Samira's POV

Mondays were always the worst, but today felt personal.

I pushed through the sliding doors of Saint Trenton High, my backpack snug against my shoulder, and immediately saw him.

Why is he everywhere lately?

Of course he had to be leaning casually against his locker, talking to Frederick, Denver, and Chris as if they owned the hallways. His raven hair fell perfectly over his forehead, and he was smirking at something Chris said. He looked effortless, untouchable, and infuriating.

I groaned under my breath and adjusted my bag strap. Two weeks until my birthday. Two weeks to make my plan real. And yet I was stuck in the same hall with the one person who made me want to tear my hair out.

"Morning, Sam!" Novia's voice cut through my internal panic.

I forced a smile. "Morning."

Amanda tugged at my sleeve, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Did you see him yet?"

"Yes. I saw him. And yes, I still hate him." I muttered.

Novia smirked. "Hate is a strong word for someone you cannot stop noticing."

I rolled my eyes and stepped aside to avoid a rushing freshman. Observing Calvin Simms from a safe distance was purely scientific. At least, that was the lie I was telling myself. Actually, I was perfectly fine before they suggested him as the perfect candidate.

Still, I could not help it. There was something about the way he carried himself, calm and confident with a quiet danger hidden in his relaxed posture, that made him impossible to ignore. He made it far too easy to notice him.

I shoved the thought away and made my way to Advanced English. Mrs. Huntington was calling roll, and the room buzzed with whispers about last weekend's football game and fresh gossip about Ashley Johnson's latest scheme.

Ashley. Perfectly curled hair, a designer bag swinging from her shoulder, and a smile sharp enough to cut glass. She spotted me, and her expression shifted instantly. Her hatred mirrored mine perfectly.

I ignored her and sank into my seat, hoping to blend into the background. She continued whispering to her friends, tapping her manicured nails and plotting. I looked out the window, letting the slow drift of the clouds draw my attention.

My heart skipped a beat. Calvin had walked in with his friends. He scanned the room, and then his gaze landed on me.

Great. Fantastic.

I shoved a pencil into my bag and tried to focus on Mrs. Huntington's lecture about symbolism in Romeo and Juliet. Classic tragic lovers doomed by hate and circumstance. How original.

"Samira." Mrs. Huntington called.

"Yes, ma'am?"

"Read the passage aloud."

I cleared my throat and walked to the front of the room. Calvin's gaze followed me, unwavering and heavy. I refused to meet his eyes. From their desks, Novia and Amanda gave me subtle gestures, reminding me to stay calm and follow the plan.

I read the passage steadily, even as my mind screamed to glare at him, storm off, or throw the book across the room.

"Very good. Sit down."

I returned to my seat, my cheeks warm. Calvin's eyes lingered a moment longer than necessary. Then he looked away as if nothing had happened at all.

The day dragged. Math, history, and chemistry each passed with stolen glances and whispered comments. Denver passed by, grinning. Chris waved at Novia. Frederick laughed at Calvin's joke. I sat in the corner of the cafeteria, burrito in hand, plotting my escape before Ashley could try to corner me again.

By third period, the halls were alive with chaos. Lockers slammed, friends yelled across the corridors, and Calvin's crew strolled past like they owned every tile on the floor.

I tried to walk straight toward my locker when Ashley Johnson blocked my path, arms crossed over her chest.

"Look who it is." she purred.

I raised an eyebrow, matching her tone. "Ashley. Always a pleasure."

She smirked. "I hope you survive senior year without collapsing under the pressure. You do know about the senior party, right?"

I ignored her jab and fumbled with my locker combination. "Not interested."

She leaned closer, lowering her voice. "Everyone is curious, especially Calvin Simms."

I could tell she was fishing for a reaction.

"What should I do with that information?" I asked, leaning forward slightly.

"Oh, you know." she said, stepping back with a fake smirk. "We all know you only pretend to hate him." Her minions laughed right on cue. "He will always choose me."

I slammed my locker shut. "Cute. You really need a hobby, Ashley."

