Page 91 of Offside Attraction

I grit my teeth, glaring at him. “Forgiveness doesn’t make you weak, Hayden. Holding onto revenge does.” I say, purposefully calling him Hayden just to mess with him.

Hayes scoffs, obviously offended as he crosses his arms. “So you’re saying it’s better to let people walk all over you? That’s weak.”

Ms. Aldridge’s eyebrows shoot up, but she doesn’t interrupt, clearly curious to see where this is going.

I turn in my seat to face him, my voice sharper than I intended. “It’s not about letting people walk all over you. It’s about being better than them.”

“And what does that get you?” he shoots back, his tone cold. “Nothing. If someone screws you over, you make them pay. That’s how you win.”

My chest tightens, anger bubbling up beneath the surface. I’m not just arguing about the book anymore, and we both know it. “Yeah, well, maybe you should think about why you’re so obsessed with revenge in the first place,” I snap. “Because it sounds more like fear than strength.”

Hayes’s smirk falters for just a second, his jaw tightening. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Don’t I?” I bite back, leaning forward. “Maybe you’re just too scared to admit it.”

The room is silent now, the tension so thick you could cut it with a knife. I can feel everyone’s eyes on us, but I don’t care. My gaze is locked on Hayes, the bane of my existence, and I’m not backing down.

Ms. Aldridge finally steps in, her voice sharp. “Alright, that’s enough from both of you. This is not a debate club, and I won’t have you turning my classroom into a battleground.”

“You’re full of shit, Dakota, you know that?” Hayes says, his words laced with anger as he leans forward in his seat, his jaw tight. His tone is low, but it carries every syllable dripping with venom.

I don’t flinch. “Is that so? Well, at least I don’t pretend to be someone I’m not,” I fire back, my voice steady, even as the heat rises in my chest.

A few students murmur quietly, shifting in their seats, clearly uncomfortable, but I don’t care. It’s just me and Hayes now, the rest of the room fading into the background.

“Pretend to be someone I’m not?” Hayes repeats, his voice incredulous, his smirk returning, sharper now. “That’s rich, coming from the guy who hides behind a tough act because deep down, he knows he’s just a little pussy.”

My fists clench under the desk, but I force myself to stay calm. “Better than being a coward who pushes people away because he’s afraid of what they’ll see when they get too close.”

Hayes’s eyes narrow, his expression darkening, and for a moment, I think he’s going to say something else, but Ms. Aldridge’s voice cuts through the tension again.

“Enough! Both of you!” She glares at us, her eyes flashing.

I sink back into my seat, my hands clenched into fists beneath the desk. Hayes looks away, but not before shooting me a glare that feels like a challenge.

Ms. Aldridge sighs, pinching the bridge of her nose. “Since you two seem to have so much energy to spare, you can work it off in detention. Both of you. Today after school.”

My stomach drops, and I hear a few stifled laughs from the back of the room. Great. Exactly what I need—more time stuck with this piece of shit.

“You can’t do that,” Hayes says, his voice laced with venom as he glares at Ms. Aldridge. His perfect composure cracks just enough to show how much this bothers him. My guess? He’snever been in detention before. The prince of Crestview, who walks around like he owns the place, wouldn’t know what it’s like to face any real consequences.

Unlike me. Detention might as well be my second home. I’ve been in and out of it so much at my past schools that it’s almost routine. Fighting, skipping class, mouthing off to teachers—you name it, I’ve probably done it. Coming back here hasn’t exactly helped my track record, either.

Ms. Aldridge doesn’t flinch under Hayes’s glare. She’s dealt with worse, and it shows. “I can and I have, Mr. Griffin. And unless you’d like to spend even more time in detention, I suggest you be quiet and accept the consequences of your behavior.”

Hayes doesn’t back down, his jaw tight as he grips the edge of his desk. For a split second, I think he’s going to argue again, but then he exhales sharply and scoffs, his frustration radiating off him.

I smirk, unable to resist. “First time in detention, Griffin? Don’t worry, I’ll show you the ropes.”

He turns his glare on me, and if looks could kill, I’d be six feet under. “Go fuck yourself, Miller.”

“Both of you, enough,” Ms. Aldridge snaps, her tone sharp. “One more word, and you’ll be spending the rest of the week in detention.”

The room goes silent, but the tension between Hayes and me is electric. I can feel his anger from here, and if I’m honest, it’s satisfying. Because for once, the prince of Crestview doesn’t get to walk away scot-free. And as much as I’m dreading detention with him, there’s a small, petty part of me that’s looking forward to seeing him squirm.

“Also, both of you, report to the principal’s office by the end of this class,” Ms. Aldridge adds, her tone leaving no room for argument.

Shit.