Pov Celia

It was a bright morning at school, and the courtyard buzzed with chatter. I sat on the bench near the fountain, flipping through my notes. The cool breeze carried a hint of spring, but I wasn’t feeling it. My thoughts kept wandering to Ash, as usual.

Right on cue, his motorbike roared into the parking lot. I didn’t need to look up to know it was him. That sound was unmistakable. He dismounted with his usual swagger, wearing his leather jacket and a cocky smirk that made the girls around him swoon.

"Here comes trouble," I muttered under my breath, gathering my stuff.

Before I could make my escape, Ash spotted me. His blue eyes lit up like he’d just found his next victim.

"Morning, Sunshine!" he called out, making his way toward me.

I rolled my eyes and pretended to focus on my notes. "What do you want, Ash?"

He leaned casually against the bench, way too close for my liking. "Can’t a guy say hi to his favorite frenemy?"

"Favorite frenemy?" I snorted. "Flattering yourself again, I see."

He grinned. "Come on, Celia. Admit it—you’d miss me if I stopped annoying you."

"Like I’d miss a mosquito bite," I shot back.

Ash laughed, clearly enjoying himself. He loved getting under my skin. "So, what’s the plan for today? Studying? Wow, you really know how to live on the edge. Simple girl."

"And you really know how to avoid it, play boy." I countered.

His grin faltered for a second, but he quickly recovered. "Ouch. Someone’s feisty this morning."

"Someone’s annoying every morning," I replied without missing a beat.

He leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a teasing tone. "You know, you’re cute when you’re mad, Celia."

I froze for half a second, then smirked. Two could play this game.

I stood up, brushing past him intentionally. As I passed, I leaned close enough for only him to hear. "Careful, Ash. You’re blushing."

For the first time, he looked genuinely flustered. His eyes widened slightly, and he blinked like he couldn’t believe what I’d just said.

"Wait, what?" he stammered.

I turned around, crossing my arms and tilting my head. "What’s wrong? Not used to someone turning the tables on you?"

He straightened up, trying to regain his composure. "Nice try, Celia. But I’m unflappable."

"Really?" I raised an eyebrow. "Because you’re looking a little... flapped."

A few students nearby snickered, and Ash’s ears turned slightly red. He ran a hand through his messy hair, trying to act nonchalant.

"You’re all talk, Ash," I said, stepping closer. "When was the last time you actually won something?"

"Last week," he replied quickly, his smirk returning. "Beat you at life, remember?"

I laughed mockingly. "Right. Because being a playboy is such a big achievement."

He held his hand to his chest, pretending to be hurt. "You wound me, Celia. Really."

"Good," I said, grabbing my bag. "Maybe you’ll learn something from it."

As I turned to walk away, he called out, "Hey, Celia!"

I stopped but didn’t turn around. "What now, Ash?"

"You’re not bad at this," he admitted. "But you’re still not better than me."

I glanced over my shoulder with a smirk. "Keep telling yourself that, Ash. Maybe one day you’ll believe it."

And with that, I walked away, leaving him standing there, for once, without a witty comeback.

POV Ash

As I watched her disappear into the school building, I couldn’t help but grin. Celia had gotten under my skin, but I wasn’t mad about it. For the first time, someone was giving me a run for my money.

"She’s something else," I muttered to myself, shaking my head.

Maybe this wasn’t just another game. Maybe, just maybe, I was actually enjoying the challenge.

POV Celia

The school gym buzzed with energy, a charity event bringing everyone together. The main attraction? A fun trivia contest—teams of two, battling it out with wit and knowledge.

I stood at the edge of the crowd with Elena, nervously adjusting the hem of my long skirt. My outfit, a floral blouse and mismatched skirt, screamed "grandma chic." I knew it, but I didn’t care. Or at least, I told myself I didn’t.

That is until Ash strolled in.

As usual, he had a girl draped over his arm—Melissa, the school's self-proclaimed queen bee. She was laughing at something he said, her perfectly manicured nails tracing lazy circles on his chest.

"Ugh, doesn’t he ever take a break?" Elena muttered beside me, rolling her eyes.

I swallowed hard, trying to ignore the sudden tightness in my chest. "Who cares? Let him do his thing."

But, of course, Ash noticed me. He always did. His hazel eyes lit up with that infuriating sparkle, and his smirk widened as he made his way toward us.

"Celia," he drawled, his tone dripping with mockery. "Nice... outfit."

I bristled, clutching my notebook tighter. "Thanks, Ash. Didn’t know you were the fashion police."

Melissa giggled, eyeing me up and down. "It’s giving ‘lost in the thrift store,’ don’t you think?"

Elena’s hand tightened on my arm, but I forced a smile. "At least I don’t look like I’m auditioning for a reality show."

Ash raised an eyebrow, clearly impressed by my comeback. "Feisty today, aren’t we?" He leaned in, his voice low enough for only me to hear. "You sure you’re ready for this contest? Hate for you to embarrass yourself."

I squared my shoulders, refusing to back down. "I think I’ll manage, thanks."

"Great," he said, clapping his hands together. "Because Melissa and I are in it to win it. Hope you’re ready to lose."

The first few rounds went surprisingly well. Elena and I answered questions with ease, racking up points while Ash and Melissa stumbled over basic trivia.

"Looks like someone’s not as smart as they think," I whispered to Elena, earning a laugh.

But then came the rapid-fire round—physical challenges mixed with brain teasers. That’s when things started to fall apart.

The first task: balancing a book on your head while answering questions.

"Easy," Ash said, placing the book on Melissa’s head with exaggerated care.

When it was my turn, I struggled to keep the book steady. My long skirt kept tangling around my legs, and Ash wasted no time pointing it out.

"Careful, Celia," he called out. "Don’t trip over your tail!"

The crowd burst into laughter, and my cheeks burned. I managed to answer the question, but my confidence wavered.

The next task was even worse—jumping rope while solving a math puzzle. Melissa nailed it, her laughter ringing out every time Ash cheered her on.

"You’ve got this, babe," he said, his hands resting lightly on her shoulders.

When it was my turn, I stumbled on the rope, nearly falling flat on my face.

"Yikes," Melissa said, feigning concern. "You okay, Celia? Maybe this isn’t your thing."

Ash grinned, leaning casually against the podium. "Don’t be too hard on her. Not everyone’s cut out for this stuff."

"Not everyone’s cut out for being a decent person either," I snapped, but my voice lacked its usual bite.

By the end of the contest, I felt completely humiliated. Elena tried to comfort me, but her words barely registered.

As we left the gym, I heard Melissa’s voice behind me. "Honestly, Ash, you’re too nice. I don’t know how you even talk to her."

"Yeah," he replied, his tone playful but cutting. "She’s got... potential, though. Maybe. With a little work."

That was it. I spun around, my eyes blazing.

"You think you’re so great, don’t you?" I said, my voice shaking. "But all you do is tear people down to make yourself feel better."

Ash’s smirk faltered, just for a moment. "Hey, I’m just being honest."

"Honest?" I scoffed. "You’re a jerk, Ash. Plain and simple."

I turned on my boot, grabbing Elena’s arm. "Let’s go."

Back on Elena’s bike, I stared out the window, fighting back tears.

"You okay?" she asked softly.

"No," I admitted. "But I will be."

In our way, though, something shifted. Ash wanted to see me fall apart? Fine. But next time, I’d be ready. And I wouldn’t let him—or anyone else—make me feel small again.