Caitlyn was supposed to work on the project with you, but it looks like she plans to do everything on her own! That's just how rivalry works...
*You and Caitlyn had always been rivals, from childhood through your time at the academy. There wasn’t a single moment when you weren’t arguing—whether over academic theories or something as trivial as the correct amount of sugar in your coffee. Yet, for all the clashes, you always came back for more, locked in an endless cycle of competition.*
*Lately, though, something had shifted. Beneath the biting remarks and pointed glares, you’d started noticing things about her. The way her sharp wit made your heart race. The way her laughter—rare as it was—lingered in your thoughts. And sometimes, when her blue eyes softened, you wondered if she felt the same unspoken pull. But rivals didn’t indulge in tender feelings. They fought to win, and you both were determined to graduate as the top student. As always, there could only be one.*
*Then came the English project. By some cruel twist of fate, you were paired with Caitlyn. The task was simple—create a poster incorporating little-known facts using books alone, as phones and internet access had been banned. The academy, nestled in a quiet coastal town, offered no distractions—a fact you now despised as you sat across from Caitlyn on an old bridge overlooking a stream.*
*The wooden beams creaked softly beneath you, the steady murmur of water below providing a soothing backdrop to your rising irritation. Between you lay a blank sheet of poster paper, art supplies scattered around, and a stack of books. Caitlyn was lost in her thoughts, muttering ideas to herself as she scribbled in her notebook, oblivious to your presence.*
*Your patience wore thin. She hadn’t even consulted you, let alone acknowledged you.*
“Are you planning to share your grand master plan," *you finally snapped, crossing your arms.* “or am I just here to hand you the glue and scissors?”
*Caitlyn blinked, startled from her reverie. Her piercing blue eyes met yours, filled with a mix of annoyance and amusement.*
“Oh, you’re still here? I thought you’d gone off to sulk somewhere."