Before she could respond, Calvin and his friends appeared at the other end of the hall. I froze.

"Hey, ladies." Denver said, nudging Frederick. Chris smirked at Novia and Amanda as they walked over to stand with me.

Calvin stopped, his gaze locking on me as if he could read every one of my thoughts. I looked down, pretending to tie my shoe, though no one was fooled. By the time I looked up, the crew had disappeared.

Ashley raised an eyebrow, clearly upset that his attention had not been on her, and walked off down the hall.

Novia nudged me. "Smooth, Sam. He definitely saw you."

"I did not. He did not. Novia, stop!" I hissed, shoving her lightly.

Amanda giggled. "Sure, Sam. Keep telling yourself that."

"He seemed distracted in English." Novia jeered.

My stomach twisted. "Distracted? By what?"

I wondered if they had noticed the same tension I felt. The hallway erupted again, and I hurried to class, hoping the next period would feel normal. It never did.

Lunch ended, and I found myself in English again, this time partnered with Calvin for a project. Fantastic. My plan to avoid him had failed miserably.

He leaned back in his chair, arms crossed and eyes sharp. "Don't waste my time, Sam."

I rolled my eyes. "Please. You look like you are waiting for me to mess up."

He smirked, that infuriating, arrogant smirk. I fought the urge to punch him and grabbed my notebook instead. The assignment was to analyze the themes in Romeo and Juliet.

"What is your take?" he asked, leaning closer than necessary.

"Sometimes people hate each other so much they cannot see what is right in front of them." I cleared my throat, trying to sound professional.

His smirk faltered briefly. "Cute. Very literary."

"Shut up." I muttered.

We spent the next thirty minutes silently competing. Every glance, sigh, and correction became a small battle. Every movement twisted my stomach in ways I refused to admit. By the time class ended, I was mentally drained and emotionally furious.

"Good luck surviving the rest of the day." Novia whispered as we exited the room.

"I will survive." I muttered, ignoring the flutter in my chest when Calvin's gaze lingered a fraction too long as I walked away.

Then came the announcement I had hoped to avoid.

"Attention, students." the PA crackled. "The senior party will be hosted at the Simms residence this Friday. Invitations are going out today."

My stomach dropped. Calvin's house. My enemy's territory.

Ashley definitely didn't know the venue yet, or she would have rubbed it in my face.

Novia elbowed me. "Looks like our plan just got a lot more interesting."

I clenched my fists. "Great. Just what I needed. Him, his friends, and a party where everyone will stare at me like I am supposed to swoon."

Amanda sighed. "Sam... two weeks until your birthday. You are working on our plan, right?"

I exhaled slowly. Two weeks to stick to my rules, stay detached, and avoid falling apart in front of him. And yet I had a sinking feeling that by Friday, nothing would be the same. Calvin Simms had a way of showing up everywhere I did not want him to be.

Samira's POV

The second day back after the weekend always felt like walking into a war zone created by Monday.

Saint Trenton High smelled like cafeteria pizza and industrial hand sanitizer. The halls were a chaotic symphony of loud laughter, shouting, and the occasional slamming locker. I tried to walk calmly, keeping my backpack pulled tight against my shoulder, but of course he was there. He was standing by the lockers with his friends, arms crossed over his chest, smirking at something Chris said.

I groaned silently. Two weeks remained until my birthday. And yet, I could neither avoid him nor approach him with any sense of dignity. This was proving to be harder than I imagined.

Novia and Amanda appeared at my side like guardian angels or mischief incarnate.

"Good morning, Sam." Amanda said, nudging me with her elbow. "Ready for another thrilling day of high school survival?"

I rolled my eyes. "Thrilling? I would settle for uneventful."

Novia smirked, her eyes scanning the crowd. "Uneventful is boring, and boring does not get you ready for college or for him."

I groaned again, feeling my stomach twist into a complicated knot. "You two are truly insane."

