Chapter One

Amelia Scott's p.o.v;

"He tossed the trash in our garbage can again this morning." My father raged at my mother about the neighbours.

"What were you doing as he dumped the garbage? How come you didn't stop him before he did that?" Mom returned his question.

"He dumped it when I was already there."

"Then hurry up tomorrow, even before he drops the crap in our garbage can!"

I was preoccupied with the food on my plate rather than their chat about the neighbours.

I'm not sure when it started, but my parents have been feuding with my next-door neighbour for as long as I can remember. They compete in almost every sport. And by everything, I mean everything. In business, cooking, clothing, and even while making offerings to monks. My mother said she competed with the neighbour about having a boy and a girl in the future when the neighbours began boasting about having a boy and a girl, and it came true. My brother and I were born in our family, just like them. My parents and neighbours didn't waste any time in naming us after the first letter of the alphabet for both of us. Because our families fought and competed with each other in nearly everything, we ended up as adversaries as well.

After we were born, our parents competed based on how well we studied and how disciplined we were. When I received first prize in school, my mother walked me to the front door and congratulated me so that the neighbours might hear her. And our neighbour does the same thing when her son receives good grades. This also applies to my brother. After finishing high school, my parents competed based on our grades to see who would get into university first.

His father was overjoyed when his son was admitted to a prestigious institution, so my father forced me to study hard so that I could compete with him in his faculty as well. My father's dream was granted when I was admitted to the same university as him, but fate had other ideas for me, and I ended up in a different faculty, the Faculty of Western Music, while he was in the Faculty of Classical Music. My father was disappointed, but he encouraged me to earn the student of the year award so that I could compete with him. Urgh!

Returning to reality,

I took out my phone and checked the time. It's 7 am. It's already time for the first hour. I hurriedly completed my breakfast and told my mother, "I have some work in the library, so I'll be late today, Mom."

"Did you take the report you'd been working on overnight?" Dad inquired.

"Yes, Dad."

"Did you complete it?"

"Yes, dad."

"How many points will you get?"

"Dad! It's simply a class report. This is not a semester exam."

"OK," he asked again. "When will the student of the year award be given at your university?"

"Dad, the college has only been open for a week. If you really wanted that student of the year award, I'll go steal it for you. What do you think?"

Mom whacked me on the head and yelled, "Don't talk like that to your father. Come ahead, make an apology to him."

"I'm sorry, Dad."

"Does it hurt?" Dad asked as he patted my head.

I grinned and shook my head at him.

"Did Ash awaken?" Mom inquired.

(My older brother, Ashton, is also known as Ash.)

"He wasn't in his bed when I checked the room while hunting for a file cover. I believe he left early for football practice. Okay, Then I'll go to college. Bye, see you later."

"Wait, I'll drop you," Dad said when I was drinking water.

"I'm going with Hannah, she told me she'll meet me on Exchange Avenue."

"How will you do it?" "Can I drop you both off at college?"

"Dad, we're taking the college bus!" After retrieving my bag, I proceeded to the door.

"If you come across that individual, don't talk to him and..."

"I understand, Dad. That was something you said every day. I'm aware of this, and I'm already running late for class. Bye!"

I walked out of the house and looked to my right, where the opposing Neighbors live. The door was shut. I believe he would have left by now. I sighed and walked while listening to music.

“Hannah!” Before walking to Exchange Avenue, I called her when I spotted her. What exactly is she doing here?

After I got closer to her, she waved her hands back at me and hugged me. She made a remark.

"WHAT?" I exclaimed.

"What took you so long?" she asked, taking my earphones out of my ears.

"Mom prepared my favourite breakfast today so..." I murmured, grinning.

"Come on, let's go," she pounded my head. "We're already late. The bus will arrive soon."

We rushed as fast as we could to Exchange Avenue, she was holding my hand.

As an introvert, it's difficult for me to make friends in middle and high school. However, at university, you are not required to form groups like you were in high school. Hannah was the only one that contacted me during the freshman ceremony, and we've been hanging out together ever since. She knows me better than anyone else. And she's also the only friend I have. I tease her a lot, and she teases me back. It's as though I've discovered a suitable companion.

Andrew was standing on Exchange Avenue when we arrived.

Andrew Campbell, our neighbor's first son, with whom we've been feuding for years. He was standing next to his friends. I don't care for his pals. We waited for the bus, and the bus arrived. Andrew stared at me as if he were asking me to compete for a seat on the bus.

"Come on, let's go inside first!" Hannah murmured, holding my hand.

When I attempted to walk, I exclaimed, "Ack!" and tripped on the road.

Hannah grabbed my shoulder and asked, "What happened?"

"I believe I sprained my ankle."

“What!? Now? Are you serious? "What if he succeeds?"

"Can't you see my leg is hurting here? Who would compete with this leg? Don't you feel sorry for me?"

While we were conversing, Andrew and his companions boarded the bus.

"I lost because of you." Hannah became enraged with me and boarded the bus.

I gave her a kind grin.

"How long will it take you, Amelia Scott, to board the bus?" The driver spoke to me and cautioned me slightly.

I apologised, and as I attempted to enter the bus, someone offered me their hand before I walked onto the stairs. When I looked up to see who that person was, it was Andrew. Is he certain I sprained my ankle for real? It was all a ruse to deceive my pal.

"What if my dad or your dad sees you when you're helping me board the bus?" I smirked.

He sighed and stated, "They aren't here. And I won't be here for more than a minute. Would you please hurry?"

I smiled, took his hand, and boarded the bus with his assistance. While I was attempting to enter, he whispered into my ears, "Don't say this to anyone," and then left to sit with his pals.

I moved by him and sat next to Hannah, who was sitting on the centre section's window seat."How can you leave me like that?" I moved up to her and punched her in the shoulder.

“Hmph! How did you injure your leg like that?"

"Are you upset as a result of that?" That made me giggle.

"I wanted to sit at the front, but they're always winning."

"Awww... let's take the wheel tomorrow. Don't be concerned."

"Oh, really?" she asked, giving me a look.

"That's what I bet on."

"We'll see."