Elie’s stormed out of the cafeteria, her mind swirling with unwanted thoughts. Her feet carried her toward the quiet school courtyard as she tried to push away the image of Bianca smiling at Damien, her heart pounding despite her attempts to stay calm. Just as she reached a shaded bench under a large oak tree, she heard hurried footsteps behind her. Turning around, she saw Janna jogging toward her, looking concerned and slightly out of breath. **“Elie’s!”** Janna called, waving her hand. **“Wait up!”** Elie’s groaned inwardly but stood still, knowing she couldn’t avoid her best friend forever. **“Why did you run out like that?”** Janna asked, panting as she finally reached her. **“What’s going on?”** Elie’s crossed her arms defensively, shifting her gaze to the ground. **“Nothing’s going on. I just... needed some air.”** Janna narrowed her eyes, unconvinced. **“Air? Really? You were perfectly fine before Bianca walked in.”** Elie’s scoffed, avoiding her gaze. **“Her show
The classroom buzzed with excitement and nervous energy as students prepared to present their projects. Mr. Robert, their literature teacher, stood at the front, clipboard in hand. His sharp gaze scanned the room.“Alright, class,” he announced. “Today, you’ll be presenting your projects. Each pair has ten minutes to present and defend their work. Impress me.”The students exchanged anxious glances. Elie’s tapped her pen nervously while Damien, seated beside her, appeared perfectly relaxed, twirling a pencil between his fingers.“We’ve got this,” Damien whispered, noticing her tension.Elie’s nodded, still unconvinced.First Pair: Chris and Tiffany“Chris and Tiffany, you’re up,” Mr. Robert called.Chris and Tiffany rose from their seats, walking confidently to the front. Tiffany adjusted her flawless hair, flashing a dazzling smile.“Our project is on Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, focusing on how impulsive decisions led to tragedy,” Tiffany began, her voice clear and steady.Chris
Elie’s walked into the school parking lot, her mind swirling with anticipation. Today was the day Mr. Carter would announce the results of their project presentations. As much as she hated to admit it, she was nervous. She adjusted her bag and headed toward her first class, trying to suppress the uneasy feeling in her chest.From the corner of her eye, she saw Damien approaching from across the school grounds. He walked with his usual confident stride, his hands casually tucked into his pockets, exuding effortless charm."Hey, partner," Damien greeted smoothly as he fell into step beside her. "You look like you’re about to sit for another test. Nervous about our results?"Elie’s gave a small, tense laugh. "A little... I just hope we did well."Damien smirked. "Hope? Seriously? We crushed that project. You’ve got me as your partner—there’s no way we’re not getting a perfect score."She rolled her eyes. "You and your oversized ego...""Confidence," he corrected with a wink. "Trust me, M
The school courtyard buzzed with activity as Damien sat with his group of friends at their usual hangout spot near the basketball court. His closest friends included Jake, the charming prankster; Ryan, the athletic captain of the soccer team; Lucas, the tech genius with a quiet but intense aura; and Caleb, the smooth-talking ladies’ man. Together, they were known as the “Elite Five” — admired, envied, and practically untouchable. Jake playfully tossed a basketball between his hands. **“So, who’s ready for the game after class? We’re totally crushing them.”** Caleb smirked. **“As long as you don’t miss another free throw like last time.”** Jake laughed. **“I was distracted! Not my fault the cheer squad was practicing right behind the hoop.”** Ryan rolled his eyes. **“Excuses.”** Just then, Bianca approached with her usual air of confidence. Her long blonde hair shimmered in the sunlight, and her perfectly styled outfit turned heads as she made her way toward the boys. **“He
Bianca sat with a forced smile plastered on her face, surrounded by Damien’s friends—Caleb, Lucas, Jake, and Ryan—while Damien himself was noticeably absent. She had watched him walk off toward Elie’s without a second thought, leaving her standing there, humiliated. Caleb smirked, leaning back casually. **“So... that didn’t go as planned, huh, Bianca?”** Bianca’s jaw clenched, but she maintained her composure. **“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”** Lucas chuckled. **“Come on, we all saw it. You were laying it on thick, talking about that gala. Thought you had him hooked... until Elie’s walked by.”** Bianca’s fists tightened on her lap, nails digging into her palms. **“Damien was just being polite. He’s coming to the gala. He said he’d think about it.”** Ryan raised an eyebrow. **“Yeah... after ditching you to run after Elie’s. Face it, Bee, you’re not his priority.”** Her smile faltered for a split second before she covered it with a cool laugh. **“Damien and I ha
Elies tapped her pen against her lips, her fingers hesitating over the paper in front of her. The classroom was buzzing with voices, her friends chatting nearby, but Elies was locked in her own world—one of anticipation, nerves, and a little bit of hope.She had written and rewritten the letter so many times, each draft more embarrassing than the last. Now, after an entire week of agonizing over every word, she had finally managed to put her feelings into something coherent."Dear Chris," she murmured softly to herself, reading over her letter one last time. It was short and simple, but she hoped it would be enough.*Dear Chris,**I know this might come as a surprise, but I wanted to tell you how I feel. We’ve been in the same classes since tenth grade, and I don’t know when it started, but I really like you. I know you’re busy with basketball and everything, but I just wanted you to know. Even if you don’t feel the same way, I wanted to get it off my chest.**—Elies Robert*A simple