First period was math, thankfully. It was a subject where I usually found some logic, but even there, I could not hide in the corner like I wanted. Calvin walked in five minutes late, his backpack slung carelessly over one shoulder, moving as if he owned the very air in the room. He caught my eye just briefly and then let that smirk play on his lips.

I quickly looked down at my notebook, pretending to be deeply focused on the equations Mrs. Talbot was scrawling on the board. My pen tapped a nervous, rapid rhythm against the paper. I could feel him watching me. I knew it. My heartbeat picked up speed, though I told myself it was just my imagination fueled by my friends' nonsense.

Passing periods were significantly worse. I tried to make it to my locker without running into the crew, but as I turned the corner, there he was again. He was leaning against a locker, one foot propped up casually against the metal.

"Fancy seeing you here." he said, the smirk dancing on his lips.

I rolled my eyes, refusing to be charmed by his proximity. "I am everywhere, apparently, just like you."

His smirk widened, reaching his eyes. "Touché."

I tried to keep walking, but he stepped slightly into my path. "Where are you rushing off to, Sam?"

"To avoid talking to you." I muttered.

He chuckled softly, a low sound that made an annoying heat rise to my cheeks. "Harsh. And here I thought we had a solid foundation of mutual disdain."

I scoffed. "We do. It is very mutual."

He leaned slightly closer, just enough for me to feel the sudden weight of his presence. "Then why do you seem so annoyed at me all the time?"

I narrowed my eyes at him. "Because you are infuriating."

"That is fair." he said lightly, finally stepping aside so I could pass.

I moved past him with my head held high, fighting the desperate urge to glance back over my shoulder. My stomach fluttered in a way that was definitely not annoyance.

By the time lunch rolled around, I was emotionally exhausted just from navigating the hallways. Amanda and Novia were waiting at our usual table, already deep in a discussion about some new gossip involving Ashley Johnson.

"You are late." Novia said, grabbing my arm to pull me into the seat. "Did Calvin harass you in the hall?"

I groaned, dropping my head toward the table. "Yes. He is everywhere."

Amanda smirked. "And you liked it."

I nearly choked on my soda. "I did not!"

"You did." Novia insisted, waving a salty fry for emphasis. "Do not lie to us. That little smirk you get? You know the one I mean. Your cheeks literally turn red."

I groaned again and buried my face in my hands. "You two are hopeless."

Novia leaned back, clearly enjoying my distress. "We are just trying to help you use your natural strengths."

"Strengths?" I asked warily.

Amanda tilted her head, looking thoughtful. "Your wit, your allure, and your ability to make him frustrated while you look perfectly composed."

I blinked, confused. "I am not trying to do that."

"Sure." Novia said. "Keep telling yourself that. But we all know you are going to enjoy the process."

I groaned again, feeling both irritated and something else I was not yet ready to put a name to.

Third period was English again. I had hoped that by partnering with someone else for the next stage of the project, I could avoid the storm that was Calvin Simms. Of course, my hopes were dashed before the bell even stopped ringing.

"Sam." Mrs. Huntington said, checking her clipboard. "You are with Calvin Simms."

My stomach sank. The boy I hated and had a complicated, confusing history with was now my forced collaborator once again. He leaned back in his chair, that smirk still firmly in place.

"Don't waste my time, Sam." he said.

I raised an eyebrow, finding my voice. "Excuse me? I was about to say the exact same thing to you."

He chuckled, and I wanted to throttle him. He was calm, composed, smirking, and infuriating. The perfect trifecta of annoyance. We got to work on our analysis, but our hands occasionally brushed over the notebook, causing me to tense with every accidental touch.

"You know..." he said softly, "You could actually be less hostile if you really wanted to."

I snorted. "I could say the same thing about you."

He leaned just slightly closer, enough that I could catch the faint, clean scent of his cologne. My pulse jumped, and I quickly looked away to the text. "Stop leaning." I muttered.

"Stop glaring." he countered, his voice low and teasing.

We spent the next forty minutes in a subtle war of words and glances. Every correction he made and every smirk he shot my way made my pulse race. I did not want to feel this way, and yet, I did.

