Mrs. Davis's face flushed deep crimson. "Senorita! I thought you had changed. It's a new semester. Why are you still like this?"
Her voice was tight, strained with forced restraint, but Senorita simply crossed her arms, leaning back in her chair like the queen of defiance.
"I thought you'd leave that terrible attitude behind you, but it seems like you're only getting worse by the day!" Mrs. Davis snapped.
Senorita arched an eyebrow. "Let me ask you something, Mrs. Davis. If I drop my character, who should I hand it to? You? Should I toss it in your direction? Would you like to take it off my hands?"
"Senorita, what's gotten into you?! Your behavior is spiraling-"
"Mrs. Davis," Senorita cut in, her voice smooth as silk, "you're just my teacher. Not my mother. Your only job is to teach me about books, not lecture me about my life. You're not my family, and you certainly don't have the right to scold me for being myself. Besides... maybe you should take a long look in the mirror before offering advice. You know what they say-nothing stays hidden under the sun."
"Enough!" Mrs. Davis slammed her palm onto the desk, making the papers flutter in protest. "You're a disruptive influence. You're suspended."
Senorita gasped dramatically. "Suspended? Oh, how will this school survive without my sparkling presence?"
"You think this is a joke?" Mrs. Davis hissed, her face the color of boiled shrimp. "One more outburst, and I swear-"
Senorita leaned in just enough to make her flinch. "Try it, Matilda Davis. Not only will you lose your job, but I hear the school board is already sniffing around your... extracurricular activities with the boys' soccer team."
Mrs. Davis went pale.
Senorita winked, adding, "You're lucky I'm not in the mood to burn your career to the ground today. But cross me again, and I'll strike the match."
Her eyes gleamed with venomous confidence.
"Weren't you the one getting cozy with your students last semester? Or should I bring up your daughter? You know, the one whose legs spread faster than a Wi-Fi connection?"
"Senorita!" Mrs. Davis shrieked, slamming her hand on the table.
Senorita shushed her with a finger to her lips. "Show some respect for that name. It's more dignified than your entire generation."
Mrs. Davis rose to her feet, shaking with rage. "Who do you think you are, speaking to me like that?! Don't you know I can expel you?!"
Senorita leaned forward slowly, a dangerous smirk tugging at the corners of her lips. "Try it, Matilda. If you have the guts. You'll lose your job, and the news about your... extracurricular activities will make it to every channel in Italy."
Mrs. Davis blanched. "What are you talking about?"
"Oh, that's not for me to answer. But go ahead-expel me. You'll find out soon enough. Don't forget Lake's passion for hacking. A single word is enough for the wise."
She paused, allowing the tension to hang in the air before she added, "Next time you decide to lecture someone, start with yourself. Only a perfect person can correct others-spoiler alert, you're not that."
Senorita stood up and strutted out of the office like a queen leaving her throne.
Behind her, Matilda Davis slumped back into her chair, deflated, like all the bones had suddenly melted out of her body.
Her hands trembled, manicured nails digging into the leather armrests as rage and fear battled inside her chest. Rage at the insolence of that girl who spoke with the venom of someone who knew too much... and fear. Because what if she really did?
How does she know? Who told her? That file was locked. That student...
Her jaw clenched as she stared at the closed door.
"Goodness," she muttered under her breath, her voice tight with disbelief. "That girl... has become something else."
But even as she tried to compose herself, a burning shame bloomed in her chest, a cold bead of sweat trailing down her spine.
Because deep down, Matilda knew one thing:
Senorita Leo wasn't just a student anymore.
She was a threat.
---
Senorita chuckled softly to herself. "I wasn't crowned the Badass Queen for nothing," she muttered.
Matilda Davis couldn't touch her. Not in this lifetime.
As Senorita walked past the quad, a large group of students caught her attention. Trouble.
She sauntered over casually.
A junior boy knelt on the ground, hands clasped in front of him, desperation in his eyes. "I'm sorry! I didn't mean to bump into you. Please forgive me."
Sugar, the self-proclaimed 'school sweetheart,' loomed over him like a smug god. "Forgive you? What about my new phone? You broke it. You think the kind of phone I use is a joke?"
The boy stammered, "I... I can't afford it, but I'll do anything-"
"Good," Sugar said with a twisted grin. "Then lick my shoe."
Gasps rippled through the crowd.
Senorita's eyes narrowed. This bastard.
