Senorita felt a sudden shift beneath her feet.
For a heartbeat, gravity betrayed her-and in that moment, the universe decided to play a cruel, cinematic joke. Her balance wobbled, her hands reached out blindly, and she crashed forward-
Right into Sugar.
Their lips collided in a forceful, unexpected kiss that froze the very air around them.
For a single breathless moment, the world stood still. Time-traitorous and slow-allowed the sensation to imprint itself in searing clarity. The taste of mint on his lips. The heat of his breath. The pressure of his hands catching her waist.
And then-
The door creaked open.
"OH MY GOODNESS, WHAT AM I SEEING?" Jett shrieked with all the flair of a man watching the apocalypse unfold in real time.
Loord clutched his chest and staggered back as if wounded. "Please save your son, Sugar, from the enmity about to befall him! I, the Loord, be with him!" he declared, eyes lifted to the ceiling as if summoning divine protection.
Senorita jerked away from Sugar as though burned, wiping her lips with the back of her hand like she'd tasted poison. Her emerald eyes blazed with shock, fury, and humiliation.
"What the hell was that?!" she exploded, her voice sharp and venom-laced.
Sugar stood frozen, still registering the collision. He raised his hands defensively. "You tripped-I caught you. Technically, I saved your face from smashing the floor."
"Thank you, my foot!" she snapped, voice trembling with outrage. "You should've let me fall! Better that than losing my first kiss to a jerk like you!"
That hit him like a slap. His expression fell, but she didn't stop.
"I hate you," she hissed, tears brimming now, fury shaking her whole body. "Stay away from me, Sugar. That's not a request. It's a warning."
Sugar blinked, stunned silent as she turned and stormed to a corner, sinking into a chair like the wind had been knocked out of her.
Loord and Jett exchanged a glance.
"Bro, she's pissed," Jett whispered, wide-eyed.
"Nooo," Loord said, clapping Sugar's shoulder dramatically. "You think? He just destroyed her Disney fantasy of true love's first kiss. She might stab him."
"I didn't mean for it to happen," Sugar muttered, staring at his hands like they betrayed him. "What did I even do wrong?"
"Wrong place, wrong time," Jett shrugged.
"And wrong girl," Loord added with a wince.
---
Next Time:
Detention might be over... but the fallout from that kiss is just beginning.
---
The Next Day – The Cafeteria
Campus buzzed like a hive of scandal-hungry bees.
"Did you see the slap yesterday?" a sophomore gushed from across the lunch line.
"And the way she dragged the management?" someone else whispered. "I heard she flipped the principal's table!"
"She didn't even last five minutes before launching a verbal nuke," Lake said, scrolling her phone, amused. "They're calling it the 'Disrespect Revolution.'"
Swan snorted into her smoothie. "She's a firestorm with legs. I love it."
Senorita sat back in her usual cafeteria throne, sipping iced coffee with casual elegance, her presence radiating both danger and allure. Her head was held high, her emotions hidden behind a mask of indifference-but her heart? Her heart still ached with betrayal.
"If they're smart," she said coolly, "they'll stay the hell out of my way."
Lake shot her a look. "You do realize you're now on everyone's radar?"
"Good." Senorita's eyes glinted with something dark. "Let them watch. I'm not here to be their friend-I'm here to rewrite the rules."
Freshmen at nearby tables whispered nervously.
"Did you hear what she did to Mr. Finn?"
"She snapped on Mrs. Davis and slapped Sugar. Who is she?!"
"I think she's cursed," one murmured.
Senorita turned, her eyes locking on them with a slow, deliberate smirk. "You think I'm scary now?" she called out. "Try crossing me."
Silence. Awkward chewing. Avoided eye contact.
Power? Yeah. She was swimming in it.
Then-
"So, how's detention?" Swan asked casually, swirling her drink.
Senorita's jaw clenched. She lowered her cup.
"I lost my first kiss," she muttered, barely audible.
