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Rumi
Leaving class in a rush, Rumi was trying to get across campus in time to see the scores from the last calculus test get posted and then rush back across campus to get to her next class.
She has pride in having the number one score in all her classes and she never wanted to miss seeing her at the top of the board each time exam scores were posted.
It’s not like she had unrealistic standards pressed on her at home growing up. Honestly her moms just wanted her to do her best.
But Rumi always enjoyed being the top scorer in high school and that’s carried on into college. What’s wrong with having high standards for yourself?
She made it to the classroom just in time. One of the TAs for her professor was posting the scores on the board outside the room.
Once the paper had been hung up on the wall and the TA backed away, Rumi went up to the board looking for her student number, 130, to be where it always sat at the top of the list.
870
130
She gasped to herself upon seeing someone was above her. How could that be? She was always number one. No one’s ever topped her score before.
Rumi left before the other students from her class showed up to view the scores.
Zoey
Zoey came bouncing over to her calculus classroom. Wanting to see what she got on the test.
She had spent all of one hour the night prior to studying for the test. There was a plan to study more but a new update for one of the games she’s been playing lately came out and she played the game way too late with Mira and completely forgot to study.
It wasn’t until Mira had got offline that Zoey remembered she needed to study. With it being so late already she managed to get an hour of studying in before passing out on her books.
So one hour of cramming later and two red bulls that morning is what is going to contribute to what her score is today.
She arrived at the classroom where a few other students were busy scanning the paper for their student numbers to find their scores.
Zoey saw an opening through the students around the area where she tended to find her scores. She scooted into place in front of the scores.
Placing her finger near the student numbers and scrolling down looking for her number.
Nowhere.
She wasn’t finding it here amongst the middle ranks. That worried her. If she’s not on this end she’s going to be on the lower.
Sighing as she moved over towards the lower scores as the spaces opened up.
Scanning between all the numbers. The gut wrenching feeling she felt as she went lower and lower.
She really shouldn’t have stayed up playing the game so late instead of studying.
Reaching the end of the list she stood confused.
Where was her score?
She hadn’t checked the high scores yet so she headed to the start.
Putting her finger up at the top of the list of the top scores she starts to scroll down with her finger.
870
130
572
420
690
Only she paused only after the fifth number.
Sliding her finger back up the list to the top.
Her finger landed on the top student number.
870
Her number.
At the top of the list.
The number one score.
Standing there shocked to find her score being at the top.
Not that she wasn’t smart or anything. She usually was just a bad test taker and usually ended with a passing score just never anything above the average.
But here she was at the top.
The shock wore off and was replaced by excitement. Letting out a little squeal of happiness as she did a dance right there.
Rumi
Sitting in her next class she was trying to focus on the lecture but she couldn’t.
She was too lost in trying to figure out who out scored her.
She had studied all day for that exam and got second.
Maybe it was the quiet guy who always sat in the back of the class. Silently absorbing everything up there.
Or that one girl with the high pony tail and glasses who’s always asking questions. Maybe she got a tutor for the class and was able to boost her score.
Rumi just shook her head in frustration, stuck on the fact someone beat her score.
Zoey
Running up towards the lunch table she sees her best friend, Mira, sitting.
“MIRA MIRA!” Shouting her name as she got close. Not caring too much with how loud she is. She’s just excited. “You will not believe what I got on the test!” Slamming her hands on the table.
“I have a feeling what you got based on the energy you came in here with.” Mira looked up at Zoey and gave a knowing grin. “But please share Zoey.”
She looked down at Mira. “Drum roll please.”
Mira shakes her head with an eye roll and starts doing a light drum roll on the table.
Smiling while doing a little giddy dance before she revealed what she got.
“I got the top score!” Letting out a little squeal along with her reveal.
Mira raised her brow. “You got the top score?” “Like even above 130?”
“Who’s 130?” She asked as she sat down and pulled out her food.
