The Fighters

“Stop staring, Ryker.” Lilly says it in her head while she’s deadlifting before sunrise… and he keeps staring anyway. Before any boy gets in her way, Lilly is just trying to survive Montisque Academy without crying in the courtyard again, keep her head down, and get strong enough to feel untouchable. Then her teacher, Mr. Coleson, calmly slides a stack of papers toward her and admits he isn’t just grading. He’s her father’s bodyguard. So now Lilly’s got a gorgeous, rule-breaking adult shadowing her hallways, a rich gym boy watching her like he already owns the view, and bullies who love an audience. She should hate the attention—she does hate it—which makes it worse when her skin still prickles. And you know that moment when you can feel gossip being born? Yeah, that. Coleson walks her out after school, fingers brushing her elbow like it’s nothing, and every head turns. “Lilliana Lorenzo?” the front office calls.