Lake gasped. "Wait. WHAT?!"
"Sugar happened. That's what."
"Oh my god, was it like-a real kiss-kiss?"
Senorita looked murderous. "It makes my skin crawl just remembering it."
"Well, damn," Swan said, eyes wide. "Wanna talk about it?"
"Nope. I'd rather glue his lips shut forever and dance on his heartbreak."
She stood, flipping her hair. "Come on. We've got a party to crash."
The girls gathered their bags, their heels clicking with purpose as they strutted out like queens going to war.
---
Later That Night – The Sleepover Party
Laughter. Music. The smell of beer and cologne. The throb of bass.
Sugar stood outside the house, detached from it all, cigarette in hand, jaw clenched like he was biting back the entire universe.
"Missed me?" Mandy purred as she walked toward him, hips swaying.
He flicked the cigarette. "Guess you made it."
She didn't wait. She kissed him. Fierce. Fast. Forgettable.
When they pulled apart, she grinned. "Still got it."
"Go back inside," he muttered.
"You not coming?"
"Later."
She shrugged and disappeared.
Moments later, Liliana appeared.
"You're always hiding out here," she said.
"Maybe I like quiet," Sugar replied, leaning back.
She stepped closer. "I was looking for you."
He barely had time to process before she leaned in and pressed a soft kiss to his lips.
He jerked back like he'd been slapped. "Don't ever do that again, Liliana."
She blinked. "Why? You kissed Mandy. I kissed you. Same difference."
"It's not. You're different."
"Oh, so I'm special now?" she laughed bitterly. "Cut the crap, Sugar. You know I like you. I'm done pretending."
Sugar inhaled sharply, fists clenched.
"Liliana," he said slowly, "I don't see you that way. I never have."
Her face fell. "Then why do you let me hang around? Why give me hope?"
"I thought you were my friend."
"Well, I'm not your damn sister!" she snapped, voice rising. "I love you, Sugar. Is that so hard to understand?"
Silence.
Then-
"I don't believe in love," Sugar said quietly. "It's a lie. A fairytale. A weakness."
Liliana's breath hitched. "So you're rejecting me?"
"I'm saving you."
She stumbled back, face crumpling. "Then stay the hell away from me."
He turned and walked away, leaving her in tears.
---
From the Shadows...
Senorita had seen it all.
Hidden behind the garden wall, she watched Sugar walk off, and Liliana collapse onto the grass, sobbing.
Senorita pulled out her phone. Recorded. Saved.
"Interesting," she murmured with a smirk.
---
Inside the Party
Senorita twirled a drink in her hand, the glow of mischief dancing in her eyes.
She showed the video to Lake and Swan, who gasped.
"Liliana was crying like that?" Lake whispered.
"She confessed to Sugar and got wrecked," Senorita replied. "Brutal."
"Does she really think Sugar's capable of love?" Swan asked, amused. "The guy has trust issues, a cold heart, and a kiss count higher than his GPA."
"He's chaos," Senorita said, taking a sip. "But so am I."
Then-
"Mind if I sit here?" a smooth voice asked.
All three girls turned.
Rowan.
Lake smirked. "I was hoping you dropped out."
Rowan grinned, unfazed. "You missed me, clearly."
Senorita's eyes narrowed. "This is Rowan," she said, addressing Swan. "Sugar's biggest competition."
"More like his nightmare," Rowan added, flashing a grin. "Unlike him, I know how to treat a girl."
"Be careful," Swan warned. "She bites."
"I like danger."
Senorita's smile sharpened.
Let the games begin.
Senorita leaned in, her voice low but dangerous. "You should know, the only reason I'm not throwing you out right now is because we're at someone's party. But let me make something clear-if you speak another word of nonsense, you won't like what happens next."
Rowan blinked but didn't back down. "But you should at least consider my-"
"Shut it!" Senorita snapped. "Shut your damn mouth up. Get out now. I'm trying to control my temper."