Lily sat in her spacious bedroom, the floor-to-ceiling windows offering a stunning view of the city skyline. But she wasn’t focused on the view; she was focused on the stacks of papers spread across her bed. Each page contained rows of faces—students from her new school, their names neatly labeled underneath.

Tyler sat across from her, his laptop open as he continued scrolling through the school's online yearbook. “Okay, I think I’ve got most of them,” he said, tapping away at the keys. “I’ve narrowed it down to every straight or bi single male, and every single bi or lesbian female.”

Lily raised an eyebrow, glancing at him with a hint of amusement. “You added girls?”

Tyler looked up, a playful grin on his face. “I figured it would give you more options. You know, just in case.”

Lily leaned back on her bed, arms crossed, a smirk tugging at the corners of her lips. “Actually, I’m bi, so that works out perfectly.”

Tyler blinked in surprise before breaking into a wide smile. “Well, that makes things a lot more interesting, doesn’t it?”

Lily nodded, glancing down at the pages again. “It does. But just to be clear, I’m not planning to kiss everyone on these pages. This is just so I know my options.”

Tyler nodded in understanding. “Of course. This isn’t about kissing a hundred people just to win the bet. It’s about making a statement. Dethroning Samantha isn’t just about winning a stupid challenge; it’s about showing everyone that she’s not invincible.”

Lily picked up one of the pages, examining the faces of the students. “Exactly. I want to make sure I have the upper hand. I’ll cross them off once I kiss them, but I’ll be strategic. I’m not going to waste my time on anyone who doesn’t serve a purpose.”

Tyler tilted his head, curious. “How do you plan on deciding who’s worth your time?”

Lily smiled, a glint of determination in her eyes. “I’ll focus on the ones who matter most to Samantha—her inner circle, the people she relies on to maintain her status. If I can get them on my side, or at least show that they’re not as loyal to her as she thinks, it’ll shake her up. The rest will follow.”

Tyler leaned back, clearly impressed. “You’ve really thought this through.”

Lily shrugged, her expression calm but resolute. “I’ve dealt with girls like Samantha before. The key is to play the long game. She won’t see it coming until it’s too late.”

They spent the next hour going through the list, marking names and crossing off students who didn’t fit into Lily’s plan. By the time they were done, they had narrowed it down to a much smaller, more manageable group.

“Okay, so here’s the plan,” Lily said, folding up the pages and slipping them into a folder. “I’ll start with Samantha’s closest friends. If I can make a move on them, it’ll send a clear message. Then I’ll work my way out, targeting people who are influential in different cliques. The goal is to weaken Samantha’s hold on the school without making it obvious that I’m doing it.”

Tyler nodded, a mischievous grin on his face. “This is going to be fun.”

Lily smirked, her mind already working on the details. “I’m counting on it.”

The next day at school, Lily walked through the halls with renewed confidence. She knew the eyes of her classmates were on her, especially after the party she’d thrown the night before. Samantha had looked rattled, and that was exactly what Lily had wanted.

As she passed by Samantha and her friends, she didn’t even glance in their direction. Instead, she focused on the first target on her list—a guy named Justin, who happened to be one of Samantha’s closest allies.

Justin was tall, athletic, and had a reputation for being a bit of a player. He was standing by his locker, chatting with a group of guys. Lily approached him with a smile, her confidence radiating off her.

“Hey, Justin, right?” she said, her voice smooth and friendly.

Justin turned to her, a charming smile spreading across his face. “Yeah, and you’re Lily, the new girl. Nice party last night.”

Lily leaned against the locker next to his, her smile never wavering. “Thanks. I’m glad you had a good time. I wanted to talk to you about something, actually.”

Justin raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “Oh? What’s up?”

Lily leaned in a little closer, lowering her voice. “I’m new here, and I’m still getting the lay of the land. I figured who better to talk to than someone who’s already got a handle on things?”

Justin chuckled, clearly flattered. “You’re talking to the right guy.”

Lily’s smile widened, and she reached out, lightly brushing her hand against his arm. “I was hoping we could get to know each other better. Maybe over coffee after school?”

Justin’s eyes lit up at the suggestion. “I’d like that.”

Lily pulled back, her expression playful. “Great. See you then.”

As she walked away, she could feel Justin’s gaze on her, and she knew she’d made the right move. This was just the beginning, and with Tyler’s help, she was going to take Samantha down one step at a time.