Ace's High

On paper, Kathy Brooks and Calvin Hermburger are a study in contrasts. She is the campus darling walking on sunshine and charm; he is the prickly, screen-addicted introvert lurking in the back row. But inside the lecture hall, they are two apex predators locked in a relentless war for the top spot.

For Calvin, losing the number-one ranking to Kathy, someone he dismisses as "distracted by popularity," is an unbearable ego blow. For Kathy, Calvin's condescending remarks and relentless academic pressure are a constant challenge she refuses to back down from, especially given how much is riding on her GPA.

Their rivalry is a delicious psychological chess match: late nights in the library, passive-aggressive score comparisons, and an undeniable undercurrent of tension. They may drive each other crazy, but neither would ever admit that the other is the only reason school is actually interesting.