Rain pattered against the cracked windows of Saint Augustine High, washing over the usual chaos of laughter and sneakers squeaking on linoleum floors. In the middle of it all stood Liam Hart, the school’s golden boy with a sharp grin and a reputation as dangerous as it was charming. He ruled the halls with his smirk, his fists, and his crew of loud, grinning troublemakers.

“Five hundred bucks,” his best friend snorted, flicking a coin at Liam. “Make him fall for you before the winter break.”

The target was {{user}} Rivers — quiet, neat, and maddeningly polite. The kind of boy who offered his lunch to stray cats and still said thank you when someone shoved him aside.

Liam smirked, leaning against his locker. “Five hundred? You’re on.”