❝ in your dreams, alexopoulos. ❞

―

LIBBY STARED DOWN AT THE WATER.

She sat at the edge of the pool in the LaRusso family's backyard, her feet dipping into the water. Alongside her sat Sam, Moon, and Yasmine. The sound of music and various chatter from the party guests filled her ears. At the sound of water splashing, Libby turned her head to see a boy doing a flip in the pool.

"Okay, you were totally right. This is so much fun."

Libby turned her head at the sound of Sam's voice, tuning into the conversation.

"Told you," Yasmine responded. "Always better to be the one throwing the party. And Kyler's been eye-banging you all day."

Libby's turned her head in Kyler's direction, instantly regretting it when she saw him staring back at Sam. Libby scoffed in disgust as she looked at Sam. Libby made a disgusted face when she saw Sam smile and chuckle. She pretended to fake gag as Sam blushed, causing Yasmine to splash water at her.

"Oh, please," Yasmine said to her. "As if you don't do the same thing with that little dork of yours."

"Are we talking about...." Moon spoke normally before whispering, "...he who must not be named again?"

Libby rolled her eyes. "I really don't understand why you're so convinced that I'm in love with him."

"Aww, it's cute how in denial you are," Yasmine teased, pouting her lips.

Libby shook her head and turned away, staring down at the water.

"Hey, Rory!" Moon stood up and held out her phone. "Do your flip again. I wanna get it for my channel."

Libby turned her head, watching as Moon started filming. Rory jumped on the small trampoline and flipped into the pool again, causing the partygoers around him to cheer and clap.

"Yes, Rory!" Moon cheered.

"Hey! Hey! Hey! What the hell is going on here?"

Libby looked over her shoulder, seeing Sam's dad, Daniel, walking into the backyard. He turned radio off, causing the music to stop abruptly. The conversations around them went silent.

"All right, everybody get out of here right now," Daniel spoke.

Libby stood up and stepped out of the pool. Libby gave Sam a sympathetic look as she walked past her, making her way to her car.

When Libby arrived home and pulled into the driveway, she didn't see her Aunt Lillian's car, telling her that she was still at work. The first thing she did when she entered the house and locked the door was go upstairs to her room to change out of her bathing suit.

After she finished changing into comfier clothes, Libby opened her curtains and stared out her bedroom window. Demetri was sitting at the desk across his room. He stared down at the desk, more than likely reading or finishing up his summer reading.

Libby knocked on her own bedroom window, causing Demetri to turn at the sudden sound. He rolled his eyes and stood up, making his way over to his own window. The two teens pulled their windows open.

"What do you want?" Demetri asked, annoyance present in his voice.

"I didn't see you at debate today," Libby told him. "Don't tell me you're already slacking when the school year has yet to officially begin?"

"Not that it's any of your business, but I had a dentist appointment," Demetri replied. "I was excused and it's not like this was an actual practice."

Libby shook her head at him.

"Was there anything else you wanted or was that all?" Demetri asked.

"Since you asked, I just wanted to make sure that you're ready to be number two all year," Libby spoke confidently. "Because that number one spot is mine and I'm going to make sure of it."

"You sound awfully confident for someone who was in the number two spot last minute because they got a ninety-six on a test whereas I got a one-hundred," Demetri responded, not even fazed.

"You got lucky, but I can guarantee you that it won't happen again," Libby continued to banter with him. "I've been working my ass off the entire summer to make sure that it doesn't happen."

Demetri chuckled. "Elizabeth Phoenix, you're hilarious if you think you're the only one who's worked their ass off the whole summer."

Libby rolled her eyes at him, looking down at her watch to check the time. "Well, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to eat dinner. I can't wait for school to start so that I get to absolutely mop the floor with you."

"Get prepared to slip and fall then, because even if it takes me all year, I'll come out on top just like last year," Demetri replied.

"In your dreams, Alexopoulos," Libby gave him one last stare before she shut her bedroom window and pulled the curtains closed.

Libby made her way down the stairs and walked into the kitchen. She began to prepare dinner, making sure to make enough food for her Aunt Lillian to have some when she came home from work. Libby ate dinner in the living room, sitting on the couch watching television. It was just something that she and her aunt had always done.

It has started the very first day that Libby moved in with her. It was right after Libby had lost her parents, and she couldn't stop crying. Lillian had managed to calm her down by letting her eat dinner while watching her favorite movie. After that, it became a tradition. Every night rather than sitting at the dining room table, they ate on the couch with a movie or a show playing on the television screen in front of them.

When she finished eating, Libby placed her plate on the coffee table and then continued to watch the movie. As the credits began to roll, the front door opened. Libby turned her head, watching as Lillian walked in.

"Hey," Libby greeted her. "How was work?"

Lillian sighed as she placed her keys on the hook next to the door. "Exhausting as usual. How was the first debate meeting?"