“You don’t know about 130?” “They're always in the top spot.” Mira stabbed her fork into her food.
“Huh.” Zoey shrugged. “I rarely look at the top so I had no clue there’s an infamous top student. I also didn’t look at who was lower than me.” “I was more focused on getting the top score.”
“Well I guess our late night gaming plus your cram study session worked out.” Mira said after she finished her bite of food.
“Guess we’ll have to test if the games, one hour of studying and red bull really just makes me an elite test taker now.” Laughing a bit at the thought. “I have another quiz for calc next week, so are you down to test the theory the night before?”
“Always.” Mira gave her friend a smile. “Maybe we can actually reach the peak this time.”
Rumi
Here she was a week later rushing to her calc classroom again. Another test means another score.
A chance to see if the last test was just a fluke.
Getting over to the room on time like always and seeing the TA post the scores.
Rumi went and looked at the top scores.
130
870
“Yes!” She exclaimed to no one but herself. “Take that 870. Clearly last week was a fluke and I’m the superior student.” Grinning to herself with her head held high as she walked away.
Zoey
Zoey had dragged Mira with her to see the scores this time. She needed Mira to be with her to witness if their trial worked.
The two of them got to the room way quicker than she’s ever gotten.
Not many others were here except for the girl from her class that had the long purple braid.
Zoey stopped in her tracks upon seeing her here.
She was gorgeous.
So hot.
Zoey always noticed when she’d come to class. Honestly she’s surprised she could focus on the lesson with this goddess of a woman sitting only like three seats from her.
She loved watching how focused on the class the girl was. Even enjoyed watching when the girl was lost in thought on a test and would be biting the top of her pencil.
“Ow!” Zoey rubbed her arm as her thoughts got interrupted by Mira elbowing her arm. “What was-“
“Shhh!” Mira said while covering Zoey’s mouth.
“Take that 870. Clearly last week was a fluke and I’m the superior student.”
They both heard the girl say right before she walked away.
“Oh my goodness she’s 130?” Zoey stood in awe.
Mira chuckled beside her. “Yeah, you know her?”
“Yeah of course!” Zoey said with a cocky tone before shaking her head in defeat. “No, not really. She’s in my class but I’ve been too nervous to actually introduce myself.” “I only know her name is Rumi because she raises her hand and gets called on by the teacher a lot.”
“Well, it sounds like Rumi has decided this to be a competition.” Mira looked over and gave Zoey a smirk. Clearly getting an idea.
Zoey looked at her confused. “What?” Knowing Mira’s idea face. “So if she thinks this is a competition, who cares.” “It’s not like she knows who I am.”
“Well you clearly like her so maybe use this competition to your advantage.”
Zoey nodded slowly as she processed this. “Yes..” Grinning wide. “Oh this might be fun.”
Rumi
Sitting with her head in her hands in the library sighing. “Who is this person?” “Are they out to get me?” “Is something wrong with me??”
Jinu sat across from her and rolled his eyes. “Rumi nothing is wrong with you.” “It’s not the end of the world that one person, this 870, keeps scoring higher than you on a couple of tests.”
Rumi dramatically dropped her arms on the table. “It does matter Jinu.” “I’m supposed to be the best and over the past month and a half this stupid 870 person has topped me three more times.”
Sitting and trying to not laugh at the way she phrased that, Jinu just shook his head. “You just need to relax and not think about them all the time. You’re going to burn yourself out this way.”
Shaking her head, “I’m not going to burn out because I don’t burn out.”
“You say that now but I fear if you keep making this a competition you’re going to study yourself to death.” Giving Rumi’s hand a little pat. “Here after classes today let’s hit up a club or something and let a little fun back into your life.”
Looking offended she’d swat Jinu’s hand off hers. “I have fun in my life. Plenty of it.” “And I’ll have more fun once this 870 disappears from my top spot.”