Damien Blackwood leaned against his locker, lazily twirling his locker key between his fingers as he observed the chaotic bustle of Oakwood High’s hallways. Students kept their distance, throwing him wary glances and moving aside as if he were a storm cloud hovering in their midst. It was a normal day for Damien—another day of barely contained restlessness and the strange satisfaction he got from watching people’s reactions around him.There was a thrill to it, one he couldn’t deny. From his leather jacket, rough around the edges and worn from days spent sneaking around town, to the ever-present smirk that seemed to rest permanently on his face, Damien was a force no one dared to cross.Damien didn’t consider himself a bad guy, per se. He just had a way of bending the world to his will, doing whatever he pleased and ignoring the consequences. The teachers had given up on him a long time ago. To them, he was a lost cause, a student who would only bring trouble and cause disruptions. Hi
Damien’s eyes lingered on Elies as she walked away, her head held high, her steps firm despite the heated encounter. There was something oddly captivating about her resilience, the way she hadn’t flinched or looked away, even when he tried to intimidate her. It had been a long time since anyone stood up to him like that. Most students at Oakwood High either cowered in his presence or avoided him altogether, keeping a safe distance. But Elies was different, and he couldn’t help but notice it.He leaned back in his seat, a sly smile tugging at the corners of his lips. Jake, sitting beside him, chuckled as he shook his head.“I gotta hand it to her, man,” Jake said, his voice laced with amusement. “She’s got guts. You don’t usually let people talk to you like that.”Damien shrugged, his gaze still focused on where Elies had returned to her table, her friends animatedly talking to her, likely encouraging her after her bold move. “She’s interesting,” he replied, a hint of intrigue in his v
Bianca sat with a forced smile plastered on her face, surrounded by Damien’s friends—Caleb, Lucas, Jake, and Ryan—while Damien himself was noticeably absent. She had watched him walk off toward Elie’s without a second thought, leaving her standing there, humiliated. Caleb smirked, leaning back casually. **“So... that didn’t go as planned, huh, Bianca?”** Bianca’s jaw clenched, but she maintained her composure. **“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”** Lucas chuckled. **“Come on, we all saw it. You were laying it on thick, talking about that gala. Thought you had him hooked... until Elie’s walked by.”** Bianca’s fists tightened on her lap, nails digging into her palms. **“Damien was just being polite. He’s coming to the gala. He said he’d think about it.”** Ryan raised an eyebrow. **“Yeah... after ditching you to run after Elie’s. Face it, Bee, you’re not his priority.”** Her smile faltered for a split second before she covered it with a cool laugh. **“Damien and I ha
The school courtyard buzzed with activity as Damien sat with his group of friends at their usual hangout spot near the basketball court. His closest friends included Jake, the charming prankster; Ryan, the athletic captain of the soccer team; Lucas, the tech genius with a quiet but intense aura; and Caleb, the smooth-talking ladies’ man. Together, they were known as the “Elite Five” — admired, envied, and practically untouchable. Jake playfully tossed a basketball between his hands. **“So, who’s ready for the game after class? We’re totally crushing them.”** Caleb smirked. **“As long as you don’t miss another free throw like last time.”** Jake laughed. **“I was distracted! Not my fault the cheer squad was practicing right behind the hoop.”** Ryan rolled his eyes. **“Excuses.”** Just then, Bianca approached with her usual air of confidence. Her long blonde hair shimmered in the sunlight, and her perfectly styled outfit turned heads as she made her way toward the boys. **“He
Elie’s walked into the school parking lot, her mind swirling with anticipation. Today was the day Mr. Carter would announce the results of their project presentations. As much as she hated to admit it, she was nervous. She adjusted her bag and headed toward her first class, trying to suppress the uneasy feeling in her chest.From the corner of her eye, she saw Damien approaching from across the school grounds. He walked with his usual confident stride, his hands casually tucked into his pockets, exuding effortless charm."Hey, partner," Damien greeted smoothly as he fell into step beside her. "You look like you’re about to sit for another test. Nervous about our results?"Elie’s gave a small, tense laugh. "A little... I just hope we did well."Damien smirked. "Hope? Seriously? We crushed that project. You’ve got me as your partner—there’s no way we’re not getting a perfect score."She rolled her eyes. "You and your oversized ego...""Confidence," he corrected with a wink. "Trust me, M
