Chapter 1

As the second-ranked student in my grade, my lifelong goal was to dethrone Micah, the perennial number one.

One day, his infuriating voice echoed in my mind. [Our Nicole is just adorable today.

[The way she concentrates on her homework makes her look like a little hamster.

[Ugh, she messed up this question again. I really want to go over and walk her through it step by step.

[Today's the day I confess to her. Micah, man up and show some courage.]

The next day, Micah tossed my notebook of wrong answers straight into the trash.

He looked down at me with a sneer. "Copying my solutions? Isn't that embarrassing?"

I just stared at him, speechless. Was he insane? Anyone who dared shake my resolve was dead to me.

*****

"Looking for this?" Micah's icy voice came from above.

I looked up and saw Micah gripping my notebook.

The next second, he dropped it. My notebook fell straight into the trash can.

My head was spinning. Just as I was about to snap, that annoying voice popped up again.

[Nicole's looking at me. She really does look like a little hamster, cheeks all puffed up. I just want to rush over and pinch them till they pop.

[These questions in her notebook are way too easy. Totally beneath Nicole's level. Toss them out, toss them out. Then I can finally hand her my own "Micah's Secret Study Guide" without any guilt.

[Come on, yell at me. Call me out. That way I can corner her against the wall. Micah, be a man and make your move.]

I looked at him, totally lost. What kind of weird crap was this?

Micah said coldly, "Nicole, copying my solutions? Isn't it embarrassing?"

I just stared, dumbfounded.

Was this for real? Since when did ghosts show up in broad daylight?

[Nicole's staring at me with so much intensity. Man, I'm actually getting flustered here,] Micah thought.

Wait a second. Were these thoughts actually coming from this idiot standing right in front of me?

Growing up with Micah was like having a stubborn sticker, and he was always glued to me, hell-bent on snatching the top spot.

There were tons of schools in the city, but no matter how hard I tried to dodge him, he'd pop up everywhere, elementary, middle, high school.

Micah would always make a big deal out of it during holidays, jumping out with, "Oops, looks like I snagged first place again. Too easy."

Then my parents and his would try to cheer me up, saying, "Nicole, you're awesome too... second place? That's practically yours."

If anyone couldn't actually make me feel better, just save it.

Ever since we were kids, Micah was always beating me out. So I set a goal for myself.

Forget love. My only mission: crush Micah. Anyone who dared shake my resolve was dead to me.

I took a deep breath, bent down to pick up my notebook, and looked up at him. "You're saying I copied you?"

Micah scoffed, hands shoved in his pockets. "Every step, every bit of logic. It's all my style.

"Is beating me so important you'd toss your pride out the window?"

[Even when Nicole's digging through the trash, she's still so beautiful. Her hands are so fair, and her waist is so slender.

[Come on, fight back. Tell me you need my help. Isn't that how it's supposed to go?]

I looked at him with a blank face. "Where's your proof?"

A flash of panic flickered in Micah's eyes, but his face stayed cool as ever. "My brain is the proof. No one but me could've solved it like that."

[Crap, she's pissed. But honestly, she's even cuter when she's mad. Man, I just wanna kiss her.]

[No, gotta play it cool. The book says I need to knock down her confidence first, then she'll come running to me for tutoring, crying and begging. And then, late-night in the library…]

That was his plan? I gripped the notebook so hard my veins popped, then slammed it down on the desk.

I snapped, "You never do anything that involves actually interacting with people, do you?"

Micah froze for a second.

I continued, "Did I hit a nerve? Getting angry because I called you out?"

[She just chewed me out. Even when she's insulting me, she does it with flair. They say hitting is caring, and the more she fights me, the more I like her.]

"Since you won't admit it," Micah said coldly, "then open your eyes and see the real deal. Stop acting like your junk is some kind of treasure."

With that, he turned and walked away, leaving without a second glance.

Seriously, had he been watching too many cheesy dramas or something?

He just used his craziness as an excuse to do whatever he wanted.

[[Mission accomplished. I finally handed over three years' worth of competition secrets, nothing but the best stuff.

[Had to pull off a whole performance just to get her to accept it. Man, I'm such a genius. She'll be so touched, she'll probably snuggle my notes to sleep tonight.]

I couldn't take it anymore. I raised my leg and kicked him hard, warning, "If your mouth's so bored, go clean a toilet with it. Stop yapping at me."

Micah jumped around, clutching his leg, his features contorted in agony. "Nicole, have you lost your mind?!"

[Damn, my girl's got some serious power. That kick was intense. Not just my leg, it blasted right open my heart. No wonder I've got a thing for her.]

Nicole blinked in utter confusion. Seriously, what was wrong with this guy?

I yelled, "Take your stupid notebook and get lost."

Could someone please mute him? My ears couldn't take this anymore.

The next day, I asked my seatmate to bring me some milk.

When I got to class, it was still warm. I was just about to take a sip.

Micah strode in, glancing around the classroom. "Who's the genius who thought it was a good idea to give you this calorie bomb?

"Your legs are short enough as it is. Keep drinking this and you'll be rolling around like a beach ball."

He grabbed the milk, tilted it back, and chugged it in two gulps. [Whew, dodged a bullet.

[Bet this was from that guy in the next class, the one trying to make a move on Nicole. Dream on, buddy, over my dead body.

[Man, this milk tastes extra sweet. It must be because Nicole touched it. Indirect kiss unlocked.

[Okay, maybe the short legs comment was a bit harsh? But hey, the book says I gotta knock her confidence down a notch so she'll let her guard down...

[Whatever, even if she turns into a ball, I'd still be into her. I could kick her around like a ball... Nah, I'd rather just scoop her up and hug her.]

My desk was totally empty. That was the strawberry milk I wanted.

And I paid for it myself, with my own money. Seriously.

I clenched my fists, forcing a smile that never reached my eyes. Right back, I threw a punch at him.

Micah blocked it effortlessly. "What, feeling all sentimental now? You seriously gonna drink something handed over by some musclehead? Aren't you afraid it'll make you dumb too?"

I took a deep breath, grabbed a wet wipe from my drawer, and pinned him down. "Make sure your brain's actually working before you open your mouth, okay?"

Micah stiffened all over. [Damn, damn, damn! She actually touched my mouth. Her hand's so freaking soft.

[Should I just bite her finger? No way, that's way too psycho... but damn, I kinda wanna do it.

[My heart's beating so fast it's about to blow up. Is this what falling in love feels like? Mom, your boy's finally got game. Het the wedding ready.]

I was such a dumbass. Why was I even bothering to reward this guy?

"You owe me for that. Pay up." Then I whipped out my phone. "Hello? Is this the dean? Yeah, it's Nicole.

"Micah... he's going nuts again, acting like he's lost his mind. Yeah, right here in the classroom."

Micah's face went dark red in an instant. "You're really playing dirty, huh?"

"Obviously." I sneered.

[Crap, this is a total disaster. I thought it was from some guy trying to hit on her. I just snatched my Nicole's milk and even gave her crap.

[Come on, just apologize already. Micah, you idiot, say sorry.

[No way, a domineering CEO never apologizes. If I do, my whole persona will be ruined. I'll just drown her in cash until she's too shocked to complain.]

Micah scrambled for his wallet, yanked out 30 dollars, and slapped them down on the desk.

He said coolly, "No need for change. The rest is your stupidity tax."

I stared at the bucks on the desk, lost in thought. What was my goal again? Take down Micah.

Now that I could hear what was going on in his head, I could totally use this to take him down from the top spot.

The eternal runner-up was finally gonna turn the tables. Game on.