Chapter Eleven: The Fire of Evny

The halls of Blackwood Academy had always been full of whispers.

But today, the whispers had turned into a roar.

Adriana Kingsley had always ruled these halls like they were her personal kingdom, her word law, her presence untouchable. She was the kind of girl who didn't ask for attention—she commanded it.

And yet, for the first time, people weren't looking at her.

They were looking at Ava Sinclair.

The scholarship girl.

The one who wasn't supposed to matter.

The one who had somehow caught the interest of Xavier Sterling—the new king in town, the leader of the Sterling Five, and the one boy Adriana had never been denied before.

She hated it.

She hated her.

And she wasn't going to let it slide.

The Hallway War

Ava had barely closed her locker when the slam came.

Loud. Deliberate.

She didn't need to turn around to know who it was.

The scent of expensive vanilla perfume, the sharp click of heels against the floor, the presence that demanded attention—it was Adriana.

Ava sighed.

"Let me guess," she said without turning. "You're here to give me another friendly warning?"

The hallway had already started to slow, students sensing the shift in the air.

Adriana let out a soft, humorless chuckle.

"How cute," she drawled. "You think you're worth warning."

Ava finally turned, her expression calm, unreadable.

Adriana was smirking, but there was fire behind her cold blue eyes.

"You've been playing a dangerous game, Sinclair," Adriana murmured. "Flitting around like you actually belong here."

Ava crossed her arms. "Pretty sure my scholarship says I do."

Adriana's lips curled. "A scholarship?" she mocked. "That just means you're Blackwood's latest charity case."

Gasps rippled through the crowd.

Ava?

She just smiled.

"Funny," she said. "Because I earned my place here. And you? You were born into yours. Must be hard, huh? Knowing if you had to actually compete for it, you'd lose?"

The reaction was instant.

The watching students oohed, whispers spreading like wildfire.

Adriana's expression darkened.

She stepped closer, voice lowering to a deadly whisper.

"You really don't know when to shut up, do you?"

Ava didn't flinch. "Not when I'm being spoken to like a peasant by someone whose greatest achievement is owning an overpriced wardrobe."

More gasps. More whispers.

Adriana's nails dug into her palms.

"You think you're clever," she said. "But let me be clear, Sinclair—you're nothing. You're just a girl who got lucky. And the second that luck runs out, you'll be back where you belong—forgotten."

Ava's smirk sharpened.

"That's interesting," she mused. "Because if I'm nothing, why are you so obsessed with me?"

The crowd erupted.

Adriana's face flushed with rage.

She snapped.

"You slut!" she shrieked, shoving Ava back.

Ava stumbled—but before she could respond—

A smooth, lethal voice sliced through the air.

"Problem here?"

The hallway parted.

The Sterling Five stepped forward, led by Xavier Sterling himself.

He wasn't smiling.

His green eyes flickered over the scene, landing first on Ava, then on Adriana, then on the stunned faces of the crowd.

Adriana, ever the actress, straightened, flipping her hair over her shoulder as if she hadn't just attacked someone.

"Xavier," she purred. "Tell me you're not actually siding with her."

Xavier's expression was unreadable. "I don't side with anyone."

Adriana scoffed. "Oh, please. You've been trailing after her like a lost puppy—"

Xavier's lips twitched. "Says the girl throwing a hysterical fit in the hallway."

Laughter rippled through the crowd.

Adriana's jaw tensed.

"You can't be serious," she hissed. "You'd actually defend her over me?"

Xavier's gaze flicked to Ava, then back to Adriana.

"At least she's something," he said lazily. "She earned her place here." His smirk sharpened. "If you had to actually work for yours, I doubt you'd last."

A sharp oof spread through the crowd.

Adriana's face burned.

Her hands clenched into fists.

"You're making a mistake," she whispered. "I can ruin her life.

Xavier laughed—low, mocking. "Funny. That's what I was about to say to you."

Adriana's throat bobbed.

It wasn't just Xavier—his entire crew was behind him, watching her like she was insignificant.

And the worst part?

The more she fought, the more people started to notice Ava.

The whispers turned into conversations.

The social media posts started flying.

The entire school started talking—about Ava.

Not Adriana.

And that?

That was the real. ThebWar Begins

But Adriana wasn't done.

A second later, her group arrived—three girls, her loyal followers, stepping beside her like an army preparing for battle.

Ava felt her stomach twist.

It was now Adriana and her clique versus Xavier and the Sterling Five—with Ava stuck in the middle.

Adriana folded her arms, tilting her head.