After class, we headed back toward the cafeteria. I was halfway through my sandwich when I noticed Calvin talking to a girl from another grade. He was laughing, leaning in toward her casually.

Jealousy hit me like a physical blow before I could stop it. My friends noticed the shift in my mood immediately.

"Uh-oh!" Novia whispered, elbowing me sharply. "Look at you. Jealous already."

"I am not." I said, shoving another fry into my mouth to keep from speaking.

Amanda smirked. "Sure you are not."

I glared at them but could not tear my eyes away from him. He was laughing, so casual, and yet I found myself wanting him to notice me instead. Not that I would ever admit that out loud.

Ashley Johnson appeared behind him a moment later, whispering something into his ear with a triumphant look. My stomach twisted. I was not even sure what I was feeling-anger, jealousy, or something hotter-but I clenched my fists under the table until my knuckles turned white.

Novia leaned in. "See? We told you. He notices you, and now he is officially intrigued by the competition."

I groaned into my napkin. "I do not care."

Amanda snorted. "Sure. Keep telling yourself that, Sam."

By the end of the day, I was exhausted. It wasn't from homework or upcoming exams, but from surviving Calvin and my own body's betrayals. Walking out of the school, I exhaled a long breath and tried to collect my scattered thoughts.

Two weeks until my birthday. Two weeks until my carefully crafted plan could finally be put into motion. Even now, thinking about the upcoming party, the teasing, the hallway collisions, and his constant smirk, I knew something was going to go very wrong or very right.

And somehow, I was not entirely sure which one I wanted more.

Samira's POV

Another boring day dragged by.

I swallowed hard and tightened my grip on my bag strap, wishing the hours would move faster. I hoped I would not have to deal with any more group projects. I had been paired with him constantly lately, as if the universe was playing a cruel trick on me.

I suppose this was technically a step closer to executing my plans, and yet every time he appeared, that resolve seemed to weaken.

"Sam." Novia hissed from behind me, tugging my arm away from the wall. "Focus. You are staring at him again."

"I am not." I started to argue, but Amanda elbowed me before I could finish.

"You are." Amanda said with a knowing look. "Your jaw is locked. That counts as staring."

I exhaled sharply, trying to compose my features. "I am evaluating the competition. That is different."

Novia snorted. "Call it whatever you want."

English class was waiting for us, and I knew trouble was waiting inside. Mrs. Huntington announced a new group project that required paired oral presentations. I silently hoped for someone quiet and uncomplicated, a partner who would let me do the work in peace.

That hope lasted all of ten seconds.

"You will be working with Calvin Simms." she said while scanning her list.

My stomach dropped into my shoes. Calvin glanced over at me with an expression that mixed genuine amusement with a silent challenge.

"Why is she getting paired with Cal for every class?" Ashley whined from the front row. She stared daggers at me the next second, her face twisted in a pout. Calvin barely gave her any attention at all.

Mrs. Huntington ignored the noise and continued with her instructions.

"Perfect!" I muttered under my breath, the sarcasm dripping from the word.

He leaned back in his chair as if we had already agreed to some secret pact. "Looks like we are stuck together again, Sam. Try not to panic."

"I do not panic." I replied coolly, meeting his gaze. "You might want to focus more on the material and less on entertaining yourself."

A low laugh left him, a sound that was controlled and effortless. "I can multitask."

Our first planning session began awkwardly. Amanda and Novia had already coached me on how to handle these moments. Stay composed. Tease him lightly. Never show a hint of nerves.

I opened my notebook to a fresh page. "Let us focus on the themes and structure first."

Calvin leaned forward slightly, moving close enough for our arms to brush. I felt the contact instantly, a jolt of electricity that I pretended not to notice.

"Relax." he said smoothly, his voice dropping an octave. "We are not defusing a bomb."

"I am relaxed." I replied, though my pulse had started to misbehave.

After class ended, I tried taking the longer hallway toward the science wing, hoping to avoid a second encounter. It did not work.