"It was okay. Just the usual rundown of how it's going to go and what to expect," Libby responded. "I put some food aside for you if you're hungry."

"You're a lifesaver," Lillian smiled. "I'm going to get changed and grab some food then we can finish talking, yeah?"

Libby nodded, giving her a smile as she walked up the stairs. She returned a few minutes later wearing her pajamas before going into the kitchen. With a plate of food in her hands, Lillian took a seat next to Libby on the couch.

"How was spending time with your friends today after debate?" Lillian asked.

Libby shrugged. "It was nice, I guess. Yasmine somehow managed to convince Sam to have a pool party. It was going great until her parents came home."

Lillian hummed in response as she finished chewing the bite of food in her mouth.

"I know you said it was exhausting, but did anything noteworthy happen at work?" Libby questioned.

"I can't go into too much detail, but some of these cases, Lib, they just damn near break my heart," Lillian told her.

Lillian was a social worker. Though she could not go into details about the cases or the families and children involved, there were bits and pieces that she told Libby. It was never personal information, and never anything more than largely condensed summaries.

Libby frowned. "I'm sorry. You're making a huge difference though. Even when it might not seem like it, you're making such an impact on the lives of those who need it."

"I remind myself that every day and that makes the job all the more important to me," Lillian nodded her head.

She took another bite of food and then swallowed before speaking again. "So, are you ready for school?"

"Am I ready for school?" Libby asked her. "You can bet I am. The top spot will be mine this year if it's the absolute last thing I do."

Lillian laughed. "That's my favorite niece."

Libby furrowed her eyebrows at her. "I'm your only niece."

"And that," Lillian pointed at her with her fork, "is exactly why you're my favorite."

Libby smiled at her, shaking her head as she laughed.

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Libby held her head up high as she walked the halls of West Valley High School. She paid no mind to the other students in the halls. Libby glanced down at the schedule in her hands one last time to make sure she was in front of the right classroom before she stepped through the door.

The desks were arranged so that they were in pairs of two. Libby glanced at the board at the front of the room, noticing that a seating chart was displayed by the light of the projector. She scanned the chart, looking for her picture with her name underneath. Her eyes stopped once she found it. Out of curiosity, she looked beside her name to see who would be sitting next to her.

Libby froze in place. Her heart sank in her chest as she clenched her jaw and tightened her grip on her bag. Right next to her was the ninth grade picture of none other than Demetri. His name was splayed underneath his picture.

"Excuse me, Mrs. Samuels," Libby spoke as she stepped up to the teacher's desk. "I'm Elizabeth Phoenix, but I go by Libby."

Mrs. Samuels looked up. "Nice to meet you, Libby. I've heard wonderful things about you from your teachers last year."

Libby smiled, saying a quick thank you before moving on to the more pressing matter. "I hate to be that student, but could I perhaps be assigned to sit somewhere else? Demetri and I don't exactly get along and I'd hate for that to be disruptive to your class."

"There will be no switching seats. Not for now at least," Mrs. Samuels replied. "And I'm aware of the academic feud between you and Demetri. Although I'm a new teacher this year, I can assure you that my fellow teachers have made sure I'm informed about my students."

Libby blinked a few times, not saying a word as Mrs. Samuels continued talking.

"I put you and Demetri next to each other for a reason," Mrs. Samuels spoke. "Perhaps this year you can learn to work together rather than competing against each other."

Libby's shoulders sank, but she nodded her head in response. "I understand."

"Please, take your seat," Mrs. Samuels told her.

Libby nodded her head and turned on her heels. Despite wanting to sink her shoulders in defeat, Libby stood up as straight as she could as she walked to her seat. She placed her bag on the back of her chair and sat down, folding her hands on the top of the desk.

Libby stared at the door, waiting for Demetri to enter the classroom. She didn't want to miss seeing the look on his face when he realized that he had to sit next to her.

Only a few seconds passed before he peered around the door. He rolled his eyes when he saw Libby's face, already annoyed that they shared the same English class. Libby followed him with her eyes as he looked at the board. When his posture visibly shifted, Libby knew that he had made the same discovery as her.

He turned slowly, staring directly at Libby. His eyes narrowed at her before he walked over to Mrs. Samuel's desk. Libby sat up straighter wanting to seem as unfazed as possible as Demetri spoke to Mrs. Samuels, more than likely having the exact same conversation with her that she had just moments before.

Demetri slowly turned, a defeated expression on his face as he walked towards the desk next to Libby. She turned in her seat, waiting for him to sit down.

"Mrs. Samuels thinks we can work together," Libby spoke, causing Demetri to face her. "I think that she obviously doesn't know anything about us even though she claims to."

"For once—and I never thought I'd say this—I agree with you," Demetri responded. "You and I working together is like fire and ice."

Libby nodded her head in agreement.

"You..." Demetri glared at her, "...are obviously ice seeing as though you're cold hearted."

