Monday Morning,
At Greenwood Academy,
In the Gym
The students from Nikki's grade had gym class, and all classes from Class A to Class D were expected to have a combined class.
The girls were seated at the sidelines on the bench, watching the boys on the court play basketball. Class A and Class D against Class B and Class C. Class A and D were currently winning with a ten-point lead.
Cheers rang out from the benches as the girls supported their respective classes.
All except one.
Nikki sat quietly, her attention fixed on the court—but not the game itself.
Or rather… someone on the court.
From the moment the game started, her eyes had followed only one person. She hadn't looked away once.
Alan Mendes.
Her gaze traced his every movement—the way he dribbled, the way he pivoted, the way his focus sharpened whenever the ball was in his hands.
After her conversation with Ryder, she'd made a decision: she was going to fall in love with Alan.
The only problem? She had no idea how.
She'd spent the entire weekend researching "how to fall in love" on the human internet, only to emerge more confused than ever. So she decided there was only one solution—ask Alan directly.
But how was she going to do that?
Knowing Alan, he was probably going to tease her and laugh at her until he was satisfied. Then he would use her desperation to take advantage of her, and she didn't want that.
Then she came up with an even more ridiculous idea.
Make a move on him in public–where he couldn't dare bully her.
Yes, that's what she was going to do.
She smirked as she rose to her feet. She pulled off the band tying her hair up and let her hair down. She ran her hand through her hair and walked down the stairs, heading to the court.
Amber, who was sitting beside Nikki, was shocked by Nikki's actions. Ever since Ryder brought her back home that day, she had been acting strange. She spent a whole day in her room going through the internet, which was so unusual of Nikki.
Even this morning she had been acting weird too. She was looking for someone and peeping through the windows. Even now, she was way too focused on the game in front of them. It felt like she was looking at a different person.
What was she up to?
The girls saw Nikki walking down toward the court and wondered what was going on.
"Why is she going down there?"
"Maybe the teacher gave her a task to do."
"Yeah, that's possible."
"Guys, look. Class B and Class C have closed the gap. They're just a point behind."
"Oh my god. How did they get back so quickly?"
The girls ignored Nikki and put their focus back on the match.
"That boy from Class B is the one," a girl replied, pointing at Alan.
"Oh my! It's that cute boy."
"I heard he's dating someone in Class A."
"Do you think his girlfriend will be upset with him for causing her class to lose?"
"Of course not. Any girl in her right mind will be happy her boyfriend won."
"Who's his girlfriend anyway?"
"It's Nikki," a girl chimed in.
"Nikki as in that beauty in Class A?"
"Yeah, isn't that her there?" The girl pointed at Nikki, who was already standing at the sidelines.
"Do you think she went to meet him?"
"Let's keep watching the game and see what happens next."
The gym was electric with the sound of squeaking sneakers and the roar of the crowd. Sweat glistened on the players' faces as the game clock ticked down. Class A and D were trailing by one point, and the tension was palpable.
Class A and D were on a counter, which Class B and C defended beautifully.
Suddenly, the ball was passed to Alan. He caught it with a sharp, determined look in his eyes. His teammates and the crowd held their breath, knowing that something special was about to happen.
Alan dribbled down the court with speed and finesse, leaving his opponents scrambling to keep up. His eyes scanned the court, calculating his next move. With a quick feint to the left, he drove past his defender, slicing through the defense like a hot knife through butter. He approached the basket and executed a flawless layup, the ball kissing the backboard before dropping through the net.
The crowd erupted, but Alan was far from done.
As he sprinted back on defense, he intercepted a sloppy pass from the opposing team, seizing the opportunity for a counterattack. He dribbled back up the court, his movements a blur of precision and agility. One of the opposing players, a tall and imposing figure, stepped up to challenge him.
Alan's eyes narrowed.
He executed a series of lightning-fast crossovers, his feet a blur. The defender's balance wavered, and with a final, devastating crossover, Alan sent him stumbling to the floor. The crowd gasped, then roared in approval. It was an ankle breaker of epic proportions.
With his defender down, Alan didn't hesitate. He stepped back to the three-point line, his movements smooth and confident. As he rose for the shot, time seemed to slow. The ball left his fingertips with a perfect arc, spinning gracefully through the air.
He held his follow-through, his form immaculate and his expression cool and composed.
Swish.
The ball swished through the net with a satisfying snap, and the gym exploded in cheers.
The scoreboard reflected the change. The momentum had shifted.
The buzzer rang to signify the end of the quarter.
The game was over.
His teammates rushed him, celebrating their win.
That was when Nikki stepped onto the court.
She walked toward Alan, inhaling deeply as she gathered her courage.
"Alan!" she called.
He turned toward the sound of her voice.
"Nikki?"
She grabbed him by the collar and shoved him backward until his back hit the net stand.
Gasps filled the gym.
