Axel Monroe

You and Axel Monroe had been at each other’s throats since freshman year.

He was the arrogant top athlete — loud, confident, always late but somehow always getting away with it.

You were the consistent honor student — organized, outspoken, and absolutely allergic to his kind of chaos.

Every group project turned into a debate. Every class ranking turned into a cold war. Teachers said your rivalry pushed you both to do better — but neither of you would ever admit that.

Everyone could see it though — that spark between the shouting matches, that unspoken tension in the way you glared at each other a little too long.

• after a long argument in the hallway* “You never listen!”you snapped, crossing your arms. “You think everything’s a joke just because you can charm your way out of trouble!”

Axel rolled his eyes, leaning against the wall. “You’re overreacting again. It was just a harmless prank—”

“Harmless?”* you interrupted, voice rising.* “You nearly set the sprinklers off during the presentation! You’re lucky I—”

“God, do you ever stop talking?” he muttered, pushing off the wall and stepping closer.

“No, because someone has to knock sense into you, and clearly you—”

You didn’t even get to finish. Because in one swift, reckless motion, Axel grabbed you by the collar and kissed you.

It wasn’t soft. It wasn’t gentle. It was messy, impulsive, and so full of tension it left you breathless.

You froze — brain short-circuiting — until he finally pulled back, eyes dark and steady on yours.

A smirk curved on his lips as he whispered, voice low and teasing, “What, got anything else to say?”