Sarah Watson, the most brilliant student of Pursuing High School now reads in class 10. She works part time at a bookstore for her expenses apart from school fees and food as she was given the 'academy star' scholarship for her studies and she ate food from her school canteen. Canteens donot always provide free food but as Mrs. Lee the in charge of the canteen area new she was an orphan who was somehow kicked out from the orphanage she was residing in took sympathy towards her as she didn't have her own child and thus sarah was quite given the motherly love and care and of coursly food by Mrs Lee though she tried not to accept it she herself knew with all the time she spends daily in her studies to maintain her rank and get the scholarship if she were to earn for her food she would have to spend more time in the bookstore and she concluded she won't be able to do that 'giving time to both the bookstore and her studies ' after a few futile attempts. As for futile attempts that is she did try balancing time out for both her studies and the book store but was so much pressurized that she was forced into sleep during her English class and was punished by the strict teacher. So somehow or the other she was kind of indebted towards Mrs. Lee for taking care of her. During Christmas however she tried her utmost to give Mrs Lee a 'proper' which in her views are expensive in other words and Mrs Lee had to accept it.

Layla was her childhood friend, her bestie and hostel mate. Layla was her friend from before she turned into an orphan though layla never knew the complicacies sarah went through after becoming an orphan she always tried to support her and even left her house for spending time together with her bestie in the school hostel. She was the only person who never grew bore of sarah and her study life which was called the mundane life by other

James was a transfer student who entered the most reputated school on his own merit when he was in that city but as his mother did a job where she had to move about all around the world he couldn't manage to make up his mind on living in the same city his dad was in and came to live with his grandmother and joined Pursuing High School. As he was in such an honourable institution in the previous city he took part in many science and swimmimg olympiads and never let anyone apart him win the 1st prize.

Fred Jones is layla's cousin he also studied in the same high school as layla and sarah and had the sole responsibility to watch over layla. Layla's parents didn't like sarah so he was also trusted to keep layla from getting too much friendly with sarah for which he was seldom seen threatening sarah to be in her limits. This made layla disgusted with her cousin and they didn't maintain that much of a family relation even in the public

Sarah was standing in front of their hostel waiting for layla to show up. It was 8:30 am and school starts at 9 am. They weren't actually late or something considering the fact their hostel was right beside the school premises and that they would reach the assembly hall for prayers in 5 mins after they start. Prayers started at 8:50 am but everyone around sarah was checking their watch to reconfirm the time even if they saw it and left the hostel well this credit goes to sarah for how frequently she looked at her watch looking annoyed and each time her eyebrows becoming a bit more crooked. She knew layla had a crush and that she couldn't share these things with sarah as she litterally tried to avoid these love related topics so she joined a gossip group. Well sarah didn't like that idea much but neither could she help layla approach her 'so called crush' according to her so she let it be but recently they advised layla to look and dress 'properly' so she spends too much time on it making them nearly late. Sarah being an overly time conscious person hated it happen on a regular basis and what good did those makeup do to her except for killing her precious time when that 'so called crush' never even glanced at her let alone talk to her she thought.

10 minutes later...

'Saruuuuu' a running layla said 'I'm here let's go' she said panting from all that run. They went to the assembly hall and prayed then went to their classroom,they studied in the same class as well as the same section. Sarah as always took the first bench and layla right behind her.

It was maths on first period and the teacher entered the classroom sharp on 9am followed by a certain someone who was unnoticed by everyone except sarah as the rest of the class was busy heaving deep sighs at the sight of their maths teacher,they always did.Sometime even cursed their luck for having such a dedicated teacher who never took a leave.

'Good morning my dear students. Everyone of you please pay attention today a new student has joined our school,since it is mid terms going on please help him adapt with the studies and our school and be good friends to your new friend' said Mr. Thompson.

'I don't really need their help to adapt myself with the new surrounding or with my studies sir you can rest assured and still I'll top among them' said the new boy smirking

The teacher laughed a bit nervously seeing his demeanor on the first day which he found to be quite disturbing.

Seeing him not mentioning his name the teacher introduced him'students he is the new transfer student James Saliba who has achieved the 1st position in every olympiad he had entered in his previous school I hope you'll help him keep this status even in this school. James please go and sit on that empty bench Maria remove your bag from over there'.

On the other hand sarah was fuming she thought 'his guts he wants to challange me to a showdown snatch away my scholarship my only way to study in this school. How dare he want to overthrow me from my position on his first day!'

But just after saying this she reframed her sentence no the position is not actually mine but I must maintain it in order to study, to become someone worthful.

Suddenly an idea came to sarah's mind while everyone was observing her reactions to the open challange including layla though sarah didn't know whether her idea was good or bad she thought it might help her maintain her position.

Her plan was simple if he was so confident about coming 1st in exams he must have something under his sleeve or he might just be intelligent. She only had to use his tricks or intelligence for herself.

