Beneath the Rivalry

Chapter 2: The Waver

The biology classroom buzzed with chatter as students settled into their seats, preparing for the upcoming test. Tessa sat at her desk, fingers tapping against her textbook, her eyes flicking over to Alex. He was calm, as usual, flipping through his notes like he didn't have a care in the world. His laid-back attitude only fueled her desire to beat him even more.

"Alright, class," their teacher, Mr. Hayes, called from the front of the room. "I hope you're all prepared for this test. It covers everything from cell structure to DNA replication. Clear your desks, and let's get started."

Tessa was more than ready. She had spent hours the night before studying every detail of the chapter. She wasn't just aiming for a good grade-she was determined to win this wager with Alex. The thought of him cleaning her locker for an entire week was enough motivation to stay focused.

As Mr. Hayes passed out the tests, Alex glanced her way, offering a casual grin. "Feeling confident, Virgo?"

Tessa rolled her eyes, keeping her voice low. "More than confident. You're going down."

"We'll see about that," Alex muttered before returning his attention to his paper.

The first few questions were easy enough-basic definitions and diagrams. But as the test went on, it got trickier, requiring in-depth knowledge of protein synthesis and cellular respiration. Tessa's pen flew across the paper, her brain working on overdrive. Every few moments, she glanced at Alex, who seemed equally focused. His brow was slightly furrowed, his eyes narrowed in concentration.

Good, she thought. He's struggling.

Halfway through the test, Tessa's confidence started to waver. The questions were more challenging than she had anticipated, and the clock seemed to be ticking faster than usual. She stole another glance at Alex and noticed something odd. He wasn't just focused-he looked... relaxed. Like he had already figured everything out.

Tessa clenched her jaw. No way is he going to beat me.

For the rest of the period, she focused with laser precision, racing through the final questions with determination. When the bell rang, signaling the end of class, Tessa finished her last answer with a triumphant flourish.

"You may hand in your tests on your way out," Mr. Hayes announced. "Grades will be posted by the end of the week."

Tessa stood up and slid her test onto the teacher's desk, casting a quick glance at Alex, who was also turning his in. He caught her eye and gave her a subtle, knowing smirk. It made her stomach tighten with both irritation and... something else she refused to acknowledge.

As they walked out of the classroom together, the tension between them crackled like static electricity.

"So," Alex said, casually falling into step beside her, "how do you think you did?"

Tessa's eyes narrowed. "Better than you, that's for sure."

Alex laughed softly, a sound that made her both want to scream and-No. Stop. "You really think so? Because I'm pretty sure that last question threw you off."

Tessa's pulse quickened. Had he seen her hesitate? "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Sure you don't," he said, his tone light, teasing. "But don't worry-I'll still make sure your locker's spotless when I win."

"Not happening, Barren. You'll be the one scrubbing mine."

They reached the end of the hallway where they had to part ways. Alex paused, leaning against the wall with that infuriatingly confident look still on his face. His eyes met hers, and for a split second, there was something unspoken between them, something that went beyond the rivalry and the competition. But Tessa quickly shoved the thought aside.

"Keep dreaming, Virgo," Alex said with a wink before turning and walking away.

Tessa watched him go, her heart pounding in a way that had nothing to do with the competition and everything to do with the strange, new tension between them.

---

Later that day, Tessa sat with Abby at their usual lunch table in the crowded cafeteria. Abby was busy scrolling through her phone, but Tessa's mind was elsewhere, replaying the test and her conversations with Alex. She hated that he was under her skin. She hated that he could get her riled up so easily. But what she hated most of all was how there was a small part of her that liked the attention, the thrill of competing with him.

"So..." Abby's voice broke through her thoughts, "how'd the big test go? Did you crush Alex?"

Tessa frowned. "I don't know. It was harder than I thought. He seemed confident, though."

Abby raised an eyebrow. "Confident as in 'I did well on the test' confident, or confident as in 'I'm trying to get into your head' confident?"

Tessa laughed. "Honestly, it's hard to tell with him. He's always so sure of himself."

"Hmm." Abby leaned forward, resting her chin in her hand. "You know, I've been thinking."

Tessa glanced at her warily. "That sounds dangerous."

Abby rolled her eyes. "I'm serious! I've been watching you and Alex for a while now, and I think there's more going on between you two than just rivalry."

Tessa groaned. "Not you too. You sound just like the rumors. I told you, there's nothing between me and Alex."

Abby smirked. "Really? Because the way you two bicker, it's kind of obvious there's tension. And not just the competitive kind."

Tessa picked at her sandwich, trying to ignore the flutter in her chest. "It's nothing. We've been like this since middle school. He's just annoying, that's all."

"Uh-huh." Abby's eyes sparkled with amusement. "Whatever you say. But if I didn't know any better, I'd say you're starting to notice him a little more than usual."

Tessa shot her a sharp look. "I am not. Alex Barren is the last person I'd ever-"

"-date? Crush on? Fall for?" Abby finished for her, her grin widening.

"Exactly," Tessa said, crossing her arms over her chest. But her mind betrayed her, replaying the moment earlier in the hallway when Alex had looked at her with that teasing glint in his eye. There had been something there, something that had made her heart race in a way that had nothing to do with competition.

Abby chuckled softly. "You'll see, Tessa. Sometimes feelings sneak up on you when you least expect them."

Tessa scoffed, but her heart wasn't in it. "I think you've been reading too many romance novels."

"Maybe," Abby said with a wink. "But I'm telling you, there's something beneath all that rivalry."

Tessa shook her head, determined to ignore Abby's teasing. There was nothing between her and Alex except for competition and the desire to win. That's how it had always been and how it would stay.

---

The rest of the school day flew by, but Tessa couldn't shake the strange feeling that had settled over her. Alex had always been her rival, her competition. But now... things felt different. She found herself noticing the way his eyes gleamed when he teased her, the way his smile could be both infuriating and-No.

As she walked home from school, her mind was still racing with thoughts of the test, the wager, and, frustratingly, Alex. She kicked a loose pebble on the sidewalk, frustration bubbling inside her. How had he gotten under her skin like this?

Her phone buzzed in her pocket, and she pulled it out to see a text from Abby:

Abby: So... you and Alex tomorrow at track? I'm calling it now, you're totally going to break your record just to spite him.

Tessa grinned, shaking her head as she typed back:

Tessa: You know me too well. But I'm not doing it for him. I'm doing it for me.

But even as she hit send, Tessa couldn't deny the extra motivation. Beating Alex was always satisfying, but lately, she wasn't sure if it was about the win... or something else entirely.

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