Nothing tempted fate to knock Senna down quite like feeling that she was on top of the world. And as she strode down the hall, a celebratory smile tugging at her lips, fate did just that. 

“Look at you.” Like that, her smile vanished. Senna groaned, locking eyes with her unwanted company. Brooke leaned against the wall, staring down at Senna with a half lidded gaze, a smirk plastered across her lips. One of her hands was tucked into the pocket of a black leather jacket, while the other traced slow circles along the wall. “You’re chipper. Is teacher nice and pleased, nerd?”

An involuntary guffaw forced its way past Senna’s lips. “Seriously? What are we in highschool? You realize the way university works is you pay to go here so you can get a degree right? If you don’t care about your grades then why are you even here?” 

Brooke scoffed, then scoffed again, then froze up, blinked a few times, and chewed her lip in thought. Senna smirked; at the very least, she quite liked the sight of Brooke at a loss for words. “Well, y’know…” Brooke froze. Her lips twitched, struggling to find a proper response. They didn’t do so well.  “I don’t need to try hard to get good grades.”

Thankfully, she seemed to realize her efforts were in vain, and kept quiet as Senna simply walked off without another word.

* * *

Hailey Prescott was an absolute mess of a baby-gay. Just wink at her and she’d start stammering. For Senna, flustering her was about as natural as breathing. She stood close, looming over the girl, gently pressing her into the wall. From there all it took was the right tone of voice. Senna leaned in to brush a lock of hair out of Hailey’s eyes. Then Brooke showed up.

“Careful there, Hailey.” God dammit. “I hear last time Senna tried that move on someone she nearly poked the poor girl’s eye out.” 

Whirling around to face the pest, Senna practically forgot Hailey even existed as all her focus and fury centered on one target. “That was one fucking time.” 

Brooke didn’t bother looking Senna’s way, instead addressing Hailey directly. “I hear some people say she did it on purpose.”

“I did not,” Senna groaned. “I told her that her foundation wasn’t doing a good job hiding the bags under her eyes, and she freaked out for some reason then jerked her head right into my thumb.”

Hailey looked between Brooke and Senna a few times, eyes wide.  “U-um, Senna are—”

“Besides,” Senna smirked, not taking her eyes off her rival. “I heard last time you went out with a girl, the second she wanted to do anything more than kiss you fumbled harder than a virgin tryna unhook his first bra.” 

Brooke waved the accusation away. “That’s just ‘cause I wasn’t interested and didn’t know how to let her down gently. Unlike you, I know how to treat a lady. Hailey, why don’t y—oh. She’s gone.” 

“She’s not gone you’re just—” as Senna turned to look for Hailey, the words died in her throat. She whirled around. “Look what you did!”

“Yeah right,” Brooke laughed. “Prolly realized you’d rather argue with me than flirt with her. I mean I get it, all the other little pillow princesses have it bad for me, you don’t need to pretend you don’t either.” 

The world went red. “Pillow pri—fuck you Brooke! Maybe—maybe—I could see how someone would like you at first glance. But anyone who’s into you clearly hasn’t spent more than five minutes with you.” Senna whirled around, and stormed off. Brooke called something after her, almost sounding a bit perplexed and put off. Senna didn’t bother paying her any mind.

* * *

Four thirty in the morning was hardly the nicest time to rise, but the random sorority girl Senna had shared a bed with slept with her elbows out, and Senna had no interest in doing the walk of shame down Greek row after the sun had risen. Unfortunately, her apartment was all the way on the other side of campus. Everything was going fine, not a soul awake. Then she rounded a corner and practically ran into Brooke. 

Brooke stumbled back, muttering a sleepy apology, before composing herself. It seemed to take her a few moments to realize who she found herself face to face with. But before Senna could disappear, a spark of recognition. A sleepy smile spread across Brooke’s face; then she did a double take; her smile twisted into a smirk. “Well, look here.”

Blood boiling, Senna threw her hands up in annoyance. “What the fuck are you doing up?”

Shrugging, Brooke checked her phone. “I dunno, couldn’t sleep, decided to go on a walk. Some rich kid who lives over on twelfth has been a creep to my roommate’s sister. Figured I might key his car or something.”

Groaning, Senna shook her head. “The bad-girl routine isn’t impressive.”

The light from a nearby lamp glistened off a beer can Brooke had hidden in her jacket, she sipped, wiped her mouth with her sleeve, then shrugged. “Whatever. What are you doing up?” She studied Senna, then grinned. “Find a new girlfriend after you blew it with Hailey the other day?”

“What if I did?” Senna growled, packing extra venom into each syllable. 

Brooke’s smile faded; she shrugged. “Whatever.”

* * *

“She’s up to something, I know she is,” Senna insisted, pacing the living room of her apartment.

“You said that twice already. Have you considered that she just found something better to do?” Judging by the look on her roommate and life-long friend’s face, Senna’s glare must have been truly withering. 

“That’s stupid, there’s no way. This is just her latest way of messing with me.” Senna paced the room, increasingly agitated.

“How is leaving you alone for three days messing with you?” Fucking hell, Lainie really didn’t get it, did she?

“She’s trying to psych me out, obviously.” Still pacing, she anxiously tugged at her hair. 

Lainie paused in thought, then grinned. “You’ve got it bad.” If looks really could kill, Senna was sure she and Lainie would find out soon enough. “Just sayin, you won’t shut up about her.”

