I didn't mean to listen.
I was just walking back to class when I heard Ava's voice in the hallway — strong, steady, but laced with tension.
"You're new here," she said.
"But I'm not new to standing my ground."
My steps froze.
I peeked around the corner and saw her walk away from Serena, chin up, eyes ahead — proud, beautiful, brave.
Serena stood there, jaw clenched. Her signature smile? Gone.
I smirked.
Ava didn't need anyone to fight her battles.
But man, I wanted to be the guy who stood beside her anyway.
---
(Serena's POV)
"She thinks she's already won."
I leaned against the mirror in the empty girls' bathroom, reapplying my lip gloss slowly.
News travels fast in school — so I already knew Damien overheard our little chat.
I didn't care. I wanted him to.
Let Ava get her moment. Let her feel strong.
But this wasn't over.
"I play slow," I whispered to myself, fixing a stray strand of hair.
"And I always play smart."
---
(Rylan's POV)
I saw it all from the far end of the hallway — Ava storming off, Serena frozen in place… and Damien, standing silently around the corner, watching her leave.
The way he looked at Ava?
It hit me harder than I expected.
Like he'd already chosen her a long time ago.
I clenched the strap of my bag and turned away before they noticed me.
Whatever I was hoping for… it was already slipping.
But I couldn't blame her for liking him.
He was everything I wasn't — confident, composed, certain.
Still, something inside me whispered:
"It's not over yet."
---
Ava's pov
(Later that night – Ava's Phone Buzzes)
Damien:
"I heard what you said to her… in the hallway. You didn't have to. But thank you."
Ava:
"I wasn't going to let her act like she owns the world."
Damien:
"You made my entire day. You always do."
Ava:
"I didn't even know you were nearby 😳"
Damien:
"I wasn't supposed to be. But I'm glad I was."
Ava:
"She's not done, though. You know t
hat, right?"
Damien:
"Let her play games. I already chose my heart."
Ava:
🫣🫣🫣