The boy bent forward, his face red with humiliation, but just as his tongue hovered near the shoe, a baseball zipped through the air and smacked Sugar in the arm.
The crowd froze.
"I did," Senorita called, stepping forward.
Sugar spun around. "Are you out of your mind?!"
"No," she replied coolly. "Just allergic to bullies."
"I don't hit women," Sugar growled.
"Unless what? You grow a pair someday?" she retorted.
He glared at her, his jaw tightening. "What's your problem?"
"My problem is standing right in front of me, demanding a poor boy lick your shoe like some kind of psychopath."
"You think you're some kind of savior?" Sugar sneered.
"Goddamn right," she shot back. Turning to the boy, she added, "Get up. Now."
Sugar stepped in front of him. "He's not going anywhere."
"And who the hell are you to stop him?"
"He broke my phone!" Sugar snapped.
"Then buy another one, rich boy! Or are you faking the flex?"
Sugar's face twisted with frustration. "I see what this is. You're trying to get my attention. But too bad-you're not my type."
Senorita smirked. "I'd rather sleep with a diseased raccoon than touch a clown like you."
He lunged forward to grab the boy again, and she snapped.
Her hand flew with lightning speed. The slap rang out through the quad like a whip.
Gasps echoed in the crowd.
"Senorita!"
"Did she just slap Sugar?!"
"She broke his lip!"
Sugar wiped blood from his lip, a sick grin creeping across his face. "You've got balls."
"I've got standards. Unlike you," she snapped back.
She turned and walked off, her presence a storm rolling over the quad. "I'm Senorita Leo. The College Badass Queen. I don't tolerate bullies. And for you? I'll make an exception... I hate you."
Sugar reached for her suddenly, yanking her flush against his chest.
Students screamed. Phones flashed. Video cameras zoomed in.
Senorita's eyes widened. "Let me go!"
"I've heard a lot about you," he whispered into her ear. "Now, I've got your attention."
"I never wanted it. You make me sick."
"We'll see about that. You'll regret it... on my bed."
Senorita froze.
"Daydream harder," she spat, twisting in his grip.
He released her. "We'll see."
---
"Oh my gosh, Sugar! Are you okay?!" Liliana, Sugar's closest female friend, rushed to his side.
Senorita rolled her eyes. Of course, she'd show up.
"I'm fine," Sugar muttered.
He glanced at Senorita one last time before turning and walking away.
Liliana's jealousy was palpable-wrapped in lip gloss and fake smiles. She wanted to be the most famous girl in school. But Senorita already wore the crown.
"You bitch!" Liliana hissed, seething with rage.
"Yup. Classic bitch. Not a classless slut like you," Senorita replied sweetly, a sugar-coated venom lacing her words.
Liliana's jaw dropped.
"Watch your obsession," Senorita whispered, stepping closer. "The way you look at him? Desperate. Don't make me crush your fantasy."
She turned and strutted off.
"Who do you think you are?!" Liliana screamed.
"The only college Badass Queen," Senorita said over her shoulder, flipping her hair as she walked away.
---
Sugar's Dorm Room
"Man, what happened to your lips?" Loord asked as Sugar walked in, grinning.
"You haven't seen the video yet?" Jett asked, amused.
Loord blinked. "What video?"
Jett pulled out his phone. The clip of Senorita slapping Sugar played.
"Bro, she really slapped you," Jett laughed.
"Damn," Loord muttered. "You let her slap you like that?"
Sugar's grin was slow and wicked. "She woke the beast."
"You gonna let that slide?" Loord asked.
"Hell no. She declared war. And I always win."
Jett nodded. "She's got fire. She's bold. Dangerous."
"Beautiful," Sugar whispered, touching the dried blood on his lip.
Loord raised a brow. "Don't tell me you're crushing on her?"
"I don't do love," Sugar said darkly. "I do conquest."
"That smile... it's scaring me," Jett added. "What are you planning?"
Sugar smirked. "Seduction. Confusion. Domination. She won't see it coming."
"Sugar's cooking something crazy."
"Let's hope she's ready," Loord warned.
"She's not like the others," Jett observed.
"That's what makes it fun," Sugar replied. "Watch how the Queen falls."
He leaned back, eyes gleaming with dangerous intent.
"She slapped the devil," Sugar muttered. "Now, let's see how long she burns."
Because war had just been declared-and the battlefield was their college.