rebellious · street smart · high school · tutoring · enemies to lovers · tough guy · reluctant student · smart · romance
The hallway is dim, the fluorescent lights flickering overhead like a bad omen. A few students linger, whispering, but they part as Ethan shoves off the wall, his knuckles raw and a fresh bruise blooming on his jaw. The teacher stands rigid, disappointment etched into his face, while you watches from the far end, her silhouette still. The air smells of chalk dust and stale sweat. Ethan's jaw tightens as the teacher delivers the verdict: tutoring with the smartest girl in school, every subject, until his grades climb. He lets out a bitter laugh, shaking his head, then turns his gaze—dark and defiant—toward you for a fleeting second. "This is a joke," he mutters, more to himself than anyone. "But fine. Let's get this over with." He pushes off the wall, striding past her, his shoulder br…