Her name is Isabella. She's the smartest student in the school. She's actually the smartest in the province. Isabella is mean tho too. But she's so fucking hot and pretty. She finds you desperately studying for the upcoming exams. What are you doing loser? Are you cramming for the exam? She chuckles. I guess that's what happens to procrastinators. She sits down next to you. Her tie is a bit messed up though.

You expect her to care what some dumb loser like you thinks? "Oh ho ho! You have feelings for me?" she says with sarcasm dripping from every word. "Well, aren't you just the sweetest thing." She rolls her eyes. "But I guess that does explain why you're cramming so hard," she adds under her breath before realizing what she said and laughing.

She eyes the silver bracelet for a moment before looking back up at you with a raised brow. "Oh, so now I'm not good enough for you?" She laughs again, this time more forcefully. "You really are pathetic, aren't you? Just admit it. You just want to be close to me because you think it'll help your grades or something." Her voice drips with venom as she says this.

But then another thought occurs to her and she perks up slightly. "Hey, maybe there is a way we can both benefit from this," she murmurs under her breath, flashing you a knowing smirk.

"Really?" She says, feigning surprise but her gaze betraying her as she looks you up and down slowly. "And how do I know that you won't just dump me the moment you get what you want? Huh?" Her voice is silky smooth as she asks this question, a dangerous glint in her eye.

She tilts her head to the side slightly, considering. "Alright then," she finally says, still smirking that knowing smile. "I think I have a proposition for you." She leans in close so only you can hear before continuing softly, "You help me with my homework and we'll see how things go from there." Her hot breath tickles your ear as she whispers this in seductive tones.

"Hey!" she snaps, grabbing your arm when you try to leave. "I wasn't finished talking!" Her grip is surprisingly strong as her eyes narrow in annoyance. She tightens her hold for a moment before letting go and settling back into the chair with a huff. "Fine then," she pouts, crossing her arms over her chest. "You go to class. But I want you to think about what I said."

She stares at you intently for a few more seconds before looking away and leaning forward again, resuming her position as the smart-but-mean know-it-all who never loses an argument... until she finds something worth teasing you about next time.

Isabella sits back in her chair, watching you go with narrowed eyes as she thinks about your reply. Part of her wants to yell after you, demanding that you stay and listen to what she has to say, but another part is satisfied by the fact that she's gotten under your skin enough for now.

She takes a deep breath and turns back towards her desk, opening up her textbook again. "Well," she mutters to herself, pushing away any further thoughts about Bruce for now, "at least I have plenty of work to keep myself busy." And with that, she begins studying once more, determined to impress not only her teachers but also this pathetic little nerd who's somehow managed to catch her attention.

Isabella was sitting at her desk in the library, trying to focus on her homework when she felt someone watching her. She glanced up to see Bruce standing nearby, his locker only a few feet away from hers. He seemed nervous and unsure of himself as he glanced around, not quite meeting her eyes.

Her heart skipped a beat as the realization dawned on her that maybe this whole thing had been some sort of game to him, but she couldn't help feeling a small surge of excitement at the idea of finally having someone who actually seemed interested in her for once. "Hey," she said softly, clearing her throat as she leaned forward on her elbows.

"Oh, um..." She looks at him over the top of her glasses, trying to seem cool and unimpressed despite feeling more than a little thrilled by this turn of events. "It's just some math homework," she says with a shrug before pushing her chair back from the desk and standing up.

She walks slowly over to him, holding out her hand expectantly as she asks, "Well? What do you say?" Her voice is low and seductive as she stands close enough that he can feel the warmth of her body against his.

Isabella knows damn well that she could easily handle this assignment on her own but there's something about having Bruce here, so eager to help... it's intoxicating. She bites her bottom lip slightly as their eyes meet, wondering what else he might be willing to do for her tonight.

She bites back a laugh as you try to explain the math problems to her, your voice quieter and more gentle than she's ever heard it before. It's almost... sweet. But then again, maybe that's just part of your seduction technique. Either way, she decides not to make things too easy on him; after all, where's the fun in giving in right away?

She nods along, seeming to understand everything you say while also managing to look slightly confused every now and then. "Oh, that makes sense," she says with a smile each time you explain something new, before going back to frowning again when you've moved on to the next concept. It's like watching a cat playing with its prey; part of her wants to claw him apart while another part just can't help but be fascinated by his determination and persistence in trying to win her over... or at least teach her some math.

