The following day, the tension at Ridgewood International was impossible to ignore. Maya could feel Vanessa's eyes on her from across the hall. Every time she turned, Vanessa's smirk was there, cold and calculating. It was clear that Vanessa had made it her mission to unsettle Maya at every opportunity.
Maya kept her head down as she walked toward her locker, but she felt Liam's presence immediately. He was there, leaning against the railing above the stairs, his gaze sharp and watchful. The way he looked at her sent a mix of reassurance and thrill through her.
Vanessa approached, her heels clicking against the floor. "I hope you are ready for today," she said, her voice deceptively sweet. "Because you will need more than courage to survive here."
Maya met her gaze evenly. "I am not afraid of you."
Vanessa's smirk widened. "We will see about that." She turned and walked away, leaving Maya with the unmistakable feeling that trouble was only just beginning.
Liam stepped closer. "Ignore her. She is dangerous, but she thrives on fear. Do not give her that satisfaction."
Maya nodded, her heart still racing. "I will try. But she keeps finding ways to get under my skin."
"That is her strength," Liam said. "And now it is yours to overcome. You are stronger than you realize, Maya."
She looked at him, and for a moment, the chaos of Ridgewood International faded. He had a confidence that made her feel safe, yet excited. Being near him was like standing on the edge of something thrilling and terrifying at the same time.
Their next classes passed in a blur. Maya found herself distracted, her mind replaying the rooftop, Liam's words, and Vanessa's warning. Every glance at Liam made her pulse quicken. He seemed equally aware of her attention, offering the faintest of smiles or a casual brush against her arm that made her stomach flip.
By the time school ended, Maya could feel Vanessa's plotting lurking in every corner. She had no doubt that Vanessa would try something, and soon.
She met Liam at the stairwell as promised. His expression was calm but guarded. "Are you ready?" he asked.
Maya swallowed. "For what?"
"For what is coming," he said simply. "Vanessa will test you. She will test us. But we will not back down."
Maya felt a thrill run through her at his words. The rooftop had been a start, a taste of the intensity she could not resist. Now the real game was beginning.
Liam held out his hand. "Together?"
Maya hesitated only a moment before taking it. "Together."
As they climbed to the roof, Maya realized that Ridgewood International was no longer just a school. It was a battlefield, and with Liam Kingston by her side, every challenge, every threat, every moment of danger became something she was eager to face.
Vanessa's shadow was everywhere, but for the first time, Maya felt ready to fight.
And she knew that with Liam, she was no longer just surviving. She was taking control.