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.
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE1Ofc03GDU
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.
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlc8R1k65Yw
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!
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnjzWFiXz08
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!
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9DeFRMDgkT
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!
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKeud7PAvE4
"Darn her," I muttered, strolling through the school halls with my hands in my pockets, fixated on one thing – Hazel Hunt, always Hazel Hunt.
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsNn4HMguuT
"Chill, boss, don't get all worked up," Charlie advised, standing beside me.
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeW35dNd3EG
"How can I not be ticked off!" I snapped, drawing attention from nearby students who quickly averted their gaze upon realizing it was me.
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFmJfRyRJIo
"That girl has wrecked everything," I grumbled.
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt8Zcx5A14I
"Well, what if we lay low around her? Get a bit sneakier with our money moves?" Charlie suggested.
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7HuZU6eMAg
"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..."
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKfkZ582BPY
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.
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhI0x3IrSRK
"I'll show her who's boss. I'll prove it during P.E.," I declared, determined to reclaim my dominance.
***
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBLKTgYnP4L
"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.
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxG1CM12TL1
"What do you want?" she huffed, clearly annoyed.
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDXo2hYhaIu
"A challenge!" I declared, pointing my finger right at her.
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjicTeVRbdR
"Huh?" she replied, raising one eyebrow, clearly curious about what I had up my sleeve.
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiKuNGcDxJI
"What the heck are you on about now, rat?" Hazel asked, her eyes reflecting nothing but disinterest.
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaFqUicgqgI
"A push-up challenge, right here and right now!" I proclaimed.
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNhbAnd7nvh
"What?" Hazel said, raising one eyebrow, clearly puzzled.
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSuT03DXdHP
"You, me, this moment, push-ups. I challenge you!" I shouted, grabbing the attention of a few onlookers.
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ4QXElmo9B
"What do you hope to gain from this?" she asked, crossing her arms.
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsVGt5PgvXW
"Your ass underfoot," I replied nonchalantly, not really caring how that sounded.
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡINnIviguNr
"What?" Hazel seethed.
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ18i6kE1AwV
I could practically see the veins on her forehead as she held back from clocking me in the face.
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgqc8t7QJk6
"You heard me," I smirked. "Push-ups now."
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhmSEtACVAO
Hazel marched toward me at a brisk pace, stopping just inches away.
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqEEm9zIcua
"Fine," she gritted her teeth. "I guess it'd be a nice change from kicking your butt," she said, smirking back.
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ7SJswfNRM
"Today's the day," I thought to myself as Hazel and I got in position.
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3lrKNdmM7X
I shot her a smile, but her eyes were glued to the ground, totally uninterested.
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrw33eSwmWR
"As many push-ups as we can crank in a minute," I declared, convinced I could pull off at least 40, if not 50.
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX2GOzM0qTh
Hazel stayed silent, eyes still fixed on the floor.
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVovVdfvud5
"Ready," I said. "Begin!" I yelled, diving into my set without wasting a second.
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqhR7jIOy1z
In no time, I was pushing close to 20, sweat dripping, but I didn't let up.
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaXMJDuEcJR
Smirking, I soaked in the gasps and wows from the crowd. "Yeah, I know I'm amazing," I thought again.
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC2XwgkpaqJ
Turning my head slightly to the right, I soon realized I wasn't the one stealing the spotlight.
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMg2UrDj2hS
"What the?"
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDnpqo8c3E3
"I said, looking at Hazel who was hitting an unreal speed, knocking out a dozen push-ups in a single second.
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHG70BIKhcN
"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.
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡocer89f3lB
"Time!" one of the students called.
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYvjAHKeIeZ
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.
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5IPWOtOgFX
"Darn her," I thought.
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ54sDUIioN3
"This isn't over," I declared, pulling myself up.
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQQ8KIwMXgV
"Oh yeah? Looks pretty over to me," she said, crossing her arms.
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtmCt24x4nJ
"Sit-ups," I insisted, anger flaring.
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOQETdYuPsU
"Really?" she sighed.
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡamq4NKPeQG
"Sit-ups!" I repeated, not willing to take no for an answer.
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPIzxwAioYb
"Fine," she said with a bored look.
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxnCT43Gy6z
"Ready," I said, once again next to Hazel, getting set for the next challenge. "Begin!" I yelled as the sit-up competition kicked off.
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXo3ZSW3cD4
"Winner Hazel!" a student called out after a minute had passed.
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqMnzUcdDpD
"Dang it! Squats!" I shouted, refusing to throw in the towel.
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5JJ3f05O8Q
"Winner Hazel!" another student announced, this time with less enthusiasm.
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiKOWA5JdjG
"Dang it. A race!" I insisted.
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzeQHVuBlA4
"Winner Hazel."
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqkUnfIYhs8
"Dang it, dang it, dang it!" I yelled, my body drenched in sweat, breath nearly gone.
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR6Hl9m9jtc
"Dude, give up," she said, still looking unfazed after all the exercises.
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQwf9C7dIHy
"Was I seriously the only one putting in effort here?" I thought.
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyruIA4AE7P
The score wasn't even funny.
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4VVz4Rqdrp
- Push-ups: 55/90 [Winner Hazel]
- Sit-ups: 40/90 [Winner Hazel]
- Squats: 50/90 [Winner Hazel]
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBzh9OYN7T7
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.
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWdPldhl8XB
Hazel halted and looked back at me, a proud smile stretching across her face. "Because, little rat, you're weak."
***
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPqyPtEyIgI
Author notes: Please support my work on Patreon for early access to new chapters. https://patreon.com/DarkMatteromniverse
ns3.12.164.78da2
