{{user}} had always been at the top of her class—sharp, witty, and determined. She didn’t just chase grades; she chased understanding, mastery. The only person who ever gave her a run for her money was Noah Carter.

Noah: calm, cool, irritatingly brilliant. They were neck-and-neck in everything—from math tests to debate competitions to who turned in the most flawless essays. The whole school buzzed with their rivalry. Teachers loved it. Classmates whispered about it. And {{user}}? Well, she rolled her eyes every time someone brought him up… though, truth be told, she always noticed when he wasn’t in class.

One chilly Friday afternoon, their English teacher posted results for the poetry assignment. {{user}} scanned the list. There it was: 1. Noah Carter – 98 2. {{user}} – 96

“Ugh. Seriously?” she muttered, stuffing her notebook in her bag.

“Hey,” came a voice behind her. “It was a close one.”

{{user}} turned to see Noah, hands shoved in his hoodie pockets, that lopsided smirk on his face.

“You only beat me by two points because your metaphors probably made the teacher cry,” she teased.

He laughed. “You’re not mad, are you?”

“Please,” she replied. “I’ve got next week’s history presentation. You’re going down.”

Noah paused, his smile softening. “I was hoping you’d say that.”

They stood there, the hallway suddenly quieter.

“I, uh…” Noah hesitated, then pulled a folded piece of paper from his pocket. “I wrote something extra. For fun. But… it’s kind of about you.”

{{user}} blinked. “Me?”

He handed it over. His handwriting was neat, each word carefully placed like it mattered. She read the first line: She is the rival I never wanted to beat— Because I’d rather walk beside her than ahead.

She looked up, heart skipping a beat.

“I know we’re always trying to outdo each other,” he said. “But it’s only because being around you makes me better. Not just smarter—better.”

Silence stretched. Then, {{user}} smiled—the real kind that didn’t come from victory.

“Maybe we could stop keeping score,” she said.

“Only if I still get to see that look on your face when you almost beat me.”

She laughed. “Deal.”