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  Chapter One — The Chair Kicker

"If you kick my chair one more time, I'm throwing this textbook at your forehead."

A few snickers rippled through the classroom.

Madeline didn't even bother turning around. She simply kept writing in her notebook, twirling her pencil between her fingers like she hadn't said anything at all.

Another kick.

Thump.

She closed her eyes for exactly two seconds.

"...You're really proving evolution can go backwards."

More laughter.

Unfortunately for her, it wasn't directed at him.

It was directed with him.

From the back of the classroom came an exaggerated gasp.

"Aw, she's mad," one of the football players mocked.

Madeline finally turned around in her seat, caramel eyes landing on the familiar face she'd known for years.

Jason Mercer.

Messy brown hair. Gray-blue eyes. That stupid cocky grin he'd somehow never grown out of.

There was a time when that grin belonged to her best friend.

Back in middle school, Jason had been the quiet kid who traded snacks with her during lunch, helped her study before science tests, and walked home with her almost every afternoon.

Then high school happened.

Popularity happened.

Now he spent his days surrounded by athletes, cheerleaders, and anyone who laughed a little too hard at his jokes.

And somewhere along the way...

He became an ass.

Jason leaned back in his chair, spinning a pen between his fingers.

"You gonna cry about it, Maddie?"

Madeline raised an eyebrow.

"I'd rather listen to nails on a chalkboard."

His friends burst into laughter.

Not because the joke was funny.

Because neither of them ever backed down.

Jason clicked his tongue.

"Still got that mouth."

"And you've still got the maturity of a twelve-year-old."

Another kick.

Thump.

Madeline inhaled slowly before looking toward the front of the room.

"Mr. Collins," she called sweetly.

Their teacher looked up from grading papers.

"Yes, Madeline?"

She smiled innocently.

"I think someone behind me forgot chairs aren't soccer balls."

Several students struggled to hide their laughs.

Jason rolled his eyes dramatically.

"I barely touched it."

Mr. Collins sighed, already exhausted.

"Jason. Stop kicking her chair."

Jason held his hands up in fake innocence.

"Whatever you say."

The teacher returned to his papers.

Five seconds passed.

Thump.

Madeline stared blankly at the whiteboard.

"...You're actually unbelievable."

Jason leaned forward just enough for only she could hear.

"What? Miss me?"

She turned halfway in her seat, giving him a smile so sweet it was almost concerning.

"No."

A beat.

"I just miss the version of you that wasn't unbearable."

For the first time that morning...

Jason's grin faltered.

Only for a second.

Then he leaned back again, masking it with another smirk.

"That guy's gone."

Madeline faced forward without another word.

"Yeah," she murmured quietly.

"I noticed."

The classroom suddenly felt a little quieter, even with everyone else talking around them.

Neither of them said another word for the rest of class.

But somehow...

The war between Madeline Hayes and Jason Mercer had only just begun. *