Urban Plundering: I Corrupted The System!

But Cleopatra was mocking. Somewhere, probably between updating her perfectly curated blog and sipping a $9 matcha latte, she was already typing up a scathing post:

"So, Parker Black finally smiles, and it's for Tessa Wilder? Gag me. Must be nice being rich enough to buy a personality because sis has NONE. Not surprised though, Parker's taste is as cold as his attitude. Anyway, stay tuned for more updates on the most boring couple of the year. xoxo – Cleo."

The class buzzed as more kids caught wind of her post. "Damn, she moves fast," someone whispered, passing their phone around.

"Is she really calling Tessa Wilder boring? Cleopatra wishes she had her level."

"Y'all, she's just jealous," another chimed in. "Tessa walked in and owned the room in like, five seconds. Cleo could never."

While everyone gossiped and speculated, Maya stayed quiet, her hands clenched under the desk. She didn't look at anyone, didn't even glance at her phone. She couldn't. Every time she looked at Parker, her chest felt heavier. She'd spent so long chasing after his attention, hoping for even a fraction of what he was giving Tessa now.

The warmth in his smile, the way his hand rested on hers, the soft way he spoke to her—it was everything Maya had wanted. And now she was watching it all slip further out of reach.

Parker leaned closer to Tessa, whispering something that made her laugh softly. The sound was gentle, sweet, and it made the sting in Maya's chest sharper.
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Cleopatra might've been mocking from her digital throne, but Maya? She couldn't even find the strength to speak.

Tessa tilted her head as whispers about Cleopatra swirled through the classroom. Her perfectly shaped brows furrowed as she leaned closer to Parker, her lips brushing against his ear just enough to make Maya flinch. "Okay, seriously, who's Cleopatra? Or Maya? Some wannabe queen bees clinging on you?"

Parker smirked, his amusement sparking in his dark eyes. "You remember my gym trainer? The one who kept flexing like she was auditioning for a reality show?"

Tessa's eyes lit up in recognition, widening slightly. "Her? So she's called Maya?" she whispered, dragging out the word like it was coated in disbelief.

"Not quite!" Parker chuckled, shaking his head. "Cleopatra's a different flavor of drama—she's the gym trainer. But yeah, Maya here is clingy." He didn't even bother lowering his voice, casually nodding toward his left where Maya sat stiff as a board, grinding her teeth so hard you'd think she was trying to make diamonds.

Tessa turned her gaze to Maya, her expression shifting into something halfway between playful curiosity and a razor-sharp smirk. "Oh, you're Maya?" she said, her voice drenched in fake sweetness. Then, with a flick of her hair and a perfectly timed pause, she dropped the bomb. "Wow, thanks for keeping my place next to him warm."

Bang. The hit landed harder than a mic drop.

Maya's eyes widened like she'd been slapped, her lips parting in shock. But the words she was clearly trying to find? They never came. Tessa didn't even wait for a reply, her focus snapping back to Parker like Maya was a ghost that had ceased to exist.

Parker shook his head slightly, biting back a laugh. He'd seen this side of Tessa before, the part of her that didn't just win—she obliterated. If Cleopatra was all talk and Maya was all desperate, Tessa was the kind of girl who played chess while everyone else was still learning checkers.

Maya swallowed hard, her cheeks burning. She wanted to say something, anything, but what could she even say? Tessa had just steamrolled over her like it was nothing, and Parker's smirk wasn't helping.

Tessa rested her chin in her hand, her eyes sparkling with mischief as she glanced at Parker. "So, this Cleopatra? Is she another one of your fans or just another wannabe trying to act relevant?"

Parker shrugged. "Depends on the day. She's more of a background character, honestly."

Tessa let out a low laugh, her fingers lightly tracing circles on his arm. "Background character, huh? Well, she can keep her little delusions. I've got the spotlight here."

Maya's jaw tightened, her nails digging into her palm under the desk. She couldn't even meet Tessa's eyes anymore. The girl wasn't just winning—she was running circles around everyone like it was a game only she knew how to play.

And Parker? He looked like he was loving every second of it.

****

Parker slipped out of class, his steps quiet but deliberate. No matter how strong or untouchable you think you are, when nature calls, you listen. The hallway was unusually still, the chaos of the classroom fading behind him like static on a dead channel. He pushed open the heavy door to the restroom, catching a faint whiff of the industrial cleaner they used. The place looked like someone had tried way too hard to make a bathroom feel like a luxury hotel—marble sinks, gleaming faucets, soft lighting that didn't blind you but made you look decent in the mirror. It was obnoxious, but hey, rich-kid school.

He moved to one of the stalls, locking the door behind him. A few moments passed before the quiet was shattered by the loud slam of the bathroom door. A group of guys stumbled in, their voices loud and carrying that restless energy of kids with too much on their minds and too much time to ruin someone else's day. Parker froze for a second, listening.

"Man, I swear, this whole thing feels off," one of them said, his voice low and laced with unease. "I mean, why the fuck would someone pay us this much to follow some chick around? Like, track her every damn move? That shit's creepy."

"Chill, dude," another voice piped up, casual and unconcerned. "This isn't the first time we've had a job like this. You act like this is new. This is how we operate."

"Yeah, but to this level?" the first guy shot back. "Bro, it's not just tracking her through cameras anymore. You wanna tell me it's normal to install spyware on someone's phone? Like, where's the line?"

The third voice joined in, clearly backing the first guy. "Honestly, I get it. It's one thing to keep tabs on someone, but this? This feels like... I don't know, a step too far. Like, what's next? Bugging her house?"