Shaking his head again. “Ok sure you have fun.” “But why don’t we have more fun tonight.” Seeing her go to say something, probably going to say no again. “And no arguing. It’s happening. You need to de-stress before the results of the test are posted tomorrow.”
Sighing again and placing her head on the table. “Fine.”
Rumi was looking around the club now waiting for Jinu to make his way back to their table. He’d left to go use the bathroom supposedly.
She didn’t like it here. It was loud and crowded. Too many people for her liking.
Going back to scanning the crowd on the dance floor.
She spotted the traitor right away. On the floor she could see Jinu dancing with a very muscular man with short pink hair.
Of course she’d get abandoned the minute a man caught her friends eyes. Rolling her eyes and going back to sipping on her drink.
Letting her eyes wander the club again.
She was debating on dipping out early now that she’s been left alone.
But then her eyes landed on a raven haired girl across the club. She was really pretty and Rumi was left without being able to take her eyes off her. Took her a minute to realize she looked familiar. She knows that she was one of the other students in her calculus class.
Left staring at her while trying to remember if she heard her name at all. But Rumi was only ever really focused on the lesson.
She watched as the girl said something and clearly laughed at her own joke. It was cute. Even over the loud club the girls' laugh carried across to bless Rumi’s ears.
Rumi was debating if she should just go over and introduce herself. But she was nervous. She’s never done anything like this before.
She realized she’d been staring too long and zoned in to see that the girl was looking back at her with a smile. Rumi tried to look away to hide the blush that was creeping up her face.
Glancing back the girl was still looking and gave Rumi a little wave. Rumi gave a slight wave back before looking down to her cup. Noticing her drink was out she decided maybe a refill before she attempted to walk over to introduce herself.
While ordering her drink she makes the decision to order the girl one too. Maybe as a fun little ice breaker to start the conversation off.
Once she got her drink she stayed at the bar taking sips from it as she watched a waitress carry and deliver the drink she bought for the girl. She watched as the waitress pointed her out and her eyes locked with the girl's eyes.
Rumi couldn’t handle looking straight at the girl. She felt like she was going to combust right there in the club.
Taking a deep breath she downed the rest of her drink, gave herself a little pep talk and walked on over to the table with the girl and her friend.
Zoey
Zoey let out a big laugh after she made a joke. She could feel people looking at her laughing loud but she didn’t care. She was a comedic genius and her jokes deserved to be laughed at.
But after a bit she could still feel a pair of eyes on her. Usually people would just shoot a glare and leave the looks alone. But not this person. They were still looking.
Zoey started to scan the club as inconspicuous as she could. Which wasn’t that inconspicuous.
Eventually she found the pair eyes that were looking at her. Smiling at seeing who they belonged to.
Rumi.
Upon making eye contact she watched Rumi quickly look away.
“Mira guess who’s here and also has been staring at me for awhile?” She gave a smile and a little wave after Rumi looked back at her. Zoey got a little wave back.
Mira, in a more subtle way, followed Zoey’s eyes and saw Rumi sitting across the bar. “Do you think she’s figured out you are 870?”
“I doubt it.” Shaking her head. “I overheard her complain about me in the library and she only knew my number.”
Mira gave her a questioning look. “Were you stalking her in the library?”
“No, I was working on a project for my music class and as I was leaving I saw her talking with a friend and overheard her mention my number and complain about me having a higher score.” Zoey noticed Rumi get up and walk over towards the bar.
“Well looks like this competition you’re in has gotten her to think about you all the time..” Mira said while taking a sip of her drink. “The only question is how are you going to have this turn around in your favor?”
Zoey was about to respond with her 57 step plan that she’s got all worked out in her head but then a waitress came over with a drink.
“Oh we didn’t…” Zoey went to say but was interrupted by the waitress.
“The girl with the purple hair sent it over.” The waitress said as she shot a thumb pointing over towards the bar. “Enjoy.” The waitress walked away after she set it down.
