chapter one: A Rivalry Ignites:
The first day of middle school always feels like a big deal. At least, that's what I thought. I had just finished elementary school, and now I was stepping into the unknown, transitioning into a new chapter. But it wasn't as big a deal as people made it out to be. For me, it felt like another day, another year.
I'd been going to this school for years, and it was familiar, comfortable even. But that all changed when I saw him—the new boy—walk into the classroom. Ethan.
He was the new kid in our class, and when the teacher called him up to introduce himself, he stood tall, oozing confidence. His dark hair was perfectly styled, and his smile was... too cocky for my liking. He introduced himself smoothly, with a charm that made everyone pay attention. I remember thinking, Great, another one of those guys who thinks he's better than everyone else.
He was assigned to sit next to me. It made no sense to me. Why did I have to be his seatmate? Of all the people in the class, why me?
"Hey, I'm Ethan," he said, offering a hand. "What's your name?"
I didn't want to be rude, so I reluctantly shook his hand. "Aria."
He grinned like it was something he had already known. That irritated me even more. He wasn't even a little awkward like new kids usually are. He was smooth, too smooth, and that made me suspicious. I decided to ignore him for the rest of the class.
But then, something happened that I wasn't prepared for.
During our first math lesson, the teacher asked a question, and I, being the studious person I was, answered it almost immediately. The moment I finished, I saw Ethan's hand shoot up. He answered it too. Perfectly.
I don't know why it bothered me. Maybe it was because I was used to being the smartest in the class. I hated the thought of someone challenging me, especially someone like him. So, I began to compete. Every question, every answer, I couldn't let him win.
And that's how it went. For weeks. It was rivalry at its finest. And at the same time, I couldn't help but notice him more. When we weren't arguing, we were exchanging sarcastic remarks or challenging each other in the halls. I didn't even realize when it started, but suddenly, we were more than just classmates—we were something.
I never thought that this rivalry would lead anywhere, but it did. I began to notice the small things—like how he would quietly pass me notes in class, or how, when we were paired together for projects, he didn't shy away from working with me. He didn't back down. It was like he was always testing me, but in a way that wasn't entirely bad. And somewhere in all that competition, I started to feel something... curiosity.
Then came the night that changed everything.
It was a regular evening. I had just finished my homework when I heard a commotion outside my house. It was coming from the house across the street, the one that had been vacant for months. I peeked out of my window, just as I saw a car pull up. I recognized the figure stepping out. Ethan.
My heart skipped. Why was he here? Was he visiting someone? I had no idea, but curiosity got the better of me, and I decided to walk over.
When I knocked on the door, I wasn't expecting it to be him who answered. He looked surprised, like he hadn't anticipated seeing me either. But what shocked me even more was the sound of raised voices inside. His parents were arguing.
"You frustrate me, Diane! I can't take this anymore!" his father shouted.
My heart sank. I didn't know why it affected me so much, but it did. Ethan quickly closed the door behind him, his face reddening with embarrassment.
"Uh, hey, what's up?" he asked, trying to act like nothing had just happened. But I could see it in his eyes. He was hurting.
"I... I just wanted to give you this." I handed him the ointment for his knee. It was awkward, but I had to thank him for helping me that day at school.
The ointment had been something my mom always insisted I carry—just in case of any injuries. It wasn't much, but it felt like the right thing to do.
He took it without saying much, mumbling a quiet "thanks," before I noticed him glance over his shoulder at the door, clearly anxious about going back inside.
"Are you okay?" I asked, before I could stop myself. I wasn't sure why I was so concerned, but it felt like the right thing to say.
He shrugged. "Yeah, I'm fine. Don't worry about it."
But I couldn't stop worrying. I could feel the tension in the air, the heaviness that seemed to follow him everywhere. For the first time, I saw him as something more than just my rival. He was a person—someone who had his own struggles, his own pain.
"I'll be fine," he repeated, his voice softer now. "Good night, Aria."
I nodded, still not quite sure what to make of everything, before I turned and walked back home, my mind racing with questions I couldn't answer.
That night, I sat on my bed, the weight of everything hanging in the air. Ethan, the boy I had once thought I hated, was starting to feel... different. I wasn't sure what this was, or where it would go, but I couldn't deny that things had started to change between us.
And I was afraid of what that might mean.