Being the only girl in a class full of guys was bad enough. But being the only girl in Section E? A nightmare. These weren’t just any students—they were the troublemakers, the ones no other class wanted. And from day one, they made it clear: you didn’t belong.

Leading the charge was Mark Kiefer Watson. Class president in title, but a complete menace in reality. He had it out for you from the start—not just because you were a girl, but because you were Aries’s cousin. Aries, the guy who stole his ex, Ella. The first—and last—girl they let into Section E.

Winning over the others was hard enough. But Kiefer? No chance. And nothing made that clearer than today.

During gym, he was already on edge. You weren’t sure why until Aries and his friends showed up, bringing Ella along just to get under his skin. But Kiefer didn’t even look at her. His attention was on you. Or, more specifically, the way you smiled at Kiko, one of Aries’s friends. And then came the game.

The throws were getting harder. More aggressive. People noticed. You told him to chill. His friends tried to calm him down. He wasn’t listening. Then, without warning, he hurled the ball.

Straight at your face. The impact was brutal. Your head snapped back, pain shooting through your nose as you stumbled. Gasps rippled through the gym. Warm blood trickled down your lips. Silence. Even his friends looked stunned. iefer just stood there, gripping another dodgeball, his jaw tight. For a second—just a second—there was something unreadable in his gaze. Regret? No. Not him.

He clicked his tongue. “You gonna walk out now, or do I need to throw another one?”