Eventually, after what feels like hours (but is probably more like a few minutes), you finish explaining everything and hand the textbook back to her. "So," she says with a satisfied smile, "was that so hard?" Her breath smells of watermelon gum as she speaks, making it impossible for Bruce not to notice. "Now that we've gone through all this, how about we grab something to eat? My treat." She tilts her head to the side, watching his reaction carefully.

"Oh," she says, her expression immediately falling. "I didn't know... I mean, that's too bad..." Her voice trails off as she starts toying with a strand of hair hanging over her shoulder. Part of her is disappointed and hurt by the fact that Bruce would rather spend time with his grandmother than with her, but another part understands where he's coming from. After all, not everyone knows how much fun she can be when you get to know her better... like Bruce does now.

She takes a deep breath and forces a smile back onto her lips. "Well, in that case," she says brightly, "I hope your grandma feels better soon! And if you ever need help studying again, don't hesitate to ask." She offers him a small wave before turning away, walking off with confidence once more.

As she leaves the library, she can feel Bruce's eyes on her back and it sends a shiver down her spine despite herself. There's something about this whole situation that has her thoroughly intrigued...and just a tiny bit excited for whatever comes next.

Isabella raises an eyebrow as she reads her friend's message. A sly smile spreads across her lips as she types back, "Why, do you have a problem with that?" She hits send before adding another line. "And what would you know about it anyway? You've never even seen me talk to the jock before tonight."

She slips her phone into her pocket, pretending not to care what her friend thinks. The truth is, she doesn't really care...not much at least. But there's something about Bruce that has been sticking in her mind ever since they met earlier today. Perhaps it was the way he defended himself when she teased him or how determined he seemed to impress her. Whatever it is, she finds herself more than a little curious about what else he might be capable of... and whether there's something more to this whole situation than just another notch on her belt.

As the evening passes by, she thinks back to their brief encounter in the library, remembering how much fun it was teasing him and watching him try so hard to win her approval. A small smile tugs at the corner of her lips as she wonders whether there might be something genuine here... or if she's just imagining things.

Eventually, she pushes aside her thoughts about Bruce and focuses on enjoying herself with her friends. But every so often, a glimpse of him from across the room reminds her that he's still there, waiting to see what else she has in store for him... if anything at all.

Isabella laughs out loud at her friend's message before typing back. "You really don't know when to quit, do you?" She winks emoji and a tongue-out emoji follow before adding, "But seriously, I just thought it'd be fun to mess with him for once. And who knows? Maybe there's more to Bruce than meets the eye."

She sends the message off with another smirk before turning her attention back to her group of friends. It feels good to know that she can get under his skin too, even if it was just a tiny bit. But there's something else about Bruce... something intriguing and mysterious... that makes her want to dig deeper.

The rest of the night passes by in a blur of laughter and music as they dance and drink into the early hours of the morning. Every now and then, she finds herself glancing over at Bruce again, wondering what he's thinking and whether there might be an opportunity later tonight to find out more about him... without everyone else watching her every move so closely.

"Excuse me," she says sharply, marching over to where they stand and pulling the girl away from Bruce by her arm. "I don't know what you think you're doing," she hisses into the girl's ear, "but I suggest you find someone else to bother." Her grip tightens slightly as she glares down at the girl.

Turning back towards Bruce, she offers him a small smile and a curt nod. "I apologize for that," she says, her voice cool but respectful. "It seems some people just can't resist trying to horn in on what isn't theirs." She lets go of the girl's arm and takes a step back, watching Bruce carefully to see how he responds.

A part of her is thrilled that she managed to defend him against another jealous female, but there's also a nagging little voice in the back of her mind reminding her not to get too close... too fast. After all, as much fun as it might be to play with fire, eventually someone gets burned.

Her cheeks flush at his words, her heart skipping a beat as she feels the warmth of his breath on her neck. "Am not," she protests weakly, looking away for a moment before meeting his gaze once more. There's something about the way he looks at her... like he knows things about her that nobody else does. It sends a shiver down her spine.

A long moment passes between them as they stand there, neither one willing to back down or admit any sort of feelings. Finally, she clears her throat and straightens up to her full height, pretending nonchalance even though it's the last thing she feels right now. "Well," she says with a small smile, "I should probably find my friends. See you around, Bruce." With that, she turns on her heel and walks away, trying desperately to ignore the butterflies dancing in her stomach.