Some girls cheered.
The boys stared, stunned.
"Nikki," Alan said, confused and startled.
Her heart raced violently. Her hands trembled, but she clenched them into fists to steady herself.
Now.
She traced her fingers over his lips.
"What would kissing you feel like? What would your lips taste like?"
Her expression was innocent—curious.
"Nikki?"
"Well screw it. I'll just find out for myself."
She leaned in and pressed her lips against his.
Warmth. Softness. Her heartbeat thundered in her ears.
The gym exploded.
Alan froze for a split second, shock flashing across his face. Then something shifted.
He kissed her back—briefly.
Then he pulled away.
"What are you doing, Nikki? Everyone is looking at us."
She frowned. "Why did you stop kissing me? I was just getting started."
His lips curled into a smirk. "You're a bad kisser."
"You're a bully."
"What do you want from me, Nikki?"
She looked up into his eyes. "I want to love you, Alan. Make me fall in love with you. I want you to be my addiction. I want to be addicted to you. Will you grant my selfish request?"
He froze, completely trapped by her gaze.
"Do you have a fever?" he asked, placing the back of his hand on her forehead.
"No, I'm perfectly fine," she smiled. "Now answer my question. Will you be my addiction? I promise to put you first before my precious desserts."
She patted her chest confidently and wrapped her arms around his neck.
"I'm really flattered, Nikki," he smiled, "but I'll have to break your heart. I'm not into underage girls."
Her jaw dropped. "Underage?!" She hit his chest with a small fist. "I'm not a kid—I'm a beautiful young lady!"
He chuckled. "If people see us together, they'll think you're my younger sister. If I tell them you're my girlfriend, they'll assume I have a special taste."
"It's not my fault that I'm short or that I have a cute, childish face. I know I'm very cute, but I promise I have a mature, seductive look too. I promise to always look mature and cute when we go on dates. I'll also grow taller if that's what you want. I'm willing to learn how to be a good kisser too. You won't regret being loved by me. I'm smart, pretty, and rich. I'm the ultimate catch. All the boys will be jealous of you. It's an amazing offer you're about to give up."
She pouted her lips in annoyance, cheeks puffed slightly as she looked away. Am I not charming enough?
Alan smiled at the girl in front of him. He looked calm and composed on the outside, but the truth was, he was laughing so hard inside he almost lost control. This girl was really something else. She was selling herself while, at the same time, acting like she was doing him a favour by offering to be with him.
He glanced around the gym and noticed all eyes were on them. But one pair of eyes stood out sharply from the rest. They carried the unmistakable aura of death—like their owner was seconds away from killing him. He followed the gaze and found it belonged to Amber.
Obviously, she's the only one who would want to kill me.
Amber's cold expression screamed, Start calling your loved ones and say your last words.
Alan stared at her for a moment longer before returning his gaze to Nikki. No matter what he said, Amber wouldn't believe him anyway.
He was pulled back from his thoughts by fists hitting his chest. Nikki was attacking him, her movements clumsy and irritated. She looked like a wild, aggressive kitten throwing a tantrum after being bullied.
"Jerk! I'm offering myself to you and you still don't want me. Don't tell me you're upset because I didn't say anything about letting you have sex with me. You're such a pervert!" Nikki raised her voice.
The gym erupted in gasps as everyone turned to look at Alan.
Alan felt Amber's stare grow even colder. Stupid girl—why did you have to say that out loud? How am I supposed to explain this? Judging eyes bore into him from every direction, waiting for an answer.
He exhaled slowly, then suddenly scooped Nikki up in a bridal carry. One arm slid under her legs, which dangled helplessly in the air, while the other supported her back. She instinctively snuggled closer to his chest, burying her face there, her arms tightly wrapped around his neck.
I am going to make you pay me back for this.
Nikki smiled against his chest, as if she had read his thoughts.
"Miss Ava, I sincerely apologize for Nikki's inappropriate behaviour. She came down with a cold last night. The medicine she took made her a bit drowsy, so she's really not thinking straight right now. I'll have to take her to the infirmary. Her fever has gotten worse. Once again, I apologize," he said, bowing politely.
"It's okay, Alan. Please make sure she gets there safely. You both don't need to come back to class," Miss Ava replied.
"Thank you, Miss Ava," he smiled as he walked toward the door. As he passed her, he muttered quietly, "Tell my mom about this and I'll kill you."
After saying that, he walked out of the gym.
Miss Ava felt a chill crawl down her spine, her heart nearly stopping. Gosh… he's already so scary at such a young age.
"Does that mean they're dating?"
"Of course not. He said she was saying rubbish she didn't actually mean."
"If they aren't together, how did he know she caught a cold last night?"
"That's true. That means they are together."
"That's enough! Let's continue with the
activities. Girls, it's your turn," Miss Ava said quickly, shutting down any further gossip.