6

As I slammed my books onto the table, a scowl etched deep into my features, my mind couldn't help but replay the memory of Ares' fist colliding with my stomach. It was a moment seared into my consciousness, the pain still fresh, the anger still raw. And now, of all people, I was forced to partner up with him for this blasted project? I could feel the tension crackling between us, like a live wire threatening to ignite the whole room. "Great, just what I needed," I muttered to myself, my disdain for Ares simmering beneath the surface like a volcano ready to erupt.

Ares slid into the seat opposite me with an infuriatingly nonchalant air, his smirk as infuriatingly smug as ever. "Nice to see you too, Brainy," he drawled, his tone dripping with sarcasm.

I shot him a venomous glare, resisting the urge to launch myself across the table and wipe that smirk off his face once and for all. "Don't call me that," I snapped, my voice edged with a bitterness I couldn't quite conceal.

He merely shrugged, unfazed by my hostility. "Suit yourself," he replied, leaning back in his chair with infuriating ease. "So, what's our brilliant project gonna be about?"

I rolled my eyes, barely containing the urge to scoff at his arrogance. "I don't know, maybe something that doesn't involve you ruining it with your incompetence," I shot back, my words laced with venom.

Ares chuckled, the sound grating on my nerves like nails on a chalkboard. "Well, lucky for you, I'm a quick learner," he retorted, his smirk widening into a grin. "Besides, who better to teach you how to win a war than your sworn enemy?"

My jaw clenched in frustration, the memory of our past clashes fueling the fire of my resentment. "Oh, please," I scoffed, shaking my head in disbelief. "The only war you know how to win is the one against common decency."

"You're not wrong," he admitted quietly, his gaze meeting mine with an unexpected sincerity. "But maybe... just maybe, we could try fighting on the same side for once."

Same side? No. Maybe. Maybe I don't know.

I blinked in disbelief, caught off guard by the unexpected turn in his demeanor. Maybe, just maybe, there was more to Ares than met the eye.

And maybe, just maybe, I was willing to find out.

Or he is just fucking with me.

I stared at Ares, taken aback by the sincerity in his voice. His words echoed in the silence between us, their weight sinking into my consciousness like stones dropped into a pond.

"Fight on the same side?" I repeated, incredulous. "After everything that's happened between us?"

Ares nodded, his gaze steady as he met my eyes. "Look, Moxie, I know we've had our differences," he began, his tone softer now, devoid of its usual edge. "But maybe it's time we put aside our grudges and actually work together. Who knows, we might even surprise ourselves."

I regarded him sceptically, my mind still reeling from the unexpectedness of his proposition. Could it really be that simple? Could two sworn enemies set aside their animosity for the sake of a school project?

"And what makes you think I'd even consider working with you?" I challenged, unable to fully suppress the scepticism in my voice.

Ares shrugged a hint of resignation in his demeanor. "Call it a hunch," he replied with a half-smile. "Or call it desperation. Either way, I'm willing to give it a shot if you are."

I hesitated, torn between the impulse to reject his offer outright and the nagging curiosity tugging at the corners of my mind. Could it be that beneath his cocky exterior, Ares was genuinely trying to extend an olive branch?

"Fine," I conceded, my voice reluctant. "But don't expect me to hold back if you start slacking off."

Ares grinned, a genuine spark of excitement igniting in his eyes. "Wouldn't dream of it," he replied, his smirk returning in full force. "Now, let's show them what happens when two enemies decide to become allies."

I looked at Ares, his smirk seemed to send shivers down my spine. It was a cruel, malicious grin that revealed his enjoyment in causing trouble. The way his lips twisted upward, creating deep creases in the corners of his mouth, made him look almost inhuman. The glint in his eyes hinted at a sense of sadism lurking beneath the surface, leaving me feeling uneasy and nervous in his presence.

As we turned our attention to the task at hand, a newfound sense of camaraderie began to blossom between us, slowly eroding the barriers of distrust that had long stood between Ares and me. And in that moment, I couldn't help but wonder if perhaps, against all odds, this unlikely partnership might just lead to something more.

I narrowed my eyes at Ares, realizing with a sinking feeling that his sudden vulnerability was nothing more than a ploy—a cruel joke at my expense. Anger flared within me, fueled by the realization that he had no intention of taking our partnership seriously.

"Of course," I muttered bitterly, the bitterness of betrayal coating my words like acid. "Why am I not surprised? You're just playing around, aren't you? Enjoying every moment of my discomfort."

Ares shrugged, his smirk returning with a vengeance. "Can you blame me?" he replied flippantly, his tone laced with amusement. "After all, watching you squirm is far more entertaining than any project could ever be."

The words cut deeper than any physical blow ever could, reopening wounds that I had thought long since healed. How could he be so callous, so indifferent to the pain he was causing me?