"Sam." he called out, stepping into my path with calm confidence. "Avoiding me already?"

"I have places to be." I said evenly, not slowing my pace.

He shifted his weight just enough to block my route without actually touching me. "You always seem in a hurry when I am around."

Lies. We always ignore each other. I did not know why he was suddenly in my air these days.

"That is because you are in the way."

His lips curved slightly into a shadow of a smile. "You are bold. I respect that."

I stepped around him before he could respond. Our shoulders brushed in the process, and the contact sent an unexpected ripple through me.

"Careful." he said quietly behind me. "You almost lost your balance."

"I am fine." I answered without turning around to look at him. "Stop pretending you care."

He did not reply, but I felt the weight of his gaze on my back until I disappeared into the next corridor.

Lunch offered no relief from the tension. Amanda and Novia had chosen a table with a clear view of the cafeteria floor. I tried to act indifferent while unwrapping my sandwich, but my attention kept drifting toward Calvin. He was laughing with Denver and Frederick, looking completely at ease. At one point, he leaned toward a girl from the debate team and said something that made her blush a deep crimson.

An unfamiliar sting of jealousy tightened in my chest.

Novia caught the change in my expression immediately. "Interesting reaction."

"I am reacting to nothing." I said, taking a deliberate, large bite of my sandwich.

Amanda gave me a look that said she did not believe a single word. "Sure."

As if sensing my eyes on him, Calvin glanced across the cafeteria. His eyes landed directly on mine. I looked down at my tray as if the plastic had suddenly become the most fascinating thing in the world.

"He saw that." Novia whispered.

"I was not staring." I replied, though my ears felt warm.

After lunch, we had a free period. I escaped to the quiet of the library, hoping Calvin would not show up and the silence would finally calm my thoughts.

Calvin was already there.

He sat at a table near the back, his headphones resting around his neck, flipping through a heavy textbook. When I entered, he looked up immediately. There was no smirk this time, only a quiet, intense awareness.

I moved toward the shelves, pretending I had not noticed his presence.

"Miss James." His voice called out, cutting through the silence.

Of course.

I walked over with steady steps and sat down across from him. He studied me for a long moment before speaking.

"Ready to make some progress?"

"As ready as I will ever be."

We spread our materials across the table. Our hands brushed more than once while we both reached for the same pages. Each point of contact felt amplified in the quiet, hushed space.

"You are tense." he observed calmly.

"I am focused."

"There is a difference."

I lifted my eyes to meet his. "Do not analyze me."

He held my gaze a second longer than necessary, then returned his attention to the text. "Then stop giving me so much material."

We worked for nearly an hour. The rhythm between us shifted into something competitive yet strangely synchronized. I corrected his interpretations when I disagreed, and he challenged mine with measured, smart arguments. When he laughed at one of my sharper remarks, I hated how much I noticed the pleasant sound of it.

By the time we packed up our things, the project outline was solid.

"You are better at this than I expected." he said while sliding his notebook into his bag.

"That sounds like an insult."

"It is not."

I narrowed my eyes. "Do not get used to it."

His expression softened slightly, a look I hadn't seen before. "I would not dream of it."

Outside the library, Amanda and Novia were already waiting.

"Well?" Novia asked the moment I reached them.

"We made progress." I said simply.

Amanda studied my face for any cracks. "And?"

"And nothing." I replied. "It was productive."

They exchanged a look that was slow, knowing, and far too smug for my comfort.

The ride home felt longer than usual. Two weeks remained to prove I could handle him without losing myself in whatever this tension was becoming. Yet the more time I spent around Calvin Simms, the more complicated the plan felt. He did not push aggressively. He did not chase me down. He simply observed, stepped into my path at the right moments, and waited.

And I reacted every single time.

That was the problem. He was not overwhelming. He was patient. Calculating. Quietly confident. And I was beginning to wonder whether I had seriously underestimated him.

Two weeks remained. By the time my birthday arrived, something would shift. I could feel it in the air. I just was not sure whether I would be the one in control when it finally happened.