Harper Westwood's heels clicked against the polished marble floors of Wellington Academy as she strode through the halls, her chin held high. The school was already buzzing with the start of senior year, but Harper's mind was solely focused on the final battle ahead—valedictorian. For years, she had been neck-and-neck with one person: Connor Blackwood.
She would not let him win.
As if conjured by her thoughts, a voice rang out behind her. "Hey, Sweetheart, trying to get a head start?"
Harper's hands clenched into fists at the nickname. She turned slowly, meeting the infuriatingly smug grin of Connor, his hockey bag slung casually over his broad shoulder. The same nickname he'd used for years to rile her up.
"Don't call me that," Harper snapped, her voice sharp.
"Why not? It suits you," Connor replied, eyes gleaming with mischief. His brown hair was tousled from practice, and he looked every bit the cocky athlete that everyone adored. Tall, muscular, and infuriatingly confident, Connor had a way of walking into a room like he owned it.
"You're insufferable," Harper shot back, flipping her hair over her shoulder as she turned away.
"And yet, you can't seem to get rid of me," he called after her, his voice full of amusement.
The sound of his laugh made Harper's blood boil. Ever since elementary school, Connor had been a thorn in her side—outperforming her, challenging her at every turn. And now, with valedictorian at stake, their rivalry had reached new heights. It didn't help that her twin brother, James, was Connor's best friend, which meant she was forced to see him far too often for her liking.
As she made her way to the history classroom, she spotted Ella, her best friend, chatting with Noah, one of the loudest and funniest guys in their friend group. Noah waved when he saw her, his smile lighting up his face.
"There's our future valedictorian!" he called, grinning.
"Not if Connor has anything to say about it," Harper muttered as she joined them.
Ella chuckled, giving Harper a sympathetic look. "You two really do go at it, don't you? It's like watching a boxing match every time you're in the same room."
Harper groaned. "If only he wasn't so—"
"Annoying?" Ella offered.
"Obnoxious," Harper corrected. "He's always so smug, like he thinks he's already won."
Noah laughed. "You know he lives to get under your skin, right? It's practically his hobby."
Harper sighed. "Don't remind me."
The three of them walked into the history classroom, and Harper's eyes immediately landed on Connor, who was already sitting with James and Lucas, two of the guys from the hockey team. Connor caught her eye and gave her a slow, teasing wink.
She glared at him, refusing to be baited. Focus, Harper. She slid into a seat beside Ella, mentally preparing herself for whatever torment Connor had in store.
"All right, class, settle down," Mr. Holloway said, stepping into the room with his usual stack of papers. "As you all know, the final project for this class is one of the most important assignments of your high school career. It will determine a significant portion of your final grade, so I have choosen your partners wisely."
Harper's heart skipped a beat. Partner projects were always a double-edged sword. If she got paired with someone capable, she could maintain control of her grade. But if she got stuck with a slacker...
Mr. Holloway cleared his throat. "I'll be assigning partners based on your performance in this class. That way, we can ensure a balance of abilities."
Oh no. Harper's stomach sank. That was never good.
Mr. Holloway began calling out names, pairing students off one by one. Harper was barely paying attention, her mind running through all the possible combinations that would doom her project.
Then she heard it.
"Harper Westwood... and Connor Blackwood."
Her heart plummeted.
The room was silent for a brief moment, and then the whispers began. Everyone knew about the rivalry between Harper and Connor. Everyone knew how much they despised each other. And now they had to work together?
Harper felt her face flush with anger. Of all the people to get stuck with. She shot a glare at Connor, who was leaning back in his chair, arms crossed over his chest, looking entirely too amused.
"Looks like we're stuck together, Sweetheart," he said, his voice low and taunting.
Harper clenched her jaw. "Try not to drag me down."
"Oh, don't worry," Connor replied, his smirk widening. "I plan on leading this project. You can just sit back and watch."
Not a chance. Harper's competitive spirit flared. "In your dreams, Blackwood."
As the bell rang, signaling the end of class, Harper grabbed her bag and stormed out, determined to avoid any further interaction with Connor for the rest of the day. Ella and Noah trailed after her, both exchanging amused looks.
"Well, this is going to be interesting," Noah said, throwing his arm around Harper's shoulder. "You and Connor? This project might actually explode."
"I'll make sure it doesn't," Harper muttered.
"You'll have to hang out more with us now, though," Ella added with a grin. "You know the group won't let you two kill each other."
Harper groaned inwardly. As much as she loved her friends, being forced to spend even more time with Connor sounded like her worst nightmare.
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Authors note:
OMG I am so exited that i have published my first ever chapter.
Please comment if you like it and vote.
The next few chapter will be out soon. <3
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Forever Chasing
Teen Fiction"Chasing Forever" is a contemporary romance that follows the intense, complicated relationship between Harper Westwood and Connor Cooper. Set against the backdrop of their senior year at an elite high school, the story explores their journey from ac...
