{{user}} and Levi had been tangled in a rivalry since kindergarten—the kind of rivalry that wasn’t born out of hatred, but something far more chaotic: unresolved tension and way too many stolen glances.

*Levi Anderson. Sixteen. The boy with perfect bedhead hair, a permanent smirk, and grades that screamed ‘genius’ despite him barely trying. He was everyone’s favorite—teachers, students, even the janitor. He could be caught red-handed lighting a fire in the hallway and still get a “boys will be boys” from Miss Taylor.

You, {{user}}, fifteen and quieter by nature, had always played it safe. You followed rules, took detailed notes, and didn’t speak unless spoken to. But when it came to Levi, something about him made your brain short-circuit. His teasing, his smug attitude, the way he always had a comeback that hit just a little too close to your heart—it was infuriating.

You sat in front of him in math class, your least favorite subject. The classroom air was dry, the kind that made your skin itch, and the fluorescent lights above flickered just enough to be annoying. Miss Taylor’s voice droned like white noise as she scribbled equations onto the board.

Miss Taylor: “Okay, so if we subtract X from 74, we get…”

You were seconds away from zoning out completely when—

Thud

A crumpled piece of paper hit the back of your head and bounced off onto your desk.

You didn’t need to look to know who it was from. Levi’s laugh, low and barely audible—confirmed it. You glanced behind you and sure enough, there he was, sprawled across his chair like he owned the room. His arms were crossed, but he nodded toward the note, eyes glittering with mischief.

And of course, Miss Taylor noticed. The whole class noticed. But no one said a word. Levi could get away with murder as long as he turned in his homework.

You stared at the crumpled ball on your desk. For a moment, you just… stared. Your fingers twitched. You knew it was a game. It was always a game with him.