Loved Rivals

1

"Kottie ? Come down for some pancakes, i know you've been studying for a long time now, so here's a little treat." A voice echoed from downstairs.
Dakota took a deep breath, shut her textbook close, and descended from the grand staircase. With each step she takes, her mind fills up with thoughts of him - the sole reason she's studying so hard for.
No, she didn't give a single fuck about her academic future, nor how her parents would react if she got a low score. Her only focus in mind was to attend the same university as him.
Now who's the mystery him here ? Matthew Donalds, a political science major just like her sister. He had moonlight like hazel eyes dipped with flicks of emerald in the centre, his freckles creating a pattern in his nose and cheeks, and a chiselled jawline that could slice every one of his enemies' head off.
Snapping back into reality, she dusts off the syrup in the pancake with her fork. She despised syrup.
"Mom, can i go to a party this sunday ? All my friends are going." The modulated voice came from across the table, which was her sister, Kendra.
"Sure honey. What time is it ?"
"At seven o clock sharp. The venue's just 25 minutes away from here, I can tell David to drive me there."
"Ok make sure to inform him then." Her mother, Brynlyn, continues with her meal.
"Mom can i go too ?" Dakota's voice shivered, knowing there's a 90% chance she wouldn't be allowed to.
Brynlynn sighed, taking a sip of her plain black coffee, she got up from the table and handed the cup to their butler, finally mouthing the words "I don't think so"
Rolling her eyes, Dakota asks for a reason, thinking that she's more than capable of managing her time to prepare for the HFEs - Heston Final Exams, which determines their future in education. Scoring high gets you into a good university, and vice versa.
"You still have to study for the HFEs, and it's in less than a year. Look at your friends, they're probably studying right now. And you ? All you think about are parties, hangouts and sleepovers."
"Do you have Alzheimer's? Or do you not remember telling me that i've been studying so hard that you made pancakes just 10 minutes ago ?" She crossed her arms, expecting an approval, followed by some encouraging words about the upcoming exam. Instead, she was met by a slap.
"Ow ! Why did you do that"
"Watch your manners, young lady. With an attitude like this, you would never have a bright future."
Mocking her mother's gestures, she rushed towards to staircase, stepping away from another argument with her stubborn mother that could cause potential trouble.
She refuses to take out her textbooks and continue to study, since it wouldn't make a difference and her mom still wouldn't let her go to the party.
There's only one way to get what she wants.

At six forty five, she exits from one of the backdoors and waits for the cab she called a few hours ago. Informing the butler, who probably heard their conversation about the party the other day, that she would be going to her friend's house for a project, she puts on a black trenchcoat, covering the knee-cut midnight blue coloured dress.
Arriving at the venue, she was immediately met by Pierre , Matthew's friend.
"Hi" He waved at her.
"Hi. And by the way, do you know where Matthew is ?"
"I last saw him by the bar. He's probably still there."
"Ok thanks."
Searching the crowd for a familiar face, she gives up knowing that the only 'familiar' face she knew was Adrisha, her best friend.
She's never been to parties like this before, with seniors drinking and dancing under the disco lights all night, the DJ being drunk and hitting random beats that are still enjoyed by everyone, every corner being filled with either gossipers or guys trying to hit girls up. Walking towards the bar, she spots Kendra, but avoids eye contact.
Kendra and Matthew were sitting really close together, chatting. Her sister was never the dating type so she doesn't think much about it. She scooted closer to Matthew, waiting for her sister to leave so she could be alone with him. Besides, Kendra's a snitch, so there's no way she would let her find out.
After thousands of 'excuse me's and 'sorry's , she managed to stay away from the two of them, avoiding further trouble. She would be dead if her mom found out.
"KOTTIE ?" Someone shouted from behind. There's only one person who would call her that nickname at school, and it's not even her own sister, but Adrisha.
"ADDY !"
"You made it ! I thought you said you couldn't and i was reconsidering whether i should go or not just now since you won't be here but here you are"
"Well i mean i kinda snuck out. I'm trying to avoid my sister though, she's def gonna tell on me."
"Yeah. And we should probably be studying at home instead of going to this party but who cares"
"I know right, speaking of studying, how much have you revised yet ? I'm trying to get a good score this time and it's practically impossible cuz all i get in school exams are C's." She took a sip of the fruit punch sitting on the counter in the bar, which was free of alcohol.
"Oh i think i've made progress and if i continue to work hard i think i wouldn't do too bad."
"You do get A's and B's so it wouldn't be a problem for you."
"It's actually really hard to ace the HFE's. My cousin, a top scorer at school, only got a 780 over a thousand."
"Not for my sister though, she got a 960. I've always been jealous of how she manages everything so well."
"Your sister's pretty cool honestly. She was president of the United Nations Club last year and she was so cool"
"Wait she was president ? Sorry she just has too many achievements it's impossible to remember them all."
"It kinda sucks to have such a perfect sister. That's what i thought about my cousin."
"It really does. I hate being compared to her all the time."
Just as she was about to go to the bathroom, Matthew caught a glimpse of her and rushed to her side.
"Hey, Dakota right ?" The moment he looks into her eyes, she instantly felt butterflies in her stomach. Was he going to ask her out ? No way. What was she thinking.
"Yeah" Her face was flushed, but if he asks, it's just makeup.
"Oh have you seen Kendra ?" Hopes were crushed just with these 5 words.
"Um no, sorry."
"Thats ok. Thanks." He left and she smiled.
There's no way he'd date someone like her, he's way out of her league.
He has a 4.0 gpa, is a professional athletes with tons of gold medals, and has above average looks. He probably likes Celine, which his actions show. Meanwhile, she's stuck with her froggy green eyes, which is nothing compared to her sister's jade green ones, despite being the same colour. Her brown hair is always tangeled and she has no fashion sense, her body shape isn't particularly flattering and the only good thing about her is her height. Being 5'7, she's taller than most girls, attracting more attention. But nevertheless, she's constantly looked down on and is always under appreciated, unlike Celine. Every room she stands in, she stands out. Maybe it's her natrual beauty and model like figure, maybe it's the speeches she delivers every once in a while so eloquently, or maybe it's her hardworking, leading nature which drives her to success. Or maybe it's all of those combined. And Dakota herself, is the complete opposite.