Stole My Heart 💕

3 - Romantic Rivals

The morning sun filtered through the windshield of Nick's car as he settled into the driver's seat, ready to start his day. But just as he reached for the ignition, something on the back seat caught his attention—a notebook. His brow furrowed as he grabbed it, flipping it open without a second thought. The moment his eyes landed on the name neatly written on the cover, his expression darkened: Candice.

A strange mix of irritation and disappointment coursed through him. Any faint good impression he might have had of her crumbled instantly. So, she wasn't different after all. Leaving her notebook in his car? Classic move. Just a cheap trick to grab his attention. Did she think he was that gullible?

His jaw tightened. If she wanted his attention, she was going to get it—but not in the way she hoped. Determined, he shoved the notebook under his arm and strode into the school, heading straight for her classroom. The moment he entered, the atmosphere shifted. Girls squealed, their voices rising in excited whispers. Eyes turned toward him, some filled with admiration, others with curiosity. He ignored them all, his gaze locked onto one person.

Candice stood near the back of the room, casually chatting with a friend, completely unaware of the commotion. But when she finally noticed him, her eyes widened in startled surprise. Her lips parted slightly as though she wanted to say something but wasn't sure how.

Nick raised an eyebrow, then pointed at her before jerking his head toward the door, a silent command. She hesitated, clearly unsure if he was addressing her. He gave a firm nod to confirm. Without another word, he turned on his heel and strode out, fully expecting her to follow.

Sure enough, hurried footsteps echoed behind him as Candice struggled to catch up. Amused, he smirked and lengthened his stride just to make it harder for her. The quiet muttering behind him—probably curses directed at him—only made his grin widen.

Then, abruptly, he stopped and spun around.

She had no time to react.

With a soft gasp, she stumbled right into him, her small frame colliding against his chest. Instinctively, his arms shot out, one securing her waist, the other catching her wrist. For a brief moment, the world stilled.

The scent of vanilla and something floral—maybe jasmine—filled his senses, making his grip on her tighten just a fraction. Her hair brushed against his chin, silky and soft, sending a rush of warmth down his spine. His heart pounded unexpectedly, each beat echoing in his ears.

Candice's eyes fluttered shut, her lashes trembling as though bracing for a fall that never came. She looked... vulnerable. Almost fragile, like a porcelain doll. A sudden warmth spread through Nick's chest, an unfamiliar feeling he wasn't ready to acknowledge.

When she finally opened her eyes, her gaze met his, wide with shock. The magnetic pull between them was undeniable, a charge that neither seemed able to break. Her soft breath fanned across his skin, sending an unexpected shiver down his spine. For the first time in a long while, his heart skipped a beat.

The realization hit him like a jolt. Quickly, he released her and took a step back, clearing his throat in an attempt to mask the strange emotions stirring inside him.

"You should watch where you're going," he muttered, his tone harsher than intended.

Candice straightened herself, cheeks tinged with pink, and mumbled a quiet, "Thanks." Her fingers brushed against her wrist where he had held her, as if still feeling the lingering warmth of his touch.

Nick quickly pulled the notebook from under his arm and tossed it to her. She caught it with ease, her brows knitting in confusion.

"You left this in my car," he stated coolly, fighting to suppress any lingering softness in his voice.

Her head tilted slightly as she glanced at the notebook and then back at him. "Why do you have this?" she asked, skepticism to laced in her tone.

Nick let out a dry, sarcastic laugh. "Why? Don't you know? You left it there on purpose. Don't play dumb with me. It's not going to work."

Her jaw dropped slightly, indignation flashing in her eyes. She looked ready to argue, but before she could, his phone buzzed in his pocket. Pulling it out, he saw Hanny's name on the screen.

He answered, and sure enough, Hanny confirmed Candice's story. The notebook had been left there by mistake.

Lowering the phone, he glanced at Candice, who stood there expectantly, arms crossed, waiting for an apology. But Nick simply shrugged.

"My opinion about you will never change," he said smoothly before turning away.

Candice wasn't about to let him have the last word. "If you don't like me, why bother bringing the notebook to me personally?" she called after him. "You could've given it to me in class or through Hanny. Don't tell me you like me."

Nick stopped mid-step, his shoulders stiffening. He turned back slowly, his expression dark. Before he could respond, she smirked, her confidence unwavering. "Don't be so overconfident. Not every girl is going to fall for you—especially me."

She pivoted to walk away but paused to glance back over her shoulder. With a teasing smile, she added, "By the way, you're not my type."

Then she disappeared into the classroom, leaving Nick standing there, fuming.

The nerve of her.

But beneath his irritation, something else stirred. A challenge.

Fine, Candice. If she thought she was going to win this round, she had another thing coming. He vowed then and there—he would make her fall for him.

Later that day, Nick found himself passing Candice in the hallway. She leaned casually against a locker, scrolling through her phone. An idea struck him, mischievous and tempting.

"Hey," he greeted, stopping in front of her.

She looked up, wary but intrigued. "What do you want now?"

Nick crossed his arms, a smirk playing on his lips. "Just checking if you've plotted any new schemes to get my attention."

She rolled her eyes dramatically. "You're unbelievable. Maybe you should stop assuming every girl is obsessed with you."

Leaning closer, he lowered his voice. "Oh, so you're admitting you're not like the others?"

Candice met his gaze, unflinching. "What if I am? That still doesn't mean I'm interested in you."

Nick raised an eyebrow, amused. "You sure about that, Candice? Because the way you keep talking to me says otherwise."

Her cheeks flushed, but she quickly recovered, poking him in the chest. "And what if I said you're not my type? What would you do then, huh?"

His smirk deepened. "Then I'd say you don't even know what your type is yet."

She huffed, shaking her head. "You're impossible."

As she walked away, Nick's smirk remained. He laughs it off outwardly, but inwardly, his ego takes a hit, sparking a determination to make her fall for him.

This was going to be fun.