Zoey looked over towards the bar to catch Rumi looking at her again. Their eyes locked and Zoey felt she could get lost in them forever. Oh how she’s grown to have a massive crush on this girl who has a one sided beef with her.
“Ow!” Rubbing her side and glaring at Mira for jabbing her in the side. “You need to stop doing that.”
“Well you need to stop making goo goo eyes at her and stop daydreaming because she’s walking over here now.”
Zoey looked back over and Mira was right. Rumi was walking over now. She looked nervous.
As she was approaching Zoey was starting to get nervous herself. Running into her at the club and talking to her was not part of her 57 step plan.
This was not what she prepared for.
She downed the drink she was given and the girl was there.
“Hi, I’m Rumi…” Rumi said as she was fidgeting with her purple braid and rocked back and forth on the heels of her feet. “I hope you enjoyed the drink…” She winced from the way she watched this girl chug the entire thing before she got there.
“It was great, thank you!” Zoey exclaimed maybe a bit too loud than needed. But she just finished her third drink and was nervous. Sound control was out of the question. “I’m Zoey by the way.” Holding out her hand, “And this is my best friend Mira.” Emphasizing the friend part.
Rumi took and shook Zoey’s hand. “Nice to officially meet you Zoey.”
Zoey gave her a little confused look on the whole official part. Maybe Rumi did know she was 870.
“Oh I mean in the sense that I’ve seen you in my calculus class.” Rumi was quick to clarify herself. “Not sure if you’ve seen me or not...” She trailed off a bit.
Giving an understanding nod. “Oh yeah.” Giggling a bit. “I’ve definitely noticed you.” “You know since you sit like three seats from me and with your purple braid it’d be hard not to notice you.” Stopping herself before she rambled on more about how much she’s noticed Rumi in class. She caught a glare from Mira from the corner of her eyes.
“Sooooo.” Zoey cleared her throat. “What brings you out tonight? From class you’ve never given me the club type vibes.”
“Oh, that would be the work of my friend Jinu.” Rumi sighed. “He wanted me to relax because school has been stressing me, but that loser ditched me and is over on the dance floor making out with some pink haired hunk.”
Zoey grinned at that. One she’s thankful this Jinu guy isn’t more than a friend to Rumi and two, she has a good idea who this pink hair hunk is. “Is the guy wearing a beanie and a floral shirt that is probably a size too small?”
Rumi gave her a questioning look. “I didn’t look long enough to notice the shirt size, but yes that’s exactly who he was dancing with.” “How’d you know?”
“Because he’s her brother and had begged us to tag along tonight.” She nudged Mira, who seemed to be looking off towards the dance floor. “And it seems he’s also ditched us to go make out with someone.”
“You two stay here, I'm going to go check on them.” Mira started to leave. “Not that I don’t trust your friend Rumi, it’s my brother I don’t trust.” She looked at Zoey and gave a little grin before she slipped into the crowd.
Zoey had given her a glare before she dipped fully. That traitor left her alone to become a babbling mess in front of Rumi.
Rumi
After Mira left, the two of them continued to talk. Zoey was so fun to talk and joke with. Rumi hasn’t laughed this hard since, well… ever.
Rumi hates how much she is thankful that Jinu dragged her out and also ditched her at the club.
She now took the last sip of her drink and looked around to see if she could even spot Jinu, but then Zoey reached over and grabbed her hand, “Come on lets go dance!”
Rumi didn’t have time to protest, not that she wanted to, before Zoey dragged her to the dance floor. She spotted her friend and the one he ditched her for now kissing as they danced and then even spotted Mira dancing.
She herself wasn’t much of a dancer, but for Zoey she was about to be.
The two of them fell into a rhythm of dancing and chatting. Mainly dancing. But they were having fun.
“So what’s been stressing you out so much at school?” Zoey asked.
Rumi just rolled her eyes, “Something stupid.”