"Oh, this is cute," she drawled. "The big bad boys of Blackwood, standing up for a scholarship girl. How… predictable."

Xavier didn't even blink. "Better than standing up for a brat with a bought reputation."

Adriana's friends gasped.

Adriana's smirk faltered.

But she recovered quickly, flicking her cold gaze toward Ava.

"This isn't over," she whispered.

Ava didn't flinch. "It never is with you."

Adriana held her gaze for a long moment.

Then, with one final, icy glare, she spun on her heel and stalked away—her friends trailing behind her like shadows.

The second they disappeared around the corner, Xavier turned to Ava.

"You okay?"

Ava exhaled. "Yeah. Just tired of the drama."

Xavier smirked. "Good. Because something tells me this was only round one."

Ava swallowed.

She had a feeling he was right.

Chapter Eleven: Lines Drawn in Blood (Extended)

The hallway of Blackwood Academy had never been quieter.

Every student in sight had their eyes locked on one thin

Ava Sinclair and Adriana Kingsley standing face to face.

Tension sizzled in the air like an electric storm, thick and suffocating.

Ava's expression was calm, almost bored.

Adriana?

She looked murderous.

Her manicured nails curled into fists. The humiliation from her last public embarrassment still burned in her chest like acid, and now she had to watch Ava standing here—like she belonged.

Worse?

Xavier and the Sterling Five were standing with her.

The same Xavier who, not long ago, had never publicly opposed Adriana Kingsley.

But now?

Now, he stood beside Ava.

And that was something Adriana couldn't iigno

Adriana took a step forward, her designer heels clicking sharply against the marble floor.

"So," she sneered, "this is what we're doing now?"

Ava raised an eyebrow. "And this is what we're doing now?" she mimicked. "You stalking me down the hall like some obsessed ex?"

Snickers rippled through the crowd.

Adriana's jaw tightened.

"You must really think you're someone special," she hissed.

Ava shrugged. "I mean, I did win a scholarship to this school. That's something special, right?"

Xavier smirked. "Better than buying your way in."

Adriana's head snapped toward him.

Her eyes blazed.

"Excuse me?" she demanded.

Xavier didn't blink. "You heard me."

Adriana inhaled sharply.

She turned back to Ava, voice dripping with mock sweetness.

"Enjoy the attention while it lasts, Sinclair," she said. "Because sooner or later, people are going to see you for what you really are—a pathetic little charity case who doesn't belong here."

Ava tilted her head.

"That's interesting," she mused. "Because from where I'm standing, it looks like I do belong here. And you? Well, you're the one throwing a tantrum in the hallway."

A fresh wave of whispers broke out.

Adriana's face twisted.

"Tantrum?" she repeated, her voice sharpening. "Oh, please. If I wanted to ruin you, Sinclair, I wouldn't even have to try."

Ava smirked. "Funny. Because it seems like you have been trying. And so far? Not working out for you, huh?"

More laughter.

Adriana's fists shook.

She wasn't used to this.

She wasn't used to being mocked.

And she sure as hell wasn't used to losing.

Her next words came out in a deadly whisper.

"You should watch yourself, Sinclair."

Ava crossed her arms. "Or what?"

Adriana took another step forward, lowering her voice just for Ava to hear.

"You think this is bad?" she murmured. "I can make your life hell."

Ava didn't flinch.

Instead, she smiled.

"Newsflash, Adriana," she whispered back. "You're not as scary as you think you are.

Before Adriana could react, Xavier's voice cut through the air like a blade.

"Tell me something, Kingsley," he said, tilting his head.

Adriana turned to him, her glare sharp as daggers.

"What?" she snapped.

Xavier's smirk widened.

"If you were in her shoes, do you really think you'd survive?"

Adriana stiffened.

"Excuse me?" she hissed.

Xavier took a lazy step forward.

"I mean," he continued, "you've had everything handed to you your entire life. Your last name does all the work for you. But if you had to actually fight for your spot? Compete based on merit?"

His smirk turned sharp.

"I'm guessing you'd be out by week one."

The hallway exploded.

Gasps.

Laughter.

Phones whipped out to record the moment.

Adriana's face turned an ugly shade of red.

For a moment, she looked like she was about to explode.

But instead—

She spun on her heel.

Without another word, she stormed away, her followers scrambling after her.

And as she disappeared down the hall, Xavier turned to Ava, his smirk still in place.

"Congrats," he said. "You just made an enemy for life."

Ava exhaled. "Great."

Lily nudged her. "You know she's gonna come for blood next time, right?"

Ava nodded.

"Oh, I know."

And something in her tone said she was ready for it.