Can he just leave me alone.

If that's the game he wants to play, then I'm okay with playing it too.

"Fine," I spat, my voice trembling with suppressed rage. "If that's how you want to play it, then so be it. But don't expect me to waste any more time on someone as heartless as you."

With that, I gathered my belongings and stormed out of the room, refusing to dignify Ares with so much as another glance. He may have won this round, but I vowed to myself that I would never again allow him to toy with my emotions like a puppet on a string.

As I stormed down the hallway, my mind seething with anger and betrayal, I couldn't help but wonder what it would take to finally put an end to the war between Ares and me. But one thing was for certain: I would not rest until I had emerged victorious, once and for all.

In the days that followed, the tension between Ares and me reached new heights. We avoided each other like the plague, exchanging nothing more than icy glares whenever our paths crossed in the hallways. The betrayal I felt burned like a fire in my chest, fueling my determination to prove that I didn't need him—or anyone else—to succeed.

But try as I might to bury my feelings beneath a façade of indifference, the memory of Ares' smirk lingered like a bitter taste in my mouth, a constant reminder of the humiliation I had suffered at his hands. How could I ever trust someone who revelled in my pain?

As the deadline for our project loomed ever closer, the pressure mounted, casting a shadow of anxiety over my every waking moment. Alone, I poured myself into the task at hand, determined to show Ares—and myself—that I was capable of success without his help.

And yet, despite my best efforts to shut him out, Ares remained a thorn in my side, his mere presence a constant reminder of the betrayal I had endured. How could I focus on the project when every glance in his direction reignited the flames of my anger?

Finally, the day of the presentation arrived, and I found myself standing before the class, my heart pounding in my chest as I prepared to deliver our project solo. I refused to let Ares' betrayal hold me back, determined to prove that I was more than capable of carrying the weight of our partnership on my own.

But as I began to speak, a nagging doubt crept into the back of my mind. What if Ares had sabotaged our project behind my back? What if he had been secretly plotting to ensure my failure all along?

As the words left my lips, I felt a wave of panic wash over me, threatening to drown me in a sea of uncertainty. How could I ever hope to succeed when I couldn't even trust my own partner?

But then, as I glanced over at Ares, something in his expression caught my eye—a flicker of uncertainty, a hint of vulnerability. For the briefest of moments, I saw beyond the façade of indifference he had carefully crafted, catching a glimpse of the boy beneath the bravado.

And in that moment, as our eyes met across the crowded classroom, I realized that perhaps, just perhaps, there was more to Ares than met the eye. And maybe, just maybe, I had been too quick to judge him.

As the presentation drew to a close, I felt a weight lift from my shoulders, replaced by a newfound sense of clarity. The war between Ares and me may not have ended, but perhaps, in time, we could learn to set aside our differences and find common ground.

But for now, as I stepped down from the podium, I couldn't help but wonder what the future held for two sworn enemies caught in the tangled web of adolescence. Only time would tell if we could ever find a way to bridge the divide that separated us—or if we were destined to remain locked in a battle of wills for all eternity.

I stormed up to Ares, my fists clenched at my sides, every step fueling my anger further. "You think you're so clever, don't you?" I spat, my voice dripping with contempt as I confronted him.

Ares raised an eyebrow, his smirk widening as he regarded me with amusement. "Oh, my Brainy," he taunted, his tone laced with sarcasm.

Your Brainy? Fuck no.

I gritted my teeth, struggling to contain the rage bubbling within me. "Don't you dare," I growled, my voice low and dangerous. "You think this is funny? You think it's amusing to play with people's emotions like they're nothing?"

Ares shrugged, his smirk never faltering. "Lighten up, Moxie," he replied casually, as if my anger meant nothing to him. "It's just a bit of fun. No harm done."

"No harm done?" I repeated incredulously, my hands balling into fists at my sides. "You betrayed me, Ares. You made a fool out of me again. And you think that's no harm done?"

He chuckled, the sound grating on my nerves like nails on a chalkboard. "Come on, Moxie," he said, his tone mocking. "It's not like you actually thought I was serious, did you? You should know better than to trust someone like me."

His words cut deep, reopening wounds I had thought long since healed. "Someone like you?" I echoed, my voice trembling with suppressed anger. "And what exactly does that mean?"

Ares shrugged nonchalantly, as if my pain meant nothing to him. "You know what I mean," he replied dismissively. "I'm not exactly known for my trustworthiness, am I?"

I glared at him, the full force of my fury boiling over. "You're despicable," I spat, the words tasting bitter on my tongue. "I never want to speak to you again."

With that, I turned on my heel and stormed out of the room, leaving Ares behind with nothing but the echo of my anger ringing in his ears. And as I disappeared into the hallway, I vowed to myself that I would never again allow someone like Ares to toy with my emotions like a plaything.