“I promise I won’t laugh or find it stupid.” There was a tone to Zoey’s voice that Rumi couldn’t pick up on. Maybe it was just the loud music in the room distorting her voice.
“Ok I’m holding you to that because Jinu keeps making fun of me for it.”
“Well I’m not Jinu.”
“Ok–” “Well for starters I love to be the best in everything I do, or at least academically.” Her dancing has come to a slow as she’s talking about this. “So I’ve been like the number one scorer on all the tests so far.” “But then over the past month or so this person keeps beating my score and all I can do is think about them and how I can get back on top.”
Zoey just nodded her head along while listening to Rumi talk.
“Like I shouldn’t be so worried about it but every time I see their student number above mine it just grinds my gears and I get mad and then I’m stuck thinking about them nonstop.” Rumi swore she saw a little smirk go across Zoey’s face when she said it. “Hey don’t give me that look you said you wouldn’t make fun of me.”
Zoey
“Oh no I’m not making fun of you.” Zoey was quick to stop that thinking. She definitely didn’t want Rumi to think she’s making fun of her. “I find it amusing how much this person gets under your skin and you don’t even know them.”
“Amusing?” Rumi responded. “You find it amusing that I’m being haunted by someone who is beating me at my game?”
Zoey chuckled. “Your game?” “It’s just—“
She got interrupted with Mira coming over to them dragging someone by the collar. “Zoey we need to go before Abby yaks on more people.”
Zoey watched Mira drag a sickly looking Abby away and turned to Rumi. “Guess I have to go and you may have to help Jinu if he was the victim of the yakking.” Laughing a bit before she went to leave Rumi.
She paused and turned back to her. Going in to give her a hug goodbye.
Smiling when Rumi returned the hug.
“Get home safe!” Rumi said into Zoey’s ear as they hugged.
Before Zoey let go she got an idea. A mischievous little idea.
She leaned over to Rumi’s ear and whispered.
“You know—“
“It’s actually romantic how much you think about 870.” Saying with a little bit of snarkiness before she let go of the hug and walked away following Mira and Abby out of the club.
Rumi
“Wait what?” She watched as Zoey left and a little bit stunned. What does Zoey mean by it’s actually romantic.
There’s nothing romantic about the way she feels towards 870.
She hates 870.
She loathes them.
Pausing in her thoughts.
Wait.
870.
Zoey said 870.
Rumi never mentioned the number of the student.
How would Zoey know?
Maybe Zoey just happens to know which numbers are at the top of the list.
But she only mentioned 870. If she looked at the top she would know it was 130 and 870 trading top spots.
So how would Zoey know 870 was the person Rumi was talking about and not 130? Rumi never mentioned her own number either.
Unless—
“Zoey is 870!” Explaining to Jinu as they were now back at his dorm.
“What?” Jinu asked as he was at his bathroom sink scrubbing vomit out of his shirt.
“Zoey” “Is” “870” Glaring at Jinu. “You know the person who’s been topping my score for the last month.”
“And who’s Zoey?”
“I was just telling you about her.” “Have you not been listening to me?”
“I have but also I’ve been scrubbing my boyfriend's vomit out of my shirt.”
“Boyfriend?” Looking offended he hadn’t told her before. “Since when were you two dating?”
“Since like a month ago.” Jinu shook his head with a laugh. “I told you but you were too distracted by this 870 person, or I guess this Zoey person to remember.”
“I’m sorry…” A little flabbergasted with herself for forgetting. “Well uh do you want to tell me about him?”
Jinu just grinned, “Another time. I know you’d rather talk more about Zoey.” “Tell me what happened again.”
“Ok so I met her and we talked and then we danced and I complained about how someone was constantly beating my test score.” Taking a breath as she continued on. “And then she had to leave and we hugged. Oh, the hug was so nice. I was tempted to kiss her but that's besides the point. Because next thing I know instead of a goodbye she told me it's actually romantic how much I think about 870.” “And I never mentioned the student number to her.”
