The next morning at St. Agatha's was quieter than usual, or maybe my ears were just sharper, tuned to the undercurrents swirling beneath the surface. The usual chatter and footsteps seemed to hold secrets, whispers that promised trouble or maybe something worse—change.
I grabbed my usual spot by the lockers, scanning faces like I always did, looking for signs, allies, enemies. Bianca was there, of course, surrounded by her usual entourage, but her eyes weren't on me. No, they were locked on someone else — a new girl I hadn't seen before.
She wasn't one of those typical new students who tried too hard or slithered through the crowd unnoticed. This girl had an edge — cold, calculating, like she wasn't here to make friends but to take what she wanted. And everyone seemed to give her space, like she was the kind of trouble you didn't mess with.
I frowned. Something about her reminded me of Jace — that quiet intensity, that feeling like she'd been through hell and came out sharper for it.
Bianca, however, looked wary. More wary than I'd ever seen her.
That was the first clue.
I heard whispers: "Zara Bellamy." The new chaos rival.
I smirked. A new player in the game? This was going to get interesting.
---
By lunchtime, the rumor mill was in full spin. Zara Bellamy had arrived mid-semester, transferred from some elite academy for "difficult students." Some said she was expelled for "inciting rebellion," others whispered about a scandal too juicy for St. Agatha's to ignore.
I needed to know more.
When the hall emptied a bit, I caught Zara by the lockers. Our eyes locked — sharp, measuring, two predators in the same cage.
"You're the new chaos everyone's whispering about," I said, stepping closer.
Her lips curled into a half-smile. "I'm what Bianca fears most."
That was all I needed to know.
---
Over the next few days, Zara's presence shook the school's foundation. She didn't waste time with petty pranks or shy bullying. No, her style was different — more ruthless, more strategic. She'd already taken down two of Bianca's top lieutenants with a single whispered secret and a cleverly rigged social media blast.
And yet... she was also oddly familiar with the chaos I loved. Our methods were different, but our goals? They weren't so far apart.
One afternoon, after school, I found Zara waiting outside the gates. The sun was dipping low, casting long shadows across the cracked pavement.
"So," she said, eyes glittering, "you and Jace are closer than I thought."
I stiffened. How did she know?
"Word travels fast in a place like this."
I folded my arms. "What do you want?"
"To help you. Bianca's grip is tightening, and you're about to get squeezed."
I stared. Could I trust her? Could I risk letting this wild card into my game?
She took a step forward. "We both want her gone. Together, we're unstoppable."
I looked into those icy eyes and saw something raw, a fire that mirrored my own. Maybe this was the alliance I needed.
"Alright," I said slowly, "but one wrong move, and I'll make sure you regret it."
Zara smiled — genuine this time. "Deal."
---
The new alliance was electric. Zara was a storm I hadn't seen coming — brilliant, unpredictable, and merciless.
We spent hours plotting, dissecting Bianca's routines, weaknesses, and insecurities. With Zara's insider knowledge and my knack for chaos, we were a force to be reckoned with.
But the real game-changer? Zara revealed that Bianca had a soft spot for Jace — something I'd sensed but never confirmed.
"Bianca's been playing the long game," Zara explained one evening as we spread out plans over my cluttered desk. "She likes Jace. Uses him to bait you."
I clenched my fists. The thought of Bianca manipulating Jace to hurt me stoked a fire deep inside.
"We'll turn her game against her," Zara said, eyes flashing.
And that's exactly what we did.
---
Over the next week, Bianca's empire began to crumble. Zara and I hit her where it hurt — her reputation. Rumors we spread about her betrayals, her insecurities, and the cracks in her perfect façade spread like wildfire.
One day, Bianca confronted me in the cafeteria, eyes blazing.
"You think you and your new friend can take me down?"
I shrugged, smirking. "We're just getting started."
She lunged forward, but before she could say another word, Zara stepped between us — a silent warning that Bianca had lost her edge.
From that moment, things changed. Bianca wasn't the queen bee anymore. She was scrambling.
And Jace? He was watching. His eyes flickered between us, torn but intrigued.
---
Late that night, I lay in bed, mind racing. Zara's alliance was a game-changer — but it was also a gamble. Trusting someone like her was like walking a tightrope over a pit of fire.
But one thing was clear: Bianca wouldn't win. Not while we still had fight left in us.
And with Jace back by my side, and Zara's wild card in the mix, this school was about to get a whole lot more interesting.