There were exactly two people in the entire school fighting for the number one spot.
Me.
And Ethan Blake.
Unfortunately for me… Ethan Blake was the most annoying person I had ever met.
I stared at the results board posted outside the classroom, my eyes scanning the list of names.
Second place.
Again.
My fingers clenched into fists.
Right above my name was the one name I absolutely hated seeing.
1. Ethan Blake
Of course it was him.
"Still second place, Carter?"
I didn't even need to turn around to recognize that voice. It was smooth, confident… and extremely irritating.
I slowly turned around.
Ethan Blake stood there with that stupid smirk on his face, leaning casually against the wall like he owned the entire school.
His dark hair fell slightly over his eyes, and several girls nearby were whispering while pretending not to stare at him.
Typical.
Top student. Star athlete. Everyone's favorite.
I crossed my arms.
"Don't get used to it," I said. "Next exam, I'm beating you."
Ethan chuckled softly.
"You've been saying that for three years."
I glared at him.
Three years of rivalry.
Three years of competing in every test, every competition, every academic ranking.
And somehow…
He always won.
"You're arrogant," I said.
"And you're predictable," he replied calmly.
My eye twitched.
How was he always so calm?
"You know what?" I snapped. "One day I'm going to beat you, and when I do, I'm never letting you forget it."
Ethan leaned closer, his expression amused.
"I'm looking forward to that day."
Before I could respond, a group of students suddenly ran down the hallway.
"Did you hear?!"
"It's all over the school group chat!"
Someone shoved their phone toward us.
My stomach dropped when I saw the screen.
There was a picture.
A picture of me and Ethan standing together yesterday after class.
But the caption underneath it made my brain freeze.
"Top students Ethan Blake and Lena Carter are secretly dating!"
My face turned bright red.
"What?!"
Students around us started whispering immediately.
"Wait… are they actually together?"
"That makes sense though."
"They argue like a married couple."
I whipped my head toward Ethan.
"This is your fault!"
"How exactly is this my fault?" he said, raising an eyebrow.
"Because you're always around me!"
He sighed.
"Carter… we're rivals. Of course we're around each other."
More students were gathering.
Phones were out.
Whispers were spreading.
I could feel my reputation collapsing.
"This rumor needs to stop," I muttered.
Ethan looked at the phone again, then at the growing crowd.
Then, suddenly…
He smiled.
Not his usual teasing smile.
Something more dangerous.
"Well," he said casually, "there might be an easy way to deal with it."
I narrowed my eyes.
"What are you talking about?"
Ethan stepped closer.
Close enough that I could hear several girls gasp behind us.
Then he said something that completely broke my brain.
"Let's just pretend it's true."
I blinked.
"…What?"
He slipped his hands into his pockets like this was the most normal idea in the world.
"Let's pretend we're dating."
I stared at him like he had lost his mind.
"You must be insane."
Ethan shrugged.
"It'll make the rumors die faster."
I folded my arms.
"And why would I ever agree to that?"
He leaned closer again, lowering his voice.
"Because the national academic competition is next month."
My heart skipped.
He continued calmly.
"And if the top two students from our school work together…"
His eyes met mine.
"…we might actually win."
For the first time in three years, I hesitated.
But there was still one huge problem.
I looked at him.
The boy I hated the most.
"You expect me to pretend to be your girlfriend?"
Ethan smirked.
"Only if you're brave enough, Carter."
I should have walked away.
I really should have.
But instead…
I said the one thing that would start the biggest mistake of my life.
"…Fine."