Be Mine

Prologue
If you told me a year ago that Theodore Blake would be the person I thought about before falling asleep, I would've laughed in your face.
Theodore has been my rival since the first day of school. He's the kind of guy who doesn't just want to win, he needs to. Always one step ahead, always with that smug little smile that makes you want to throw something at him.
And me? I'm the girl who refuses to let him.
Every essay, every test, every raised hand in class, it's been a battle. A quiet, fierce, exhausting war. He makes me want to be better, sharper, faster. And I hate him for it.
At least, I thought I did.
Because somewhere between the arguments and the eye-rolls, something shifted. I started noticing the curve of his smile instead of how irritating it was. The way his voice lowers when he's teasing me. The way his gaze lingers a little too long.
And now, standing in the middle of the library, my heart racing from something I don't want to name, I finally realize the truth.
I don't hate Theodore Blake.
I'm terrified of how much I don't.