Libby laughed. "Was that meant to offend me?"

"Don't you think I know by now that there's nothing that
offends you?" Demetri asked. "Trust me, I've tried."

"Oh, I know you have," Libby replied.

The bell chimed and as the last few students scrambled in the classroom, Libby turned in her seat. She looked at Mrs. Samuels as she began to address the class. Libby didn't even have to look at him to know that Demetri had not turned his head. He was still looking at her.

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Libby walked across the cafeteria with Sam and Yasmine. She turned her head, making eye contact with Demetri as she walked past his table. As the three girls approached the table, Moon greeted them with a smile. Libby smiled back, taking a seat next to her.

She stared straight ahead, her eyes landing on Demetri. He sat with his best friend Eli and a boy that Libby had never seen before. Demetri glanced in her direction, but quickly looked away to speak to the new boy.

"Oh my God, you guys," Yasmine said.

Libby turned her head to look at her.

"You see that guy over there who looks like he went down on a lawnmower?" Yasmine nodded her head towards Eli. "He's literally wearing the ugliest sweater I've ever seen."

Libby quickly glanced at Eli before turning back to Yasmine and furrowing her eyebrows at her. Moon smiled, snickering at her comment.

"That is so wrong," Sam chuckled.

"Speaking of wrong, check out Fug-lisha," Yasmine said. "She looks like she ate a picnic table."

Libby turned her head to see Aisha Robinson taking a seat at a table. Libby had only ever interacted with Aisha a handful of times, but she was quite possibly one of the kindest people she had ever met. Aisha didn't deserve the bullying that she received. No one did, but Yasmine didn't seem to care. She thought that just because she was pretty and popular that she could get away with saying whatever she wanted. She thought she was better than everyone else.

Moon laughed once again as Yasmine pouted at Aisha mockingly.

Libby rolled her eyes. "Jesus, Yas, cool it with the comments, would you? There's no reason for you to be so rude."

Yasmine turned to face her. "What's your problem?"

Libby shrugged. "I don't have a problem. I just don't think you should make comments about the way other people look."

"Whatever, Libby," Yasmine scoffed, turning her head.

Silence filled the table, until Yasmine took it upon herself to speak again.

"He's staring again," Yasmine pointed out, nodding her head towards Demetri. "Are you sure he's not secretly in love with you?"

Libby tilted her head and sure enough, Demetri was looking her way. He quickly turned away, putting his head down as he stared at his food.

Libby continued to look in Demetri's direction, turning her head when she noticed the new boy stand up from his chair. He slowly started to walk across the cafeteria, giving a quick nod to Sam.

"What's up, ladies?" Brucks asked as he slammed
a chair next to her.

Libby rolled her eyes at him, scoffing as he looked directly at her. She curled her top lip up in disgust as she watched Kyler wrap his arm around Sam's shoulders. She still didn't understand what she saw in him and she didn't think she ever would.

Libby directed her attention back to the new boy, who stood just a few feet away with a defeated look on his face. He turned and walked back to the table where Demetri and Eli stood waiting for him.

"See you later, 'Rhea," Brucks called out.

"That has got to be one of the dumbest nicknames I have ever heard in my life," Libby told him. "You're so doltish."

Brucks gave her a confused look. "Huh?"

"Sorry, let me translate it into words you'd be able to understand," Libby replied, crossing her arms on the table. "You're stupid."

"Well, you're...you're...." Brucks struggled to find the words. "You're a nerd."

Libby shrugged. "Being a nerd is better than being dumb."

The bell signaling the end of lunch rang. Libby pushed her chair out and picked up her tray. She couldn't get out of the cafeteria fast enough.

Libby walked to her biology class, looking at the board. She wanted to scream when she saw who was assigned to sit next to her.

"You have got to be kidding me," Libby crossed her arms.

Demetri's picture stared back at her. Libby groaned as she took a seat at the lab table. She threw her bag on the table and placed her chin on her palm. Once again, she watched the door.

When Demetri walked in the room and looked up at the board, he turned to Libby. With a sigh, he made his way to the table and sat next to her.

"I'm starting to think our teachers have it out for us," Demetri said as he put his bag on the floor next to him.

Libby nodded. "It certainly seems that way."

Libby sighed, staring at the front of the class. She didn't care if she had to sit next to Demetri and work with him in class, that top spot was hers. She wasn't going to let anything get in the way of that.

— EMILIA'S NOTES

libby and demetri's banter is everything to me. i love it so much.

also i will make every single one of my ocs like aisha and hate yasmine & kyler. idc!! like yes, libby is supposed to be "friends" with them but i do not care!! aisha deserves better and i stand by that.

i also did proofread this chapter (which doesn't seem to work with me bc i always end of finding mistakes even after doing that) so if there's a mistake then oh well...

anyway, don't be shy, share your thoughts!