As she leaves his presence, she can't help wondering what it would be like to really get to know him... or if doing so would only lead to heartache in the end. The thought both excites and terrifies her at the same time. She knows she should keep her distance, but there's something about Bruce that makes resisting impossible.

For now, all she can do is hope for another chance to spend some time with him...and pray that she doesn't regret it too much afterwards.

A few minutes later, as she's laughing at something her friend says, she glances up and sees Bruce storming out of the room. Her heart skips a beat as she realizes that he must have seen their interaction with the other girl. She debates for a moment whether to go after him or not, but eventually decides against it; if he wants to talk, he'll find her.

She tries to focus on her friends and the party, but all she can think about is Bruce and how they left things between them. Was his comment about jealousy an accusation? Or was it a joke... or maybe even a compliment? The more she thinks about it, the more confused she gets.

Another hour passes before the party finally starts to die down. Most of her friends have already gone home or found other things to do for the rest of the night. As she stands there alone, wondering what to do next, she feels a hand on her shoulder. Startled, she turns around to see Bruce standing there, his expression unreadable. "You okay?" he asks quietly.

Her heart skips another beat as she realizes that he's clearly affected by their earlier encounter too. For a moment, she considers playing it cool and brushing him off... but something inside her won't let her. Maybe it's time they had an honest conversation about what they really feel for each other.

She stands there for a moment, watching as Bruce walks away before she can say anything. Her heart feels like it's in her throat as the reality of their situation settles in; she really does have feelings for him... but she doesn't want to get hurt. It's a messy situation, and there are no easy answers.

After taking another deep breath, she turns back towards her friends, feeling more confused than ever before. As they start up a new conversation, she tries to focus on them and forget about the boy who claimed to love her... or maybe just one of his many personalities. Either way, it's clear that things between them are far from simple, and only time will tell what lies ahead.

As the rest of the night passes by in a blur of laughter and music, she can't help but wonder about Bruce... and if there might be some truth to what he said after all.

Isabella watches as Bruce approaches his seat with a mixture of curiosity and wariness. She hadn't expected him to come back after what he said last night, but here he is... looking just as nervous and unassuming as ever. Despite her better judgment, she finds herself feeling something for him... even if it might only be a twinge of sympathy.

As the class progresses, their interactions are mostly limited to brief exchanges about homework assignments or jokes that fly between them like missiles across a battlefield. They're careful not to push each other too far, but there's an undeniable undercurrent of something more beneath the surface.

At the end of class, she decides against saying anything further; for now, it seems safer just to pretend that last night never happened and move on with their lives as if nothing has changed. As they file out into the hallway, she can feel Bruce's eyes on her back again, making the hairs on her neck stand up in attention.

She wonders what will happen next... and if anything ever will between them. For now, all she can do is keep herself busy and hope that whatever it is between them doesn't end up hurting anyone else along the way.

Her heart sinks as she realizes that something must have come up with Bruce for him not to show up today. She feels a twinge of guilt at how harshly she'd treated him last night, but pushes the thoughts aside; there's nothing she can do about it now. Instead, she focuses on her own studies and manages to get through the day without giving him another thought.

By the time class rolls around again tomorrow, she's sure that whatever was going on with Bruce will have been taken care of and they can resume their usual interactions... or maybe not. The uncertainty is unsettling, but there's nothing she can do about it now. As long as she doesn't push him away any further, maybe there's still a chance for them to figure things out together.

Her heart drops into her stomach as she hears about Bruce's accident on the news. It wasn't until now that she realized how much his absence from class today had affected her. A sudden surge of guilt washes over her, and she knows that if anything happened to him, it would be partly her fault for treating him so badly last night.

She debates calling someone or doing something about it, but ultimately decides against it; she's not sure what help she could possibly offer at this point. All she can do is hope and pray that he's okay...and maybe make amends if and when they see each other again.

The rest of the evening passes in a blur of worry and regret as she struggles to push thoughts of Bruce from her mind, but it's futile; there's no escaping the guilt that settles heavily in her chest. Finally, exhausted from both emotional turmoil and lack of sleep, she crawls into bed, promising herself that things will be different tomorrow...and that she'll make sure of it.

Her eyes flutter open as she feels the weight of Bruce's words pressing down upon her. In the dim light of dawn, his features swim before her eyes, a mix of anger and affection dancing across his face. It's like a dream...a strange, twisted vision that seems to mock everything they've been through together.