Nodding his head in understanding. “So she’s 870.” “Is there a problem with that?”
“YES!” She paused. “Well I don’t know. From the way she said things during the night I feel like she knew who I was. Like more than just someone else in her class.”
“Ok but why is it bad if she has turned out to be 870.” Jinu left the shirt in the sink and leaned against the counter looking at Rumi. “From the sound of it she seems to be flirting with you and you seem to like her back.”
“Yeah but she’s the reason I’ve been failing.”
“You’re not failing.” Rolling his eyes. “You like her right?”
Rumi just nodded her head.
“Well then why don’t you turn this competition into something beneficial for you?”
“In what way?”
“I don’t know, I came up with you making it beneficial for you. You gotta come up with the other half.” He went back to his shirt and was wringing it out. “I can’t come up with all the ideas.”
Rumi sat there looking at him thinking. What could she do to get back at Zoey?
Zoey
After she had gotten home from the club she put in some studying for the exam in the morning. Just because she was a little tipsy doesn’t mean she can’t get a bit of studying in.
Now here she is in class waiting for it to start so she can take the exam before she loses all information from studying. Her leg was bouncing up and down as she waited.
Headphones in and her head down as she worked on a sketch as she waited.
Zoey was so distracted she didn’t notice when a certain someone came and sat beside her.
Only when she got elbowed that she looked up and took off her headphones. Smiling seeing it was Rumi sitting beside her.
“Well good morning to you.” Zoey spoke first.
Zoey watched a little smirk go across Rumi’s face. Not sure if she should be worried or not. But very much intrigued.
“You know I was thinking about what you said last night.” Rumi said with a smug little tone. “And I was thinking lets put a bet on today's score results.”
“Oh?” Zoey was very much intrigued.
“Yeah.” Rumi nodded and put her hand on one of Zoey’s that was on the table. “If you beat my score again, you owe me a date.”
“And why am I owing you a date and not the other way around?”
“Because the way I see it, it's compensation for taking my spot on the leader board again.”
Zoey nodded in understanding. “Ok then.” “What do I get in compensation if you beat my score?”
“I’ll take you on a date.”
So what Zoey was hearing is a win win either way. She would honestly be fine failing this test to allow Rumi to take her on a date. This bet is probably backwards, but Zoey didn’t care.
She held out her hand. “It's a deal.”
Instead of taking Zoey’s hand and shaking on it, Rumi leaned over and kissed Zoey on the cheek. “It’s a deal.” She then got up and sauntered over to her spot.
Zoey hoped no one was watching because her face was probably resembling a tomato after the way Rumi just sealed their deal.
Oh Zoey is going to have to get her back for that.
She was no longer focused on taking the test but more on how she was going to pay Rumi back for the little tease of a kiss.
Rumi
Rumi was standing outside the classroom now waiting for the results to be posted. She’d been anxious waiting for the day the scores were ready.
She looked around waiting to see if Zoey was gonna be here when they were posted or if she was going to have to wait for her.
Looking at the door waiting for it to open up from the TA coming out to post the scores.
It felt like forever.
She didn’t think she got here that early this time.
But the door finally opened.
The TA stepped out.
They went and hung up the scores.
Rumi looked around trying to spot Zoey.
She didn’t see her.
Shrugging.
She’ll just have to tell Zoey later.
She started walking forward towards the score.
Before she got there she was grabbed by her shirt and dragged to a nearby wall. Her back was slammed against it. Well not that hard.
She was a bit disorientated but when she focused she saw that in front of her was Zoey.
Zoey’s hands on either side of her shirt collar.
“I don’t remember this being a part of the bet.” Rumi looks down at Zoey with a look of confusion. Looking back at her was a look of desire.
“I don’t care.” Zoey then pulled Rumi down by her collar and kissed her.
Rumi pulled back for a second.
“You’re right, the scores can wait.”
She was greeted with a smile before she was pulled back into another kiss.