My Rival

“Looks like term grades are out.”

“Ooh, wonder how I placed!”

“I got seventh. I guess all those late nights in the library paid off.”

Ethan shoved his way past the other students, earning displeased grunts and complaints, but he didn’t care. All that mattered was that he placed number one this semester.

He’d chosen Z University for a reason. Not only was it the best in the city, but with his high school grades, he’d easily become the best in his class—no, in the whole school.

It was what Ethan loved. To be the best. He’d been the best in his elementary class, in middle school, and all the way up to high school. Knowing he was better, that he was smarter than everyone else filled him with a sense of triumph that no other feeling could match. His childhood bedroom back home was filled with trophies and ribbons from extracurriculars and school events. His chest would swell with pride whenever he recalled his first academic achievement—in first grade, when he’d taken the title of champion in the national spelling bee.

Now he had a private dorm on campus and was determined to make his college life his most successful endeavor yet. He’d shoot past all the other students, crush their dreams of being valedictorian, and graduate top of the college. And nothing was going to get in his way.

At least that’s what he thought. Until he met him.

Ethan finally made it to the front of the crowd where the exam scores, along with class averages, had been posted on the wall. His eyes instantly darted to the top, expecting…no, hoping to see his name this time. He gritted his teeth. He wasn’t number one. He was number two. And number one was the same damn name. The same name that had been constantly up there since freshman year. It was already the end of the first semester of sophomore year and Ethan still hadn’t been able to surpass that damn name on the charts.

And that name? Caesar. Ethan knew Caesar Johnston very well.

He was an incredibly popular guy and seemed to excel in everything. He came from a well-off family and because of that, he lived in some swanky off-campus apartment. In his spare time, he played on the school’s basketball team. He also played violin. AND piano. And he was quite the player, having dated almost all of the school’s most attractive girls, from all grade levels.

Ethan would be lying if he said the man wasn’t attractive. His blond hair and piercing azure eyes swayed the hearts of guys and girls alike. But realistically, Ethan should have the edge in him academically. Ethan was an intellectual. He focused all of his energy onto studying. Sure, he’d done extracurriculars in high school, but now that he was in college and there was more competition, it was best to hone in on one thing. That was what he thought. Realistically, Ethan should have the edge over Caesar. But he didn’t. And it pissed him off.

Every single time, every single time final grades came out, there was Caesar’s name, shining brightly in first place.

Ethan could feel his hands curl into fists. Did the dude even study? He was so busy playing around with girls, anyway! Was he just a natural genius? Impossible! Ethan was the genius here. He’d always gotten by without studying and only took up the habit for his ego. Knowing Z University was competitive, he couldn’t stand the idea of falling behind in even one subject.

“Hey look, Caesar’s number one again,” someone whispered behind Ethan.

Ethan clenched his fists harder, glaring at the floor, his cheeks on fire.

“Shh, don’t say that in front of Ethan,” someone else hissed.

Ethan didn’t have the best reputation among the students. Labeled aloof and unfriendly, he was a lone wolf—but it didn’t matter to him. He wasn’t here to make friends. He was here to be the best.

But once more, once more, he had been shown up. His blood was boiling.

Slight murmurs echoed through the crowd and Ethan looked up to see his least favorite person of all time entering the hallway with two girls on his arms. It was Caesar. That bastard, Ethan thought, practically growling.

Caesar was never hostile to Ethan. In fact, he was one of the rare students who tried to be nice to him. Something about being “the two smartest guys in our class”. Yes, it was a one-sided rivalry and Ethan was well-aware. But he just couldn’t like the guy.

“Ho, what have we got here?” Caesar said, approaching the wall. He saw his name at number one and grinned widely, pumping his fist in the air. “Yes!”

The girls on his arms giggled and Ethan tensed in frustration.

How was it that Caesar had everything? It’s not like he wanted popularity, but did the dude have to be so perfect?! It made no sense. Realistically, Ethan should have the—

“Ethan!” Caesar said, clapping a hand on Ethan’s shoulder and jolting him out of his thoughts. “Nice on getting second again!”

Ethan glared at Caesar. “Here to rub it in my face?”

Caesar smirked. “No, I was just going to say congratulations. You’re always keeping up with me!”

Unfortunately, this seemed to be the wrong thing to say, despite Caesar’s good intentions. This time, Ethan did growl and slapped Caesar’s hand away. “Shut up.”

He stormed off. “…rude…” he heard people in the crowd whispering behind him.

One of the girls who had been clinging to Caesar scoffed.

“Why do you bother with him anyway?”

Ethan turned the corner, his entire face red. He was shaking with fury, speed-walking as far as he could away from the others, back to his dorm, where he’d immediately hit the books.

He moved so fast that he didn’t see or hear Caesar’s response:

“Hm…I guess because he intrigues me.”