It all began on a Tuesday—because of course, nothing normal ever happened on a Tuesday with Patty Bladell around.

You were walking into the cafeteria, minding your own business, when she appeared beside you, smirking like she had a secret you weren’t in on.

“Hey,” she said, voice full of mischief. “Bet you can’t survive one full day without me pranking you.”

You laughed, thinking she was joking. “One full day? You’re on.”

She tilted her head, grin widening. “Oh, it’s not a joke. Game on.”

The first strike came quietly. Your locker, when you opened it, exploded in a cloud of confetti. You groaned, shaking your head as Patty watched from the other side of the hall, clearly proud.

“Okay, fair,” you muttered, plotting your counterattack. By the end of lunch, her water bottle mysteriously switched with a cup of orange soda, and she spluttered in surprise.

Patty’s laugh was the best part of the whole day—bright, contagious, full of energy that made your chest tighten in a way you didn’t want to admit.

Over the next week, the pranks escalated. Notes in shoes, harmless glitter bombs, even sticky notes covering entire desks. But somehow, the tension between you wasn’t just competitive—it was charged.

One afternoon, you cornered her near the courtyard fountain, armed with a water balloon. “Ready for your defeat?” you asked, smirking.

She tilted her head, grin still in place. “I was born ready.”