The morning air felt cool as Sharon walked through the front gates of Brookside High. Students stood in groups laughing and talking about their holidays, but Sharon held her books tightly against her chest and kept walking.
Final year, she reminded herself. Just focus on school.
Sharon had big plans. Good grades. A scholarship. Maybe even studying medicine one day. She wasn't going to let anything distract her.
Unfortunately, the universe seemed to have other plans.
"Wow, look who decided to come back," a familiar voice said behind her.
Sharon didn't even have to turn around. She already knew who it was.
Dylan.
She sighed and turned slowly. Dylan leaned casually against a locker, his school bag slung over one shoulder. His messy dark hair looked like he had barely tried to fix it, yet somehow he still looked annoyingly confident.
"What do you want, Dylan?" Sharon asked.
He smirked. "Relax. I was just saying hi."
"Since when do you say hi?" she replied.
"Since I noticed you look even more serious this year." He tilted his head slightly. "Did someone steal your smile over the holidays?"
Sharon rolled her eyes. "Some people actually care about school."
"Oh, I care," Dylan said. "Especially about beating you in every test this year."
She crossed her arms. "You wish."
Their rivalry had started two years ago when Dylan scored one mark higher than her on a science test. Ever since then, they had competed in almost every subject.
And neither of them liked losing.
"Well," Dylan said, pushing himself off the locker, "good luck this year, Sharon."
"I won't need it," she replied.
He laughed as he walked away.
Sharon watched him go, already feeling annoyed.
Great, she thought. First day and Dylan is already ruining it.