'Such an arrogant person must have his ego high if I ask him to help me study he won't be able to refuse if he does I'll say he spoke empty words hurt hos ego then he won't be able to refise then I can take down his studies it won't be much of a diffulty to maintain my position then if he says what he is'. she thought this and smirked slightly.

This gave her a bad feeling what if she was caught? What if he provided wrong notes? What if he becomes 1st after all of this? Was she even doing the right thing? She felt guilty but imstantly reminded her what she was doimg that for. She needed the scholarship for her studies or what'll become of her then she'll have to leave school she couldn't possibly ask any further financial help from Mrs. Lee or Layla after all that they have done for her.

'Students 10 precious minutes are gone so let's start the class hurry and take out your text books and exercise copies amd note down this sum then I'll explain if anyome understands this sum raise your hand and you'll be the one explaining if you can't I'll rectify you' Mr Thompson said

Sarah was so lost in her own thoughts about her rank and all that she didnot hear any of his instructions for the first time.

'So now anyone can understand this sum?'

James put up his hand

'Ok you do Mr. Saliba anyone else anyone? Sarah you?'

Then he noticed she jas neither taken out her copy nor her book. He was astonished.

'Sarah..Miss Sanders..Miss Sarah I'm talking to you can you hear me are you feeling unwell?.... SARAH!'

Sarah was taken aback but she replied'umm..yes sir'

'What is wrong with you are you unwell? I have been callimg you out for so long. You haven't even taken out your text book or copy and didn't even copy the sum.'

'Sorry sir I didn't hear you something was concerning me so..'

She was cut off by Mr. Thompson 'and so you'd start thinking about that in an ongoing class? Ok now sit down and copy it I'll give 2 minutes to do that'

'O..ok sir thank you' sarah said

'Mr. Saliba you were telling me you could do the sum then explain it to the rest of the class'

'Ok sir..though I don't know how many of them are as absent minded in class or how many of them can understand the sum I'll definately explaim it to them' james said like he held some kind of grudge against the students

Sarah was ashamed of herself for not listening to the teacher. It had been many years since she had to face an embarassing situation and James' word only added fuel to the fire of shame that developed in her.

They completed their first class. Next was biology then physics then lunch time then english and the last class was of chemistry and then school will be over and as usual she'll head towards the library for a self study period. On most of the days layla accompany her but today she was going for shopping with that gossip group so sarah will be on her own.

Sarah suddenly thought how layla begged her to accompany her as she was the only one layla was most comfortable with and that sometimes she felt out of the place in that gossip group and how she sternly denied her proposal more like begging. She didn't know why she was giving it a second thought but she ended up thinking about it.

Sarah and Layla completed their school and parted ways at the gateway with layla almost looking like she was about to burst out in tears as she was leaving sarah behind to study alone and going with the gossip group however she cheered up when sarah consoled her saying' finally a day that I can have for myself studying all the time without a bee buzzing my ear off why wouldn't she go after all there is a new flower she wants to impress well just be careful of that flower what'll happen if it turns out to be a venus flytrap?'

Layla now happy chuckled and said who says my friend can't be a love expert she is a natural at it.

'Whatever' sarah said and went towards the library where she was shocked to see a new figure

'That Jameo or whatever his name might be is now here as well what is he trying to prove he is more dedicated and serious about his studies than I am?'

She marched towards him and when he was close she changed her pace and face and outshined everyone with a brilliant smile.

Mr. Salabi she said

Saliba not salabi and it's james sarah

Yes I know sarah said

Hmm..yes you do and I'll make sure you do even if you don't james replied

Sarah felt awkward and thought another challange but managed to speak the words she had thought she'll speak

James I know you are very good at studying I won't be bugging you much only if you could help me studying a subject or two I really need your help please!

Why will I do that asked james

Well then I'll provide you all kind of notes supplied to us previously trust me they will be very useful to you she said

He smirked and said okay if you say so make sure the notes are helpful after carefully analizing my knowledge after today's session.

Yes okay I'll make sure of it. Sarah said

But to sarah's wonder he just knew the explanation of everything and how to do any sum. Sarah feared the notes won't be of much use then but then again she was sarah she could definitely come up with another reason to pursue him into helping her in her studies.

He could do every question on sample papers of college entrance examinations as well which she only started solving hence the study session ended soon by 5pm and sarah was really helped a lot she had to admit it.

She thanked him and went towards the hostel while james only nodded and sort of accepted her thanks.

When sarah was completely gone he began laughing and said want my study patterns do ya' first girl well however hard you try your long taken position will be mine nobody has ever fooled me and neither will you be able to first girl how could you think I'll easily let my achievements go?

Well all thanks to I presume if he didn't tell me you were the first girl and he had put all his expectations in me to beat you maybe just maybe I would have believed your acting.

'How can all the people I meet in my life be so selfish and opportunistic' he thought and then went to his grandma's place.