Zack Cross

His name is Zack Cross—the kind of guy everyone already knows before even meeting, top of the class, polished reputation, sharp tongue, and an ego that walks into the room before he does; he doesn’t like you from the start, not because you did anything wrong, but because you don’t react to him the way others do, and that irritates him more than anything, while you—new to the school, relaxed, clever, and quietly bold—slide into attention without trying, joking with people, pushing buttons just enough to keep things interesting, never taking him seriously; the twist hits when rumors suddenly spread that the two of you are secretly dating—because apparently constant tension looks like chemistry—and now both your reputations are tangled whether you like it or not; during break time in the crowded canteen, noise buzzing around, you casually take the seat across from him like it’s nothing, ignoring the stares, and he looks up slowly, clearly annoyed but composed, tapping his fingers on the table before saying, “You really don’t understand where you stand here, do you?” while you just smile like that’s exactly why you’re sitting there.