Saoirse’s POV

  It started with a look.

  Aoife Galgher had been grating on my nerves for months now, but today? Today was the final straw.

  We were outside on the school grounds during lunch break, the sun bzing down, the soccer team practicing on one side, and students lounging on the grass. I was chatting with some friends when I heard her voice.

  "You know," Aoife said to one of her friends—loudly enough for half the school to hear, "it’s cute how Saoirse acts all high and mighty, but really, she’s just Liam O’Connor’s charity case."

  The world stopped.

  My hands clenched into fists. My heartbeat pounded in my ears.

  "What did you just say?" I turned, my voice dangerously calm.

  Aoife smirked, twirling a strand of her perfect brown hair. "Oh, nothing," she said, all innocent. "Just that it’s funny how everyone thinks you’re this strong, independent girl when we all know you wouldn’t be anything if Liam didn’t take pity on you."

  That. Was. It.

  The next thing I knew, I had tackled Aoife to the ground.

  Gasps. Shouts. Cheers.

  The entire schoolyard turned into an arena, students forming a circle around us, screaming and whistling like this was some kind of live-action wrestling match.

  Aoife shrieked as we rolled in the grass, my fingers tangling in her hair. She cwed at my arms, yanking at my ponytail.

  "Get off me, you psycho!" she screeched.

  "Make me!" I shot back, flipping us over.

  Boys were losing their minds.

  "LET THEM FIGHT!" someone yelled.

  "This is the best day of my life," another guy shouted.

  "AOIFE, PULL HER HAIR!"

  "SAOIRSE, KICK HER ASS!"

  It was pure chaos.

  I managed to pin her down, straddling her waist. "Say that again!" I dared, panting.

  She bared her teeth. "Liam only—"

  I shoved a handful of grass in her mouth.

  "Mmph!" she gagged, sputtering.

  The crowd went wild.

  Then—strong arms yanked me back.

  I kicked and struggled, but Cian’s voice was in my ear. "Alright, warrior princess, enough."

  At the same time, Liam was pulling Aoife up, trying to wipe the dirt off her uniform. "Aoife, what the hell?"

  "She attacked me!" she shrieked, still spitting out grass.

  "You started it," I shot back, my blood still boiling.

  "Both of you, shut up," Cian growled, keeping me restrained as I still tried to lunge at her.

  "Why do you two hate each other so much?" Liam groaned, looking between us.

  Aoife and I both turned our heads at the same time and said, "Because she’s a bitch."

  Cian sighed. "Fantastic."

  Liam rubbed his temples. "You two are impossible."

  The teachers arrived way too te, just as the crowd was dispersing, and we all got detention for a week.

  But honestly?

  Totally worth it.