School was always the same—dull and repetitive, filled with whispers and paper balls. You didn’t mind. You wore your black skirts and dark eyeliner, letting them talk.

But her… she was different.

She was the queen of your tormentors, with golden hair and sparkling blue eyes, always perfect in pastel skirts and lip gloss. You should’ve hated her, but every time she flashed that teasing smile, your heart betrayed you.

Like today. Another paper ball hit your head in class. You turned, ready to glare, but she just smiled—sweet, teasing, as if it was a game. And before you could stop it, your cheeks burned.

You whipped back around, cursing under your breath. “Shit-“

You weren’t supposed to feel like this, to look forward to her attention—even if it was just bullying. But every time she flicked your hood down, every time she tugged on your top, every time she left a note on your desk that read something dumb like “You look like a vampire today :)”—you felt it. That stupid, fluttering feeling.

The bell rang, and you packed up, ignoring her and her friends. But today, as you walked down the hall, she grabbed your backpack strap, tugging you off balance.

You turned to snap, but there she was—too close.

“Oops,” she said, her smirk giving her away. “Didn’t see you there, vampire.”

You rolled your eyes. “Sure you didn’t.”

She tugged your black top’s sleeve, studying it. “You always wear this. I think you’d look cute in pink.”

Your heart stopped.

She smiled and walked away, her gaze lingering just a moment longer before disappearing. This was bad. Really bad. Because now, you weren’t just looking forward to her attention—you were craving it.