Behind the Rivalry
chapter 1
Nia walks in,
hugging her books close. Students chatter around.
The air shifts when Leo leans casually against his locker, smirk already plastered on his face.
Leo (ml)
(loudly, so everyone hears)
“Well, look who finally decided to bless the college with her nerdy aura. Morning, Miss Encyclopedia.”
Students chuckle. A few even whisper, waiting for FL’s comeback.
Nia (fl)
(tilting her head, pretending to sigh)
“Wow, you noticed me before your reflection in the mirror today? Must be a miracle.”
Crowd bursts out laughing. ML narrows his eyes dramatically.
Leo (ml)
“Hilarious. But don’t forget—you still owe me from last week’s basketball game.”
Nia (fl)
(raising a brow, loud enough for everyone)
“Oh, you mean when you tripped on your own shoelace and blamed me? Sure, superstar.”
The hallway roars with laughter. Leo clutches his chest like he’s wounded.
Leo (ml)
(mock gasp)
“Careful, princess. If you keep embarrassing me, I’ll crush you in the upcoming debate.”
Nia (fl)
(mock bow)
“Crush? The only thing you crush is soda cans and girls’ hopes when they realize you’ve got half a brain.”
Ooooh’s echo down the hall. Students whisper: ‘These two never stop fighting.’
After class – empty library corner
Nia slides into a quiet seat, annoyed. leo slips in, shutting the door softly.
Nia (fl)
(glaring, whispering)
“Do you enjoy humiliating me in public?”
Leo (ml)
(smirk fading, softer voice)
“If I don’t tease you, people will suspect. We can’t give ourselves away.”
Nia (fl)
(crossing arms, but cheeks pink)
“You called me princess again… loud enough for the whole building.”
Leo (ml)
(grinning, leaning closer)
“That’s because you are mine. And the fun part? No one knows.”
Nia's heart races. She tries to stay annoyed, but her lips twitch.
Nia (fl)
“One day, you’re going to slip up.”
(resting a hand on the desk, caging her in)
Leo (ml)
“And when I do, maybe it’s because I want them to know you’re the only girl I’ve ever wanted.”
Nia swallows, fighting the blush. He steals a quick kiss, soft and rushed.
Nia (fl)
(pushing him lightly, whispering)
“Are you crazy? Someone could walk in.”
Leo (ml)
(grinning)
“That’s the thrill, baby.”
Nia sits with her friends, pretending to ignore Leo across the room. Leo’s friends nudge him, teasing.
Leo's Friend 1
“Bro, when are you finally gonna admit you and her are, like, destined enemies?”
Leo (ml)
(snickering)
“Enemies? Please. I’d rather fight a brick wall than talk to her.”
Across the room,
Nia rolls her eyes but secretly texts under the table.
Nia (fl)
(texting Leo secretly)
You’re seriously dramatic.
Leo (ml)
(checking phone, smirking, replies)
Admit it. You love it.
Nia (fl)
(quick glance at him, smiling secretly, replies)
Maybe. But if you keep staring at me across the cafeteria like that, people will catch on.
Leo (ml)
(without looking away, texting back)
Then let them. I don’t care.
Nia’s heart skips.
She quickly hides her smile as her friends gossip around.
Nia sneaks up. Leo’s already there, waiting with two cans of soda.
Leo (ml)
(tosses one to her)
“Your daily princess tax.”
Nia (fl)
(laughing, opening it)
“You’re impossible.”
Leo (ml)
(serious now, brushing hair from her face)
“Impossible to love, or impossible to hide?”
Nia freezes, eyes softening. He pulls her into his chest, their secret world wrapping around them.
Nia (fl)
(quietly)
“Both.”
They share a long kiss, safe in the hidden rooftop… for now.
Whispers of Suspicion
Nia is walking with her friends, laughing.
Leo suddenly blocks her path, smirk on his lips.
Leo (ml)
(loudly, in front of everyone)
“Careful, Miss Encyclopedia. Don’t trip over your giant brain.”
Nia (fl)
(rolling her eyes, but smirking back)
“At least I have a brain. You might want to borrow some notes from me—oh wait, you’d never understand them.”
Everyone laughs. Their ‘fight’ is the highlight of the morning again.
Nia's Friend
(whispering to another)
“Honestly, these two fight like a married couple.”
Nia (fl)
stiffens but hides it with a laugh.
After class – Empty classroom
Leo sneaks in after everyone leaves. Nia is already waiting, arms crossed.
Nia (fl)
(whispering angrily)
“Seriously? You couldn’t come up with something better than ‘giant brain’ today?”
Leo (ml)
(grinning, walking closer)
“Hey, it got you fired up, didn’t it?”
Leo (ml)
(He traps her against the desk, voice lowering.)
“Besides… the way you bite your lip when you’re mad? Drives me insane.”
Nia (fl)
(blushing, whispering)
“You’re impossible.”
Leo (ml)
(leaning in, whispering against her ear)
“Impossible to resist, maybe.”
They share a quick kiss—just as the classroom door creaks open.
Both jerk apart instantly.
A girl (classmate) peeks inside suspiciously.
classmate
“Oh… I thought I heard voices.”
Nia (fl)
(quickly, pretending to glare at leo)
“Ugh! Why are you following me even here?!”
Leo (ml)
(catching on, loudly)
“As if I’d waste my time with you!”
The classmate narrows her eyes but leaves. leo and Nia exchange a panicked look.
Cafeteria, later that day
Nia sits with her friends, but her mind is distracted. Across the room, Leo is staring at her phone screen secretly. A message pops up.
Nia (fl)
(texting leo secretly)
She almost caught us… we need to be careful.
Leo (ml)
(replying, smirking slightly)
Relax. We’ve been fooling them for months. No one will find out.
Nia (fl)
(typing quickly)
You didn’t see the way she looked at us. I think she suspects something.
Leo (ml)
(glances at her from across the room, sends back)
Even if she does… let her. I’m done hiding you forever.
Nia's heart races. She quickly hides her smile, trying not to look at him
Nia is pacing nervously. Leo arrives, tossing his bag down casually.
Nia (fl)
(worried)
“I’m serious, what if she tells people? One mistake and—”
Leo (ml)
(grabs her hand, pulling her closer)
“Then let them know.”
Nia (fl)
(shaking her head)
“No, not yet. You know how people talk. It’ll ruin everything.”
Leo (ml)
(sighing, brushing hair from her face)
“I hate pretending to hate you. Every time I call you names in front of them, it feels wrong."
Leo (ml)
[He presses his forehead against hers, voice low and aching.]
“I just want to hold you without hiding.”
Nia (fl)
(softly, with tears threatening)
“One day… we will. Just not yet.”
Leo (ml)
He kisses her gently, the kind of kiss that says more than words.
But from a distance, the same classmate watches them from the rooftop door, eyes widening in shock.
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