"Ms. Aru Shah and Mr. Aiden Acharya shall both compete in the English Story Championship this year!"

The entirety of their school, both departments, were shocked to silence. You could hear the whirring of the air conditioning and a single bee inside the assembly hall. You could hear somebody drop something plastic and everyone gasping.

Up there, on the stage, Aiden, Aru and Arielle's jaws dropped.

"This is serious injustice. I worked hard for this!" Aru whispered ferociously. In a way, hate her or not, Aiden could understand what she was feeling. Battling with your rival to get to the top only to have both of you get selected would be really bad. It would mean everything you did was for nothing.

You see, after Aiden found out Aru got higher, he called his mom to tell her that he'd come home that weekend. His mom was so excited, she'd be devastated now.

And then he felt the reality wash over him a bit too late. He was selected for the English Story Championship for the second time in a row! He was gonna represent the school.

With Aru Shah.

She's super crazy smart. Not to mention, she's a nice person too. Maybe she could fill in his place as well as her's.

'Yeah, right. She'd be happy to, but she won't do it because you're asking her' His brain sneered at him. 'She would've done it happily 4 years ago, especially because she-'

Shut up, brain.

'You did too'

Shut up brain!

"Everyone, an Augustus Clap please!" Mrs. Sharia boomed over the loud speakers to gain everyone's attention. People stopped whispering with each other and started the Augustus Clap.

They stomped their right foot and clapped twice. They continued the pattern, and Aiden felt Aru shiver pleasantly next to him. He knew that feeling. The entire school looking at you and clapping for your hard work.

Everyone filed back to their classes and Aiden walked up to Aru's desk, as she was chatting with her friend. Her name was Bethany or something, but he wasn't here for her, so he didn't care.

"Shah."

Aru turned to him with a smile that soon dropped after seeing who it was.

"Oh. It's you. Don't be smug about getting selected, this is completely unfair and you should know that"

"Aiden, darling. Remember me?" Bethany interrupted her. Aru got visibly annoyed.

One thing you should know about Shah is that she doesn't like getting interrupted.

"Uh yeah, Bethany, right?" Aiden replied awkwardly.

He could hear Aru snicker silently and see Bethany's smile dropping.

"Um no. It's Brutta" 

Now it was Aiden's turn to snicker, inside his head. Brutta meant ugly in Italian. He coughed and then turned to Shah.

"I don't wanna participate" he continued.

"Whatever" Aru turned back to Bethany. Then her eyes bulged and she turned back to him. "Wait. You what?!" 

"Yeah, yeah, tease me all you wa-"

"Are you crazy? How could you miss an opportunity like this? I thought you really wanted this" Aru scolded him (ish) with genuine concern in her eyes. Something passed through them that reminded him a lot about when they were still friends. When they were able to understand each other. 

When they were able to hold conversation without fighting.

"I need to go see my mom. You can do this"

And then realization and understanding in her eyes. "Oh. How is she, by the way?"

Aiden chuckled. "Well. She's good. She never really liked you, you know"

She snorted "As if you did. It's okay if someone doesn't like me. I could care less"

Aiden coughed for a second, considering the first part of her sentence was untrue. "How's yours?"

"She's good. Actually, she's recently started-"

"Is this happening? Are you two actually having a conversation without fighting?" Ugly screeched.

Aru winced, looked annoyed and slowly enunciated the words. "Bethany. Don't interrupt me"

"I'm not Bethany for goodness sake! I'm Brutta!" She screamed.

Aiden could tell that Bethany was only talking to Aru for the popularity and Aru to Brutta because her friends were probably busy at the moment.

"Yeah. Okay. Anyway, what do you want me to do about this?" Aru asked, ignoring Brutta annoyingly flirting with him. 

"Fill in my place!" He yelled. The class got quiet. All eyes were on them.

"What? No!" Aru replied, alarmed.

"Please. I'm begging you!"

"You'd let Mrs. Sharia down! You know how she feels about this"

"Aru. Please" he replied, using her first name for the first time in a long time.

"No!" 

The class started whispering:

"Who are they?"

"That's Aiden Acharya and Aru Shah. They're ultimate rivals and the faces of the school"

"They seem close"

"Yeah they used to be close, but grew apart. Rumor has it that they used to have a thing for each other"

"Really? I could definitely see it"

He felt his ears boiling up and then continued trying to get his point across.

"Just shut up and agree!"

"Why should I? You're the one who's being childish right now"

"Me? Seriously? Who's the one who spilt their leaking pen ink all over my locker!"

"I said I'm sorry! I even cleaned it up for you, so I think it's stupid of what you're asking me to do"

"Do you want me to tell everyone your entire 5th grade?"

The other opened her mouth and then sighed in exasperation. "I can't stand you"

"Then sit down" he replied, slinging his bag over his shoulder as he walked away. "I'll see you at 8:30"

"Fuck you!"

"8:30 sharp!" He replied, moving out the class. He could hear her audibly groan as he turned around the corner.

2nd chap complete. How you like it?

-Loife xx