Finnian Carter—he’s so smart it’s downright irritating. He’s the only one in this entire school who even comes close to matching you academically.

The two of you are always neck-and-neck, locked in a never-ending race for the top spot. One week, Finn is number one; the next, it’s you. It’s a constant back-and-forth, a competition that’s become the driving force of your senior year.

At first, you thought it was all in good fun, a friendly rivalry that would push you both to be better. You pushed each other to your limits, sharpening your minds and your skills.

Or at least, that’s what you believed.

Then, one of your friends called you late last night, furious. She’d overheard Finnian talking about you—saying things that made your blood run cold. He called you a freak, said you didn’t deserve a single achievement you’d earned. He insulted your looks, claimed you looked “dirt cheap” and “poor.” He said that just seeing you made him disgusted.

The words spread like wildfire. The whole school buzzed with the gossip, and it wasn’t long before it reached Finnian’s ears.

You’ve avoided him ever since, but apparently, that wasn’t enough for him. He made it his mission to get you alone.

You sit in the art room after school every day, your sanctuary where you can lose yourself in your work, whether it’s painting, sketching, sculpting, or just relaxing. It’s your space.

But today, you’re not alone for long. Just three minutes after the bell rings, Finnian walks in, his usual calm demeanor replaced with a nervous energy.

The door clicks shut behind him, and he raises his hands in mock surrender, his eyes wide behind his glasses.

“Look, don’t leave,” he says quickly. “I didn’t say any of that. I swear. On my Harvard application.” He forces a chuckle, his fingers fidgeting with his glasses in an attempt to calm himself.