❝There is nothing to be sorry about, Dylans. It's not your fault. You didn't do anything.❞ I crave academic validation. But so does he... It is clear Dakota Reid and Nyla Dylans were close. Outside of school grounds, they were what most would call close friends. Always fooling around and putting up with each other's remarks. All until Nyla moved away from Presley in the sixth grade. She finally got out of Dakota's hair and he could breath a sigh of relief. He didn't realize how fast almost seven years can truly go by until Nyla moves back to the city she was born and raised in. Dakota was always number one... but not for long. Nyla wants Valedictorian just as much as Dakota does. Now the two are tied. Test time is coming up? Good, now who will get the higher grade? Partner projects? No worries, they will never choose each other. They know working together is impossible. There are no words to describe them other than academic rivals. Being next-door neighbors only made their competition stronger. Will Dakota be able to follow in his father's footsteps fast enough or will Nyla beat him to the number one spot? The end of the first semester is approaching faster than one could speak. Which star student will be labeled Valedictorian? Only the two-digit number most would call GPA will let them find out. Oh rivalry. This should be fun. ✰dual point of view ✰can be read as a stand-alone #1 in rivals 11/12/2021

[BOOK 1] [NOT EDITED] ❝if you were to describe me in one word, what would it be?❞ she had the perfect life, with ideal parents, loving family however that came to an end when her mother was diagnosed with cancer. at the pure age of nine, she started dealing with abuse. her father became an alcoholic and drug addict. she was bullied in school by multiple people but she never talked back. you can say she was under this illusion that she deserved everything she was getting because of her father. until one day. he never had the perfect life. his father is a complete piece of shit that he had to tolerate till this day. he spoke back and wouldn't take his shit anymore. the only reason he was still talking to his father was because of his mother and little sister. many traumatic things happened to him, which was the start of his anger issues. he didn't know if he could be tamed. he speaks rudely to her and she doesn't respond. ❝mine.❞

❝ I have survived so many fires I can no longer tell if I am alive or if I'm still burning. ❞ - In which the six most powerful mafia families must live together for a year.

❝ You're playing a dangerous game without so much as a glimpse into the rule book. ❞ - Legacies born with tragedy in their blood.