Chapter 18 Chapter 18
Chapter 18 Chapter 18
Chapter 18
Lana’s POV
People always think I don’t notice things.
That I’m too busy being “queen bee” or whatever stupid title they’ve given me to actually pay attention.
They’re wrong.
I notice everything.
Especially when something threatens what’s mine.
And right now?
Her.
Aria Bennett.
She was standing in the middle of the field like she belonged there.
Like she hadn’t just walked into this school and started shifting everything.
My fingers tightened slightly around my pom poms as I watched her from the sidelines. Practice had ended for the cheer team, but I didn’t leave. I stayed. Because something told me I needed to.
Because something felt… off.
“Lana, you coming?” Tasha called from behind me.
“In a minute,” I replied without looking back.
“Don’t stay too long. Coach already warned us about—”
“I said in a minute.”
She went quiet.
Good.
I didn’t have the patience for pointless chatter right now.
My eyes stayed locked on the field.
On her.
Aria stood near the benches, flipping through a notebook like she wasn’t completely out of place here. Like she hadn’t just inserted herself into a system that didn’t need her.
Didn’t want her.
And yet… there she was.
Still standing.
Still trying.
Still not breaking.
Annoying.
“Enjoying the view?”
I didn’t turn.
I didn’t have to.
I knew that voice.
“Go away, Dominic,” I said flatly.
He stepped beside me anyway, hands in his pockets, gaze fixed on the same spot as mine.
On her.
Interesting.
“You’ve been staring for a while,” he said.
“So have you.”
Silence.
He didn’t deny it.
That told me more than I needed.
“She’s not your type,” I added casually.
That got his attention.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
I shrugged lightly. “You like easy. Predictable. Girls who follow you around like lost puppies.”
His jaw tightened slightly. “You sound bitter.”
I let out a soft laugh. “I sound observant.”
“She’s none of your business, Lana.”
“Oh, but she is,” I said, finally turning to look at him. “Everything that happens in this school is my business.”
“That’s not how this works.”
“It is when it affects me.”
“And how exactly does she affect you?”
I held his gaze.
Steady.
Unblinking.
“She’s trying to take my spot.”
His brows furrowed slightly. “Your spot?”
“Cheer captain,” I said simply. “Or did you miss the part where she suddenly wants to join the team?”
He blinked once.
Then let out a short breath.
“She told you that?”
“She didn’t have to,” I replied. “I can see it.”
He looked back at her.
Really looked this time.
Like he was trying to figure something out.
“You’re overthinking it,” he said finally.
I smiled.
Slow.
Sharp.
“Am I?”
“Yes.”
“Then why are you watching her too?”
That shut him up.
For a second.
Then
“I’m not.”
“Liar.”
His jaw clenched.
“You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Oh, I know exactly what I’m talking about,” I said, stepping closer. “You’ve been different since she showed up.”
“That’s not true.”
“It is,” I insisted. “You’re distracted. You’re off your game. You’re—”
“Stop.”
His voice cut through mine.
Low.
Sharp.
A warning.
I tilted my head slightly, studying him.
Interesting.
“She matters,” I said quietly.
“No, she doesn’t.”
“You’re a terrible liar.”
“I’m not lying.”
“Then prove it.”
Silence.
There it was again.
That hesitation.
That crack.
I smiled.
Because I saw it.
Even if he didn’t want to admit it.
“She’s a distraction,” I continued. “And distractions get dealt with.”
His eyes snapped to mine. “Don’t.”
“Don’t what?”
“Don’t start something you can’t finish.”
I laughed softly. “Please. I always finish what I start.”
“Lana—”
“You’re worried,” I cut in. “That’s new.”
“I’m not worried.”
“You are,” I said. “About her. About him. About whatever this is.”
His expression hardened.
“Stay out of it.”
“No.”
“That wasn’t a suggestion.”
“Good,” I replied. “Because I wasn’t asking.”
We stared at each other.
Tension thick.
Familiar.
This wasn’t new.
We’ve always been like this.
But this?
This felt different.
Because this time…
There was someone else in the middle of it.
Aria.
I looked back at her.
Still there.
Still standing.
Still not breaking.
Fine.
If she wanted to play this game…
I’d let her.
But she wouldn’t win.
“Tryouts are tomorrow,” I said casually.
Dominic frowned. “For what?”
“Cheer team,” I replied. “Open slots.”
His gaze flicked to Aria again.
Then back to me.
“You’re setting her up.”
I smiled.
Sweet.
Innocent.
“Am I?”
“She’s not ready.”
“That’s not my problem.”
“You know how brutal those tryouts are.”
“Exactly.”
Silence.
Then, quieter
“You’re going to break her,” he said.
I shrugged.
“If she breaks, she doesn’t belong here.”
His jaw tightened.
“And if she doesn’t?”
I smiled again.
But this time…
It didn’t reach my eyes.
“Then we’ll see how long she lasts.”
\---
I didn’t approach her immediately.
I waited.
Watched.
Let her settle into that false sense of security she seemed to have built around herself.
Then I moved.
Slow.
Deliberate.
Every step calculated.
“Enjoying the field?”
She looked up as I approached, her expression neutral.
Too neutral.
“I am,” she replied.
Confidence.
I hated it.
“You won’t for long,” I said.
Her brows lifted slightly. “Is that a threat?”
“It’s a fact.”
She closed her notebook slowly, standing to face me fully.
“I don’t scare easily, Lana.”
“I’m not trying to scare you.”
“Then what are you doing?”
I smiled.
Leaning in slightly.
“I’m giving you a chance to walk away.”
She didn’t move.
Didn’t flinch.
Didn’t even blink.
“I’m not walking away.”
Of course she wasn’t.
That would’ve been too easy.
“Then you’re making a mistake,” I said.
“Or maybe I’m making a choice.”
I tilted my head.
Studying her.
“You think you can just walk into my team and take a spot?”
“I think I can earn one.”
“You won’t.”
“Watch me.”
The confidence again.
God.
I almost admired it.
Almost.
“Tryouts are tomorrow,” I said.
“I know.”
“Do you?” I asked. “Because those aren’t school tryouts. Those are mine.”
She held my gaze.
Unshaken.
“I’ll be there.”
“Good,” I replied. “I’d hate for you to miss your chance.”
“To fail?”
“To prove me right.”
A small smile tugged at her lips.
“That’s not going t
o happen.”
We stood there for a moment.
Neither of us backing down.
Neither of us blinking.
Then I stepped back.
Breaking it.
“Be ready,” I said.
“I always am.”
We’ll see.
I turned and walked away.
Not because I was done.
But because I had already set everything in motion.
Tomorrow wasn’t just a tryout.
It was a test.
And one way or another…
Aria Bennett was going to break.
The only question was
How badly.