Chapter Three: A Warning and a Challenge

The next morning, Ava awoke to a sharp knock at the door. She groggily sat up, rubbing her eyes as Lily groaned from her bed.

"Who the hell is knocking this early?" Lily muttered.

Ava threw on her hoodie and crossed the room, unlocking the door.

A small envelope lay on the floor just outside. There was no name, no return address—just a sleek black envelope with gold lettering.

Ava frowned and picked it up.

"What is it?" Lily asked, sitting up and stretching.

"I don't know," Ava replied, ripping it open.

Inside was a single, crisp note.

Know your place. Or we'll remind you.

Ava exhaled through her nose, fingers tightening around the paper.

Lily peered over her shoulder. "Wow. They really went for the cliché, huh?"

Ava smirked. "I expected more creativity."

Lily snorted. "You're not scared?"

Ava met her gaze. "No. I'm pissed."

Lily grinned. "I like you, Sinclair."

Ava wasn't sure whether that was a good thing or not.

By the time Ava got to her first class, the whispers had already started again.

People weren't subtle at Ravensworth.

"Did you hear? She got a warning note."

"Adriana's going to destroy her."

"She should just quit now."

Ava ignored them all.

She slid into her seat, pulling out her notebook just as Theo dropped into the chair beside her.

"Morning," he said casually, as if they had been friends for years.

"Morning," she replied.

He glanced at the note in her hand and smirked. "That was fast."

"Adriana's efficient," Ava muttered.

Theo chuckled. "That's one way to put it."

Ava tapped the note against her desk. "What's her end goal here?"

Theo leaned back in his chair. "It's not just about you. It's about control. Adriana doesn't tolerate challenges. She wants everyone to stay in their lane."

"And I'm in the wrong lane," Ava said dryly.

"Exactly."

Ava tilted her head. "Why hasn't she gone after you?"

Theo shrugged. "I don't play the game. I keep my head down, do my work, and stay out of her way."

Ava studied him. "That doesn't sound like much of a life."

Theo's smirk faded slightly. "No. But it keeps me here."

Something about the way he said it made Ava pause.

Before she could ask anything else, the teacher walked in, signaling the start of class.

But Ava couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to Theo than he was letting on.

By lunchtime, Adriana had escalated her game.

Ava and Lily had barely sat down when a student ran past, "accidentally" knocking Ava's tray onto the floor.

Gasps and laughter rippled through the cafeteria.

Ava closed her eyes, taking a deep breath.

Lily clenched her fists. "That was on purpose."

Ava opened her eyes and met Adriana's gaze across the room. She was watching, waiting.

Waiting for Ava to react.

Ava calmly picked up her napkin and wiped her hands. Then, without breaking eye contact with Adriana, she picked up her fork—still covered in mashed potatoes—and flung it across the room.

It landed with a loud splat right on Adriana's pristine designer blazer.

The entire cafeteria went silent.

Adriana slowly stood, her face frozen in shock.

Ava smiled sweetly. "Oops."

Lily burst out laughing. Theo, sitting at a nearby table, let out a low whistle.

Adriana's expression darkened.

Then, without a word, she turned on her heel and strode out of the cafeteria, her entourage scrambling after her.

The silence held for a moment longer before whispers exploded all around them.

Ava calmly picked up a new tray and sat back down.

Lily grinned. "You just declared war, Sinclair."

Ava stabbed a piece of chicken with her fork. "Good."

That night, Ava was ready for retaliation.

She double-checked the lock on their door, made sure her books were safe, and set her alarm extra early in case Adriana planned another ambush.

But when she woke up, everything seemed normal.

Too normal.

She went through her morning routine, waiting for the other shoe to drop.

It didn't.

Not until she reached her first class.

The moment she walked in, every head turned toward her.

Adriana sat in her usual spot, looking completely unbothered.

Ava frowned. What did she do?

She got her answer as soon as she reached her desk.

Sitting neatly on top was a printed-out email.

From: Ravensworth Academy Scholarship Board

To: Ava Sinclair

Subject: Scholarship Review Notice

Ava's heart skipped a beat.

She quickly scanned the letter.

Due to recent behavioral concerns and disciplinary incidents, her scholarship was now under review.

Ava clenched her jaw.

This was how Adriana fought. Not with fists. Not with childish pranks.

She went straight for the kill.

Lily leaned over her shoulder. "Oh, hell no."

Theo, who had been watching, muttered, "That's low. Even for her."

Ava folded the paper and put it in her bag.

Adriana caught her eye from across the room and smiled.

A silent message.

Checkmate.

But Ava wasn't out of the game yet.

She might not have Adriana's wealth or connections.

But she had something just as powerful.

She had nothing to lose.

And that made her dangerous.