Saturday morning arrived with a crisp breeze in the air, signaling the arrival of autumn. Tessa sat at the kitchen table, sipping her coffee and flipping through her favorite psychology book. The weekend was supposed to be her time to relax, but her mind was racing with thoughts of the biology test, track practice, and much to her frustration—Alex Barren.
The competition between them had always been fierce, but ever since that tie at track practice, something had changed. She couldn’t stop replaying the way Alex had looked at her afterward, his usual teasing replaced by a flicker of admiration. It unsettled her.
“Tessa, are you listening?” her mom’s voice snapped her out of her thoughts.
“Huh? Oh, sorry, Mom. What did you say?” Tessa asked, blinking away the distraction.
Her mom, a petite woman with warm brown eyes and a gentle smile, shook her head with amusement. “I asked if you and Abby are still going out tonight.”
Tessa nodded, setting her book down. “Yeah, we’re meeting up at a restaurant. She’s being mysterious about it, though. Apparently, it’s a surprise.”
Her mom raised an eyebrow. “You two and your surprises. Just don’t get into too much trouble.”
Tessa chuckled. “It’s Abby. I’m sure it’s harmless.”
But as the day wore on, she couldn’t shake the feeling that Abby was up to something. Ever since the conversation about Alex, Abby had been pushing the idea that there was more between them than just rivalry. The thought made Tessa’s stomach twist. She and Alex couldn’t possibly be anything more than rivals. Right?
She shook her head, trying to clear her mind as she got ready for the evening. She decided on a simple outfit: a soft, off-the-shoulder sweater and her favorite jeans. Casual but nice. It’s just dinner, she reminded herself. Whatever Abby’s planning, I’ll deal with it.
---
That evening, Tessa arrived at the restaurant Abby had picked—a cozy Italian place downtown with dim lighting and soft music playing in the background. She spotted Abby waiting outside, dressed up in a cute floral dress, a grin plastered on her face.
“There you are!” Abby said, practically bouncing with excitement. “Ready for the best night ever?”
Tessa narrowed her eyes. “Okay, what’s going on? You’ve been acting weird all week.”
Abby waved her off. “Relax. I just thought it would be fun for you to get to know a certain someone.”
Tessa’s heart skipped a beat. “Wait, what?, get to know who?”
Before Abby could respond, Tessa’s phone buzzed. She pulled it out of her pocket and saw a text from Tyler, Alex’s best friend. Tyler: Hey, are you there already?
Tessa frowned, confused. Why was Tyler texting her? She looked up at Abby, suspicion creeping in. “Abby… you didn’t.”
Abby’s grin widened. “Didn’t what?”
Just then, the door to the restaurant opened, and Tyler walked out.“Hey, Tessa. Uh… how are you ?”
Tessa’s eyes widened in horror as the pieces fell into place. “No. You did not set me up on a blind date.”
Abby laughed, clearly proud of herself. “Surprise! We thought it’d be fun. And don’t worry, I’m sure you’ll like who we picked.”
Tessa’s stomach dropped. “Who you picked? Abby, who’s the—”
Before she could finish, another figure appeared in the doorway.
Alex Barren.
Tessa froze, her heart racing as Alex stepped outside, his hands in his pockets, his expression equally confused. “Tessa?”
YOU ARE READING
Beneath the Rivalry
Romance(New chapters every Sunday) "Beneath the Rivalry" is a teen romance book centered around Tessa Virgo and Alex Barren, two high school seniors who have been fierce academic and athletic rivals for years. Both driven, competitive, and successful in th...
