So, like, it's been a freaking week since those nightmares that were supposed to be just in my head decided to crash the party of reality. And guess what these nightmares are? A massive, unscalable wall, and to make it even worse, it's got the mug of my ultimate annoyance, Hazel Hunt.
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXtbqUzJcDt
This past week has been a total buzzkill. My school, which I used to rule like it was my personal kingdom, is no longer under my command. And why, you ask? Hazel Hunt, that's why.
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6REGDOknjS
Ever since day one, she's been this thorn in my side, ruining my hustle when it comes to collecting lunch money from the weaklings who owe me. Like, seriously, what's her deal? She's messing with my business, man!
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXu9Miv29Lv
I mean wherever I looked she was their to ruin my day, I mean what did I do to deserve all of this, I mean what the hell!
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrHb1xQeX4R
I've tried settling things with some old-school, fist-to-face diplomacy, but every time we throw hands, it's a disaster. Me and my crew end up on the ground, noses bleeding, bodies covered in scars. It's total madness!
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT2SfkPVp31
"Darn her," I muttered, strolling through the school halls with my hands in my pockets, fixated on one thing – Hazel Hunt, always Hazel Hunt.
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCOKLaIqCcf
"Chill, boss, don't get all worked up," Charlie advised, standing beside me.
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1hlMoTAKOQ
"How can I not be ticked off!" I snapped, drawing attention from nearby students who quickly averted their gaze upon realizing it was me.
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk3qa55pgxl
"That girl has wrecked everything," I grumbled.
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEevusOULDe
"Well, what if we lay low around her? Get a bit sneakier with our money moves?" Charlie suggested.
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1pd6rwmyq0
"What? Run and hide?" I retorted, the mere idea making me sick. "I'm not giving her that satisfaction!" I bellowed, grabbing Charlie's collar. "Say it again! Say it again, and I'll..."
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaNCNUz8OgT
My sentence trailed off as fear washed over Charlie's face – a look I'd seen a dozen times before. Releasing his collar, I continued down the hall, dismissing the stares and whispers of the crowd. They weren't worth my time.
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWWFYXHclGQ
"I'll show her who's boss. I'll prove it during P.E.," I declared, determined to reclaim my dominance.
***
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ8D1FQrCAV
"Hey, Hunt!" I shouted, strutting through the basketball courts in my PE gear – blue shorts and a grayish shirt with our school name splashed in the middle.
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrqn8qUbLls
"What do you want?" she huffed, clearly annoyed.
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9hjUMko9ry
"A challenge!" I declared, pointing my finger right at her.
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo0kqv7dlfk
"Huh?" she replied, raising one eyebrow, clearly curious about what I had up my sleeve.
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHkScRxBFzi
"What the heck are you on about now, rat?" Hazel asked, her eyes reflecting nothing but disinterest.
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOk1mNr5VlY
"A push-up challenge, right here and right now!" I proclaimed.
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5rE3sYRcTU
"What?" Hazel said, raising one eyebrow, clearly puzzled.
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTXjWl3AB8r
"You, me, this moment, push-ups. I challenge you!" I shouted, grabbing the attention of a few onlookers.
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqM79iX8gMk
"What do you hope to gain from this?" she asked, crossing her arms.
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY4qqj6jpRF
"Your ass underfoot," I replied nonchalantly, not really caring how that sounded.
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4BVeEkPFzt
"What?" Hazel seethed.
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGne0AbOJN8
I could practically see the veins on her forehead as she held back from clocking me in the face.
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQHHS35ZgVx
"You heard me," I smirked. "Push-ups now."
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp0N7klZFrA
Hazel marched toward me at a brisk pace, stopping just inches away.
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsnPWxyAppI
"Fine," she gritted her teeth. "I guess it'd be a nice change from kicking your butt," she said, smirking back.
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnRueDHxlg6
"Today's the day," I thought to myself as Hazel and I got in position.
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmBIFm90LpN
I shot her a smile, but her eyes were glued to the ground, totally uninterested.
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTvUjM5NKMC
"As many push-ups as we can crank in a minute," I declared, convinced I could pull off at least 40, if not 50.
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWN6ibB4wZI
Hazel stayed silent, eyes still fixed on the floor.
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiFTFtgGicJ
"Ready," I said. "Begin!" I yelled, diving into my set without wasting a second.
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA6wwRhFRjz
In no time, I was pushing close to 20, sweat dripping, but I didn't let up.
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsmS9o4MWvD
Smirking, I soaked in the gasps and wows from the crowd. "Yeah, I know I'm amazing," I thought again.
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCfuveZBQi6
Turning my head slightly to the right, I soon realized I wasn't the one stealing the spotlight.
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfT81CAtZor
"What the?"
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm3FFNQalyO
"I said, looking at Hazel who was hitting an unreal speed, knocking out a dozen push-ups in a single second.
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpNLoCGbHxB
"Shit," I muttered between breaths, picking up my pace. I hit 30, then 40, then 50, but it didn't matter because, even though I sped up, Hazel, that witch, did the same.
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmfBBT6zjMd
"Time!" one of the students called.
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiXCdfDamBm
I collapsed, doing everything I could to catch my breath, while Hazel just stood up without breaking a sweat. No heavy breathing, no sign of effort. She looked down at me with that infuriating smirk.
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKG7MhCBQKx
"Darn her," I thought.
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQkLWVsevM7
"This isn't over," I declared, pulling myself up.
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMu9xZIULXu
"Oh yeah? Looks pretty over to me," she said, crossing her arms.
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdNxLAwxjjO
"Sit-ups," I insisted, anger flaring.
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY6CaQNiBtN
"Really?" she sighed.
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS6M766AXnQ
"Sit-ups!" I repeated, not willing to take no for an answer.
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaYPoXXILXH
"Fine," she said with a bored look.
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoEAuTMIE3F
"Ready," I said, once again next to Hazel, getting set for the next challenge. "Begin!" I yelled as the sit-up competition kicked off.
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaOGCGi9b4i
"Winner Hazel!" a student called out after a minute had passed.
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBQBISumRSu
"Dang it! Squats!" I shouted, refusing to throw in the towel.
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYgF8uaZjXy
"Winner Hazel!" another student announced, this time with less enthusiasm.
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVehXANsNAl
"Dang it. A race!" I insisted.
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcnfmdQLUxA
"Winner Hazel."
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK4U7xVZluL
"Dang it, dang it, dang it!" I yelled, my body drenched in sweat, breath nearly gone.
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk08WrQUNdW
"Dude, give up," she said, still looking unfazed after all the exercises.
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOSo6hjKQtg
"Was I seriously the only one putting in effort here?" I thought.
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAuM2qiAfqI
The score wasn't even funny.
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHKWASpQaFR
- Push-ups: 55/90 [Winner Hazel]
- Sit-ups: 40/90 [Winner Hazel]
- Squats: 50/90 [Winner Hazel]
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ3i4HKdlt3
I won't even bring up the race; my embarrassment is suffocating enough. "Dang it, why can't I beat you!" I yelled as I watched her stroll away.
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1wINoTYAUo
Hazel halted and looked back at me, a proud smile stretching across her face. "Because, little rat, you're weak."
***
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSIKs3MqoEj
Author notes: Please support my work on Patreon for early access to new chapters. https://patreon.com/DarkMatteromniverse
ns3.139.64.39da2