“Cause she’s obnoxious.”

“You’re whining about a hot girl not giving you attention.”

Senna stopped short, still glaring. “Don’t you have something better? A date with some loser guy at some lame restaurant?”

“Fuck you, Senna.” Lainie shook her head, and sighed. “When did you become such a bitch? I miss the friend who couldn’t stop crying when I let her try on one of my dresses. What happened?”

Senna scoffed, rolling her eyes. “Guess I grew up. You should try it some time. Honestly, why do I bother?” 

* * *

Three days had passed since Senna’s little argument with Lainie; apparently her roommate was properly pissed about the way she’d acted. Senna had bigger problems to worry about: Brooke was still fucking with her. Every day without that stupid, annoying voice taunting her left Senna just that much more infuriated. Clearly Brooke was up to something, she was definitely doing this on purpose, but Senna wasn’t gonna let it get to her. Really, she should be grateful; Brooke was a thorn in Senna’s side. That bitch thought she was such hot shit, but Senna wouldn’t let her get under her skin; she wasn’t even going to think about that dumb wannabe delinquant. Just then, Senna rounded a corner and stopped dead.

Brooke was leaning against a tree, a casual smile on her obnoxiously good-looking face as she chatted up some random co-ed. She muttered something, her lips moving slow and deliberate, eyes never leaving the quivering girl before her. A blush crept over her catch’s cheeks, and she giggled. At that, Brooke reached out to gently take her hand and- oh hell no. Two could play at this game. 

“Wow, look who it is,” Senna taunted. “Tired of sloppy seconds from your shower head?” Wait—fuck—was that the best she could do? That didn’t even make sense.

Unsurprisingly, Brooke just gave her a perplexed look. “What are you—”

Huffing, Senna waved her failed insult away. “Nevermind! What’s your fucking game here? Huh?” 

Brooke turned to the woman she’d been flirting with, and muttered something too quiet to hear; she nodded and walked off, and Brook returned her attention to Senna. “I have no idea what you’re talking about. I haven’t spoken to you in days.”

“Oh, playing innocent, huh? Like that isn’t exactly what you’re up to.” Senna advanced, and stopped a few feet before Brooke, poking her in the chest. “Fess up, what’s your deal?” 

“There is no deal, I figured neither of us were getting anything out of this dumb rivalry so I decided to leave you alone. Apparently that’s not good enough for you though.”

“Yeah fucking right. As if I’d believe that.” Honestly, how dumb did Brooke think she was? Senna could hardly believe this shit. She eyed Brooke for a moment, looking her up and down, before catching something out of the corner of her eye. Brooke’s bag was open, and poking out of it, was what looked like a comic book of some kind. Its cover was decorated in pastel colors and a flowery font, depicting a shy, girlish character blushing as she stared up into the eyes of a taller, tomboyish character. A smirk crossed Senna’s face. “Hey, what’s that in your bag?”

“Huh?” Brooke turned to look, then went red. “Oh, just some—”

“It’s one of those girly manga things isn’t it?” The fact that Brooke only blushed deeper was all the indication Senna needed. “Oh my fucking god, I’m right, aren’t I? I can’t believe that Ms. Big Tough Delinquent reads flowery romance comics.

Still blushing, Brooke puffed up, “It’s good, okay? The story and characters are well written and the art is nice.” 

Laughter bubbling under every syllable, Senna pressed her advantage. “It’s probably porn, isn’t it? Fucking pervert.” Fast enough to even surprise herself a little, Senna’s hand darted out to snatch the book, and held it before her face. “The Petals of Maidens’ Flowers Blossom Among Spring Lilies? Jesus fucking Christ this is gold.”

“Oh whatever,” Brooke growled. “You think you’re such a fucking queen bitch, but I remember what you were like freshman year, all meek and timid. This is probably exactly your shit.” 

White hot anger boiled in Senna’s veins. The absolute nerve. “Fuck you, Brooke. You know what? Just to prove you wrong I’m gonna take this home, read it, and when I’m done I’ll tell you how it’s lame, saccharine drek.” 

A look of mild surprise and—was that amusement?—crossed Brooke’s face. “Go ahead. If you’re that obsessed.”

Not even bothering to dignify that with a response, Senna turned heel and stormed off.

* * *

Laying awake in bed, eyes staring into the darkness of her bedroom, Brooke sighed as she reflected on the events of the day. There she was again, pining after someone who seemed to hate her. And, admittedly, maybe she hadn’t been the best at genuine flirting and such, but openness required vulnerability, and even if Brooke were good at that, Senna was hardly the best person to be vulnerable around—case in point. The whole thing was so stupid. Brooke could probably have her pick of just about any gay girl on campus, but try as she might, she only had eyes for Senna. Day after day, she would find herself wondering what she even saw in her rival, but that never really mattered. The heart will want what it wants. Besides, truthfully, Brooke had plenty of reasons to like Senna. 

She was pretty, for one. And also trans, like her—though Brooke was certain Senna would rather Brooke forget that she knew that, and probably never paid Brooke enough attention when they talked to have picked up on the fact that she, too, was trans. Really, they were kindred spirits. Deep down, Brooke was certain Senna’s sharp edges were a defense mechanism, much like her own aloof delinquent act. As sleep began to take her, Brooke found herself wishing that somehow, some way, Senna might stop playing at queen bitch, and show Brooke the sweet, sensitive girl she was certain must lurk underneath.