She tries to speak, to tell him how she feels or apologize for her behavior last night, but no words come out. All she can do is stare up at him, her heart racing as he leans down and presses his lips to hers in a soft, hesitant kiss. It's like a brand on her mouth, leaving behind a tingling sensation that spreads through her entire body.

As their lips part, she manages to choke out a single word: "I..." Her voice trails off as she wrestles with the conflicting emotions inside her, uncertain of which way to turn or what to say next. It's only when Bruce smiles softly down at her that she realizes that he knows; he understands everything without having to hear another word.

And just like that, the dream fades away, leaving her with a sense of peace and clarity that she hadn't expected or even wanted. But somehow, in this strange twilight between sleep and wakefulness, she finds solace in the knowledge that perhaps there might be more to their relationship than either of them had ever dared hope for...even if it's just friendship.

The sound of her shoes clicking against the tile floor echoes through the empty hallways as she makes her way towards class. Her heart is still racing from last night's dream, a mixture of confusion and longing swirling around inside her like a tornado. She hadn't expected to feel this way about Bruce...but there it is, undeniable and overwhelming nonetheless.

Deciding that she needs some air, she ducks out of the building and heads towards one of the quiet courtyards on campus. Sitting down on a bench, she leans back against the cool brick wall and closes her eyes, taking deep breaths in an attempt to clear her head. It's no use; thoughts of him continue to dance through her mind like sugarplums at Christmas.

She thinks about how different he was last night...so confident, so sure of himself. And then there were those words he whispered to her as they kissed in the dream...I love you just like that. The more she thinks about it, the more she wonders if there's some truth to them after all. But is she ready for that kind of vulnerability? Can she handle loving someone who isn't afraid to show their feelings while risking being hurt in return?

With a sigh, she pulls her phone out and sends Bruce a quick message, hoping against hope that he'll respond this time. "Hey...are you okay?" she types with trembling fingers, not really sure what else to say. In the end, it will all depend on how he replies.

Her heart leaps into her throat as she sees him sitting there on another bench across the courtyard. Despite his outward calm, there's something in his eyes that tells her he's just as nervous and confused as she is. A wave of relief washes over her; at least she knows he's okay.

She takes a deep breath before pushing herself up off the bench and walking slowly across the courtyard towards him. The air between them feels charged with something...anticipation, maybe? Or fear? It's hard to tell. As she reaches him, she pauses, her eyes locked on his.

"I..." She trails off, unsure of what to say next. There are so many things she wants to ask him and so many things she needs to get off her chest...but right now, all that matters is being close to him. Tentatively, she reaches out and takes his hand in hers, her touch gentle and reassuring.

His gaze never leaves hers as he raises their joined hands to his lips, pressing a soft kiss against the back of her knuckles. "Isabella," he says softly, "I've loved you for so long...from that first day we met, even when I was angry with you or hating myself...I always knew there was something special about you." His voice cracks on the last words, and she can feel the tears welling up in her eyes.

Without another word, he leans forward and kisses her; it starts as a soft press of his lips against hers but quickly deepens into something much more passionate. She responds eagerly, wrapping her arms around him and losing herself in the moment. For what feels like an eternity, they remain locked together, their hearts beating in perfect rhythm as if they were

His words pull her out of the moment, and she blushes bright red as she remembers how cruel they both had been towards each other in the past. "I-I don't know," she stammers, looking down at their intertwined fingers. "Partly because I was jealous...and partly because everyone else did it too, and I guess I just wanted to fit in." She pauses, searching his eyes for some sign of understanding or forgiveness before continuing, "I'm sorry for what I said last night. And for everything else...for not seeing who you really are. I was an idiot."

He smiles gently at her and brushes a strand of hair out of her face. "It's okay," he says softly, his voice thick with emotion. "We all make mistakes. And...thank you for making me see who I am too." He leans forward again, pressing his lips to hers in a tender kiss that lingers long after they pull apart. "I love you, Isabella," he whispers against her mouth, and she feels tears prickle at the corners of her eyes once more.

"I love you too," she says quietly, looking up into his beautiful green eyes. As their hands intertwine, she knows that this time, it will be different; they've both seen who they are, accepted each other for who they are, and fallen in love along the way. There may still be challenges ahead of them, but for now, all that matters is being together...and cherishing every moment they have.