The Cross Brothers Rule the School

Date: August 29th

Time: 9:15 PM

Dear Diary,

Day one at Ridgemont High. It’s official: I’ve entered the shark tank. The Cross brothers are at the center of it all, and somehow, I’ve become their favorite target. Aiden’s grin is infuriating, Asher’s smugness makes my blood boil, and Grayson’s cold indifference is worse than both of them combined.

I wish I could disappear. Instead, I’m stuck here, dodging insults and stares. I’m not sure how much more of this I can take.

-Lila

***

The first day of school started the same way my move had been: awful. Walking through the polished halls of Ridgemont High felt like entering a shark tank. The students were immaculately dressed, perfectly groomed, and radiated the kind of confidence I could never fake.

But nothing prepared me for them.

The Cross brothers didn’t just walk into school—they owned it. Aiden, Asher, and Grayson were untouchable, the kings of this shiny, rich kid kingdom. Their names were whispered as they passed, their presence demanded attention.

Aiden was the charming troublemaker. His grin could probably melt glaciers, and he knew it. Asher, the golden boy, was the school’s star athlete, always with a crowd of admirers hanging on his every word. And Grayson… Grayson was the brooding leader, the one everyone seemed to fear and respect in equal measure.

And me? Apparently, I was their new favorite target.

It started in the hallway. I had my arms full of books, trying to find my way to English class, when someone bumped into me, hard. My books scattered across the floor, and I stumbled back, glaring at the culprit.

Aiden stood there, hands raised in mock apology, a grin spread wide across his annoyingly perfect face.

“Oops,” he said, his tone dripping with fake innocence. “Didn’t see you there, sunshine.”

I crouched to pick up my books, my face burning. “Sure you didn’t.”

He crouched down too, picking up one of my notebooks and flipping it open before I could snatch it back.

“Interesting notes,” he said, skimming the page. “Wow, your handwriting’s… creative.”

I yanked it out of his hands, my glare sharp. “Don’t you have somewhere else to be?”

He stood, still grinning, and gave me a mock salute. “See you around, sunshine.”

Things didn’t get any better in gym. The coach told us to grab our gym clothes from the lockers, but when I got to mine, the combination wouldn’t work.

I tried again, my fingers fumbling as panic set in. It was the right number—I was sure of it.

“Having trouble?” Asher’s smooth voice cut through my frustration. I turned to see him leaning against the lockers, looking completely at ease in his gym uniform.

“No thanks to you,” I snapped, immediately suspicious.

He raised an eyebrow, feigning innocence. “What makes you think I had anything to do with it?”

I glared at him. “Because it’s written all over your face.”

He shrugged, a smirk tugging at his lips. “Maybe you’re just bad with numbers.”

By the time I got my locker sorted out (with help from the coach), I was late to class. Asher, of course, was already there, jogging laps like the golden boy everyone loved. He shot me a quick wink as I walked by, and I swore under my breath.

Lunch should have been safe, but no. Not with the Cross brothers around.

I had just sat down with my tray, trying to ignore the stares I’d been getting all day, when Aiden and Asher slid into the seats across from me.

“Mind if we join you?” Aiden asked, grinning like he already knew the answer.

“Yes,” I said flatly.

They ignored me, of course. Aiden leaned forward, watching me take a bite of my sandwich.

“You chew like a squirrel,” he said, his grin widening.

I froze mid-chew, glaring at him. “Excuse me?”

Asher smirked, casually tossing an apple in his hand. “She might be the first person to choke on air.”

I slammed my sandwich down. “You’re both insufferable.”

A new voice cut in from behind me, deep and cold.

“And you’re already boring me.”

Grayson.

He stood there, his expression unreadable, but his words stung more than Aiden and Asher’s teasing combined. He didn’t even wait for me to respond before walking off, leaving me fuming.

As if the brothers weren’t bad enough, their bullying inspired others to join in—namely, Tessa.

Tessa was Asher’s ex-girlfriend, and if looks could kill, I’d have been dead the moment I stepped into the school. She and her clique had been watching me all day, whispering and giggling behind their hands.

By the time the final bell rang, I was ready to go home and hide, but the humiliation wasn’t over yet.

I walked to my locker to grab my things, only to find it completely trashed. Glitter poured out as soon as I opened the door, covering my books and papers. Taped to the inside were fake love notes with messages like “Cross Reject” scrawled across them.

Laughter echoed down the hall, and I turned to see Tessa and her friends watching, their eyes sparkling with amusement.

“Welcome to Ridgemont,” Tessa said sweetly, flipping her blonde hair over her shoulder. “You’ll fit right in.”

I cleaned up as best I could, my hands trembling with anger. I just wanted to go home, to forget this day ever happened. But as I reached for my backpack, a folded piece of paper fell out.

My stomach twisted as I unfolded it.

“Quit now, before we make it worse.”