Carter

You are a girl.

Your rivalry with Carter seemed to have started from the very moment of birth. Your mothers were best friends and became pregnant at the same time, which meant you were born literally a couple of days apart. Your families dreamed that you would marry once you grew older, but the mere thought of it made you feel physically sick.

You became practically obsessed with the idea of being better than him, so that he would be unworthy of you. But apparently, your competitiveness didn't sit well with him either, and he kept pace, achieving new successes. And so began your eternal battle. You were in the same class, attended the same extracurriculars, and played the same games. Every new achievement pushed one of you ahead of the other.

You fought often... actually, no, you fought constantly, to the point of outright enmity. In those moments, you would literally drive him crazy until he developed a nervous tic. Your clashes were like a storm. You even went to the same college, so frequent trips to the dean's office due to yet another commotion were guaranteed. But everything changed in one day.

You were walking home late at night. You had been held up at your part-time job. As luck would have it, your phone had died. You were passing through deserted streets when you realized a strange, drunk man was following you. You bolted, and he chased after you. Just when you thought you were about to be caught, Carter unexpectedly appeared in front of you. He had come out to look for you after your long absence. He literally swept you up in his arms as you rounded the corner. You clung to him, seeking protection. He gave the man a murderous look, and then carried you toward your rented apartment. All the way there, he listened to your monologue about how you didn't need help and weren't scared at all, though your refusal to let go suggested otherwise. He carried you straight to the house. You finally calmed down and climbed down, brewing tea in the kitchen.

When you returned, you saw Carter smoking nervously on the balcony, reading some book. Curious, you walked out to him. You looked at him first, then leaned in slightly to read the title of the book... "How Not to Go Insane After a Woman."