The classroom buzzed with excitement and nervous energy as students prepared to present their projects. Mr. Robert, their literature teacher, stood at the front, clipboard in hand. His sharp gaze scanned the room.“Alright, class,” he announced. “Today, you’ll be presenting your projects. Each pair has ten minutes to present and defend their work. Impress me.”The students exchanged anxious glances. Elie’s tapped her pen nervously while Damien, seated beside her, appeared perfectly relaxed, twirling a pencil between his fingers.“We’ve got this,” Damien whispered, noticing her tension.Elie’s nodded, still unconvinced.First Pair: Chris and Tiffany“Chris and Tiffany, you’re up,” Mr. Robert called.Chris and Tiffany rose from their seats, walking confidently to the front. Tiffany adjusted her flawless hair, flashing a dazzling smile.“Our project is on Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, focusing on how impulsive decisions led to tragedy,” Tiffany began, her voice clear and steady.Chris
Elie’s stormed out of the cafeteria, her mind swirling with unwanted thoughts. Her feet carried her toward the quiet school courtyard as she tried to push away the image of Bianca smiling at Damien, her heart pounding despite her attempts to stay calm. Just as she reached a shaded bench under a large oak tree, she heard hurried footsteps behind her. Turning around, she saw Janna jogging toward her, looking concerned and slightly out of breath. **“Elie’s!”** Janna called, waving her hand. **“Wait up!”** Elie’s groaned inwardly but stood still, knowing she couldn’t avoid her best friend forever. **“Why did you run out like that?”** Janna asked, panting as she finally reached her. **“What’s going on?”** Elie’s crossed her arms defensively, shifting her gaze to the ground. **“Nothing’s going on. I just... needed some air.”** Janna narrowed her eyes, unconvinced. **“Air? Really? You were perfectly fine before Bianca walked in.”** Elie’s scoffed, avoiding her gaze. **“Her show
The morning air buzzed with excitement as Elie’s parked her car in the school parking lot. She grabbed her bag and adjusted her jacket, preparing for another long day. As she walked toward her first class, she couldn’t help but notice the unusual amount of chatter coming from every direction. Groups of students huddled together, whispering and giggling, their eyes sparkling with curiosity. Elie’s frowned, wondering what all the fuss was about. Near the school’s entrance, two girls were talking loudly, clearly too excited to keep their voices down. **“Did you hear? She’s finally coming today!”** one girl squealed, practically bouncing with excitement. **“I know, right?”** her friend chimed in. **“Her father owns part of the school. Can you imagine being that rich and beautiful?”** Elie’s slowed her pace, straining to catch more of their conversation. *Who are they talking about?* As she neared the school hallway, Chris appeared beside her, wearing his usual laid-back smirk.
Jake leaned back in his chair, a playful grin stretching across his face as he watched Janna settle into the seat beside him. The teacher’s words still echoed through the classroom: “The person beside you is your partner for the project.”Janna glanced sideways, catching Jake’s smirk. “Why you smiling like that?” she asked, raising a brow. Jake shrugged. “Just thinking how lucky I am to be paired with the prettiest girl in class.” Janna scoffed but couldn’t hide the small smile tugging at her lips. “Flattery won’t get you out of doing your share of the project.” He leaned closer, resting his chin on his hand. “Who said I’m trying to get out of anything? Maybe I just want to spend more time with you.” “Yeah, right,” Janna rolled her eyes. “Bet you say that to every girl.” Jake chuckled. “Nah, you’re special.” She shook her head, biting back a laugh. “Smooth talker.” Mr. Roberts clapped his hands from the front of the classroom. “Everyone! Focus on discussing your project
The next morning, the classroom hummed with the sound of students settling into their seats. Elies walked in, clutching her books, and immediately spotted Damien already seated in her usual spot, casually leaning back like he owned the place. She sighed. The day hadn’t even started, and he was already testing her patience.“Good morning, Sunshine,” Damien greeted, flashing his usual smirk.“Don’t call me that,” Elies muttered, sitting beside him. She tried to ignore his presence, but that was easier said than done when Damien’s aura seemed to dominate the room.Before she could say anything else, the teacher, Mr. Roberts, entered the classroom carrying a stack of papers. He placed them on his desk with a loud thud, silencing the chatter in the room.“Good morning, class,” he began, adjusting his glasses. “Today, we’re starting an important project. It’s worth 40% of your final grade.”The room erupted into murmurs. Students exchanged anxious looks, and a few even groaned.Mr. Roberts r
Elies walked into the classroom with Jenna by her side, their earlier confrontation with Tiffany and her gang still fresh in her mind. She was determined not to let it ruin her day, though the tension hadn’t entirely left her shoulders. As they entered, Elies stopped abruptly. Sitting at her desk, relaxed and exuding confidence, was Damien. His arms were crossed over his chest, and a small, knowing smirk tugged at the corners of his lips. “Seriously?” Elies muttered under her breath. Jenna nudged her playfully. “Well, it looks like someone has claimed your seat.” Elies rolled her eyes. “Great.” Damien’s eyes lit up when he saw her. “Took you long enough. I thought you got lost on the way back.” Ignoring him, Elies marched over to her desk. “Move, Damien. This is my seat.” He raised an eyebrow, clearly enjoying her annoyance. “There’s plenty of space. Sit beside me.” Jenna gave Elies an encouraging nudge. “I’ll sit at the back today. Have fun,” she teased before slippin