hair wasn’t in a ponytail, but I love seeing a wisp of brown whipping around when I walk.

When Jessica comes out, she’s looking up at someone—Neo. They’re giggling about something, and from the look in her eyes, they aren’t planning on stopping anytime soon. I grip the strap of my bag and wait for her to notice me.

Her eyes meet mine, and her face falls. She plasters on her awkward smile and walks up to me. “Daisy! I didn’t know you were waiting for me.”

Neo smiles, but I keep my eyes trained on her. “We always go home together.”

Her blue eyes flicker between Neo and I, before she steps forward to whisper in my ear. “I think he’s going to ask me out today. So do you mind walking alone today? I’ll make up for it, I swear.” She leans back, grimacing.

I ball my hands into fists. Again. “There’s no need for that.” I smile back, and her eyes brighten. “Enjoy your date.”

She pulls me into a hug, and her lavender scent starts to choke me. “I swear, you’re the best.” No, I’m not.

I turn around and walk into slowly building darkness, clutching my phone. Since she started talking to Neo, Jessica only ever texts me for homework answers or to tell me she can’t make it for something because of him. I know it’s toxic, but she’s my only friend, and I keep running like a fucking lapdog every time she asks for something.

Footsteps rush up behind me and I whip around to see forest-green eyes trained on me. Caleb.

He grins, moving to walk beside me. “You seemed a bit troubled by the test. Is this the end of the great Daisy Cooper?” He arches a brow, smirking.

Even though I don’t like him, it’s hard to deny his appeal. His cheekbones are almost unbelievably perked up, with a clean, angled jaw to enhance it. Since he started dying his hair blonde, he’s been the perfect example of the guys I try to avoid—the hot ones.

Caleb Carlen is the golden boy here at Justice College. Professors dick ride him so hard, I’m sure they’d kiss the ground he walks on if he asked. Girls and guys love him too; that’s why he’s Vice President— but I have a strong dislike for him.

Some might call it hatred.

“Fuck off.”

It gets darker the longer we walk, and I zone out into the silence.

“You and Jessica haven’t been together for a while now.” He says. I blink slowly, dragging myself back to reality.

Of course, there’s a reason he’s here. My eyes lazily slide to his. “Is that why you’re here? To gloat?”

He rolls his eyes and scoffs like I just told him the earth is flat. “Can’t a guy just be nice to a girl?”

I shake my head to disagree with him.“No, no he can not.”

His house comes into view. A huge, cream-painted house with a black roof that blood washes off easily. Bile rises in my throat. It’s been four years since I’ve fixated on this place. The Halloween decorations are still the same since then, and the windows are shut. Tight.

“You okay?” He’s staring at me with what many would perceive to be concern, but he’s Caleb so I know it’s not.

Swallowing, I rip my eyes away and clear my throat. “I’m going home.”

He faces me. “Let me—”

I turn around and walk away, down the street to where my house is. Even though we live on the same street, the class difference between our families couldn’t be larger. My family isn’t necessarily poor. My father works so hard that I see him once a year when he’s trying to convince my mother to go sober. My mother works so hard snorting coke that she wears sunglasses like they’re a second skin. Nathaniel even chips in, since he’s been on tour for a while now.

I have the perfect family.

Thorny roses decorate the front of our house, a garden that now belongs to some random man my mom pays. Her one job was to take care of them, but she couldn’t do even that.

Exhaling, I pull out my key and open the door, locking it behind me. My footsteps thunder in the house, and every breath I take sounds like a tornado. I head up the stairs and into my room, turning on the light. A brand new textbook sits on my bed, the white cover contrasting the black bed sheets.

Chemistry for dummies.

I scoff. Am I supposed to be grateful for a book that covers everything I did in tenth grade? Does she think I’m that dumb? Rolling my eyes, I grab it and slide it into the rest of the books she’s gotten for me. Physics, Biology, Calculus and English—all for dummies.

Horizon starts playing and I pick up my phone.

Jessica.

“Hello?”

“Neo asked me out!!” She squeals into the phone. “He took me to this really nice park and gave me flowers, and oh my gosh he played me a piece he wrote just for me, and he got me this beautiful pendant with our picture from the arcade.”

I pull out my chemistry textbook and open the last chapter I was studying.

Co-ordination compounds can be defined as—

“You guys went to the arcade?” I ask her.

She hums, excited. “Yeah, last week Tuesday.”

Last week Tuesday? I look up from my book and stare at the calendar pinned on my bathroom door. There’s a red circle around the date—the 25th—when we were supposed to go out for ice cream.

“You said you were sick.” My voice comes out tighter than I want it to, but I can’t believe she lied to me. Again.

“I did?” The pitch of her voice increases despite her best efforts not to make it obvious. She missed our weekly ice cream date for Neo… and lied to me about it.

My chest clenches, and a tired breath leaves me. There’s no point, is there?

“I must have felt better after—” She starts to lie, but I interrupt her.

“I’m studying, Jessica. Let’s talk tomorrow.”

“Uh…” She trails off. “That’s kind of why I called.” She hesitates again, and I drop my head to focus on the structure of diethylene. “To celebrate, Neo and I are going out on our first date tomorrow. The new After movie just came out, and—”

I sigh again, frustrated. It hasn’t even been twenty-four hours into their relationship but I hate hearing about their antics. “It’s fine. Have fun on your date.”

I know she can hear the sadness in my voice. She can tell how hard I’m biting my lip to keep myself from crying—she just doesn’t care.

She giggles. “I’ll see you at the party on Thursday. Byeeeee.”

The line disconnects before I can remind her that I hate parties.