As Ares smirked, his arrogant demeanor mocking my pain, something inside me snapped. Without a second thought, I launched myself at him, my fist connecting with his jaw with a satisfying thud.

The force of the blow sent Ares staggering backward, his mouth exploding in a spray of blood as he stumbled against a nearby desk. The classroom erupted into shocked gasps and murmurs, the air thick with tension as my actions registered among my classmates.

For the first time in years, I felt a surge of satisfaction coursing through my veins. It was a punch years in the making, fueled by years of pent-up frustration and resentment.

"What the fuck, Moxie?!" Ares bellowed, his voice thick with rage as he clutched his bleeding mouth, his eyes ablaze with fury.

I stood before him, my fists still clenched at my sides, a defiant glint in my eyes. "That's for every fucking time you've screwed me over," I shot back, my voice dripping with venom. "You think you can just walk all over me and get away with it? Think again, asshole."

The classroom buzzed with tense energy, my classmates shifting uncomfortably in their seats as they watched the confrontation unfold. But I paid them no mind, my focus solely on the man standing before me, his face contorted with rage.

Ares took a step forward, his hands curling into fists at his sides. "You fucking bitch," he spat, the words dripping with hatred. "You'll regret this."

Yeah, right. I don't regret this.

But I didn't stick around to find out what he had in store. With a final glare, I turned on my heel and stormed out of the room, leaving Ares behind with nothing but the echo of my footsteps ringing in his ears.

As I disappeared into the hallway, the rush of adrenaline slowly began to fade, replaced by a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach. Maybe punching Ares had felt good at the moment, but now that the dust had settled, I couldn't shake the sense of unease gnawing at me.

But one thing was for certain: I wasn't about to let Ares get the last word. If he thought he could intimidate me with his empty threats, he had another thing coming. And as I walked away, I vowed to myself that I would never again allow someone like Ares to trample over me without a fight.

As I stood there in front of my locker, the crumpled paper clenched in my fist, a whirlwind of thoughts churned in my mind. Lucifer. The mere mention of his name sent a shiver down my spine. What was he doing here? How did he know about my locker? And why on earth would he be reaching out to me?

Before I could dwell on these questions for too long, a familiar voice broke through my reverie. "Hey, Moxie, are you okay?" Daiyu's concerned tone pulled me back to reality, and I turned to find her standing beside me, her expression a mixture of curiosity and worry.

I forced a tight smile, tucking the crumpled paper into my pocket as I tried to push aside my confusion. "Yeah, I'm fine," I replied, though the tremor in my voice betrayed my unease. "Just... a lot on my mind, I guess."

Daiyu nodded understandingly, her eyes scanning my face for any sign of distress. "If you ever need to talk about it, I'm here," she offered gently, her voice warm and reassuring.

I appreciated her concern, but the last thing I wanted was to burden her with my own tangled mess of emotions. "Thanks, Daiyu," I murmured, offering her a grateful smile. "I'll keep that in mind."

There was a moment of silence between us, the weight of unspoken words hanging heavy in the air. Then, Daiyu cleared her throat, her gaze flickering to the crumpled paper still tucked in my pocket.

"Is everything okay?" she asked, her tone hesitant. "I couldn't help but notice... that paper."

I hesitated, unsure of how much to reveal. Daiyu was still a relative stranger, after all, and I didn't want to burden her with my own personal drama. But something about her gentle demeanor put me at ease, and I found myself opening up despite my reservations.

"It's... complicated," I admitted, pulling the crumpled paper from my pocket and holding it out to her. "I found this in my locker. It's from someone... unexpected."

Daiyu accepted the paper, her brow furrowing in confusion as she unfolded it and read the words scrawled across the page. "Hello. By Lucifer," she murmured, her eyes widening in surprise. "Lucifer?"

No but seriously? Why he is in my school? How did he know this was my locker?

I nodded grimly, a knot forming in the pit of my stomach. "Yeah," I confirmed, my voice barely above a whisper. "I have no idea what he's doing here or why he'd be reaching out to me."

Daiyu studied me for a moment, her expression thoughtful. "Well, whatever his intentions are, just be careful," she advised, handing the crumpled paper back to me with a reassuring smile.

I returned her smile gratefully, "Yeah."

I told her about it. "It" is the punch

Daiyu's eyes widened in disbelief as I recounted the events of my altercation with Ares, her shock palpable in the air between us. "You punched him?" she exclaimed, her voice laced with a mixture of surprise and admiration.

I nodded, a sense of satisfaction flickering within me at the memory. "Yeah," I confirmed, a faint smirk playing at the corners of my lips. "Right in the jaw."

Daiyu's expression softened, a hint of sympathy shining in her eyes. "Well, good for you," she said firmly, her voice filled with conviction. "That bastard deserves it."

I laughed "Clearly."