RISE LIKE A PHOENIX

    Nova slammed the partly crushed flyer in her hand down on the table, the suddenness of it making Mallory squeal and the other two students do a double take.

    "Hey, Mal," Nova greeted with a sugary smile, "how's it going? You enjoy your dance last Friday? Heard it was a blast. You know, artful flyers and all."

    Mallory was staring at Nova with wide brown eyes, mouth agape. Obviously, she wasn't expecting such a turn of events.

    Nova felt a tug at the flyer underneath her palm and glanced at the other girl who was trying to pry it away with a frown on her face.

    Nova lifted her palm, letting the girl take it and watched curiously as her eyes grew wide with horror.

    "What is this?" She whispered, sounding flabbergasted. And then her eyes turned into slits, and she whipped her head towards the boy. "What the fudge is this, Keith?"

    The boy squirmed, looking like he'd rather be anywhere but here right now.

    "Look, Riley —" he started but she cut him off.

    "You bastard," she spat, looking disgusted at both of her friends. "You told me you were dropping the notes and sending the emails because you liked her!"

    Nova's breath caught and she swiveled her head towards the boy, seeing him in an all new light.

    "You're John?" She gasped, realising how wrong she was in thinking Mallory was the one planting the notes and pretending to be a guy. "You? But why... What the hell did I ever do to you?"

    He raised a brow, "nothing?" Letting out a sigh, he sat up straighter. "Look, you were sat next to me in English class all through junior year. I saw the kind of books you read and heard about the movies you talked about with your cheerleader friend." He shrugged, as if this was just a part of his everyday routine. "It was pretty easy to know that you were some hopeless romance-obsessed girl. I mean, really? Its kind of stupid if you think about it."

    Nova just stared at him; stared at the bored look on his face. Like this was nothing. To him, she realised, it probably was nothing.

    She took in his relaxed posture, the way his arm was draped casually across the back of his chair, the arrogant tilt to his chin as he looked up at her. She took in his plaid shirt, dirty blonde hair, simple blue eyes — at first glance, he looked like the epitome of guy-next-door.

    He didn't look like someone capable of malice.

    "Why?" She eventually asked, her voice quiet, the insecurities gnawing at her insides and chipping away at the fire that'd been burning so bright till then.

    He laughed in disbelief. "Why?" He mocked. "Why? Because it was fun. I dangled a bone and wanted to see how long the bitch would actually wag her tail after it." He suddenly sat up straight then, running a hand down his face in irritation. "Look, it was just a prank, alright? Learn to take a joke and just let it go."

    "You pig," Riley hissed.

    "Oh come on," Mallory spoke up this time, rolling her eyes, "she was the one who fell for it! Like seriously, what desperate, needy girl dreams about finding The One and riding off into the sunset? She needs to get a reality check and set her priorities in order."

    "My priorities?" Nova questioned incredulously.

    "Yeah, priorities," Mallory emphasised, as if she was speaking to a toddler. "You know, that thing where you know what comes before what in life. Priorities. Like, finding a guy comes after studying, and after deciding what you want to do with your life. You don't let a guy define your entire purpose, you know."

    And something inside Nova snapped.

    Maybe Nova was a naive fool for letting herself fall for the letters. But she had never, ever, let a guy define her being. Nova knew what she wanted in life, and she knew she'd work her lungs off to get it. Nobody was going to tell her otherwise.

    "Maybe if you weren't such an airhead, you'd find yourself in AP Cal this year instead of looking for your secret admirer," Mallory continued.

    "Bitch, they let me take AP Calculus last year," Nova spat, the fire in her belly rekindling. Mallory's eyes went wide, as if not expecting to hear this. "I have a freaking GPA of 3.65 and my priorities? You want to talk about priorities? How about you tell me if you've already got your future planned out?" When there was no response, Nova smirked. "Thought so. Well, guess what? I already do. I'm a goddamn star out in the badminton court and I'm going to keep rising because I goddamn work for it. There are already enough of institutes and local clubs waiting in line for me because they know I'm an asset. I've already proven my worth to the people that matter."

    Nova placed both palms on the tabletop and leaned forwards, drilling into Mallory's eyes. "And you, Mallory, you do not matter. Not to me." She leaned away, straightening herself to her full height as she stared down at the girl. "So tell me, who's the fool that placed herself on a high pedestal? Who let herself believe she was important enough for her opinion to make a difference in my life?"

    Nova then turned to Keith, venom in her eyes and disgust lacing her voice. "And you," she shook her head, throwing him the dirtiest look, "I can't believe I felt sorry for you."

    His eyes narrowed, "sorry for me? Why the heck would you think I need your pity?"

    "Because despite your efforts, it wasn't enough," Nova told him in all seriousness. "You got me hooked, kept me interested, but you never won my heart, John — Keith, whatever the hell you want to call yourself." She took a deep breath, and looked him in the eye. "Guess there was someone else by my side that was twice the person you are, and he didn't even have to try to make me fall for him. I felt guilty because despite your claims to woo me, I was falling for somebody else. So the joke's on you, really. You may have humiliated me and crushed my spirits. But you didn't break my heart, asshole, you never won it in the first place."

    A warm hand slipped into hers and she looked up to find Graham standing by her side.

    Now that Nova wasn't completely submerged in her whirlpool of emotions, she noticed Adelaide, Piper, Aubrey, Monica, Declan, Tyler and few other familiar faces from the cheer squad and football team surrounding her, backing her.

    "I can make this school a hell for you," Nova told them quietly, "for both of you. You wouldn't survive by the end of this week." She stepped back and tightened her fingers around Graham's. "But I'm choosing not to. So each time you step foot in this place, you do well to remember it is I who showed you mercy, the desperate airhead you tried to crush. Let it be a reminder of how low you've fallen. And then revel in your self-loathing when you're all by yourselves."

    Nova shook her head at Keith and Mallory, who were both looking away uncomfortably now.

    "Lets go," she muttered, tugging at Graham's hand.

    She was done here; she'd shaken off the beating and gotten up from the fall. This place had served its purpose, there was nothing more to learn, nothing more that helped her grow.

    She'd been burnt, but like a phoenix, she'd risen from those very ashes of her downfall.

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Yes, i know badminton is more popular in Europe than in the US, but that doesn't mean there aren't players in the latter.
I've done my research, and highschool leavers/college students have the option of joining local clubs and sometimes well-reputed institutes also finance badminton athletes.
So it may not be the #1 choice in sport in the US, but its what Nova loves.

Thank you for reading xx two more chapters left and the book is done!