The next few days were a blur of silent, unspoken battles.
Lily wasn't going anywhere — that much was clear. Every day, she was right there, inching closer to Lucifer, laughing at his jokes, touching his arm like she belonged there.
Eliza didn't back down. Not this time.
At lunch, Lily tried to snag the seat next to him — but Eliza was faster, dropping into the spot like it was made for her.
"Wow. Someone's eager," Lucifer teased, nudging her lightly.
"Yeah, well," Eliza said, swiping a fry from his tray. "Can't have you getting lonely, can I?"
Lily ended up across from them, her smile a little too tight.
Eliza leaned on her hand, tilting her head toward Lucifer. "Hey, remember when we tried to bake cookies for your mom's birthday and ended up nearly setting your kitchen on fire?"
Lucifer laughed, shaking his head. "Yeah, because you poured salt instead of sugar."
"Minor detail."
They both laughed, falling into their usual easy rhythm — and Eliza didn't miss the way Lily's expression flickered.
Eliza started showing up to his practices more, waiting on the bleachers with his favorite sports drink — something she always used to do quietly, but now she made sure Lily saw it. She didn't just sit silently anymore. She cheered louder, teased him after his worst plays, and tossed his sweaty towel at his head when he got cocky.
Lucifer would laugh, every single time.
Lily tried to join in once or twice, but it was obvious — she didn't fit into what Eliza and Lucifer had.
One afternoon, Eliza waited for him after practice — water bottle in one hand, his hoodie in the other. She didn't care if Lily was there too. Let her watch.
Lucifer jogged over, grinning when he saw her. "You're too good to me, Princess."
"Someone's gotta be," Eliza said, tossing him the bottle with a smirk.
Lily wasn't far behind, her voice honey-sweet. "Lucifer! I was actually going to ask if you wanted to grab a coffee or something."
Eliza didn't flinch. She stepped closer to him, her shoulder brushing his arm.
"We're busy," she said lightly, her voice steady.
Lucifer blinked, confused. "We are?"
"We are now." She shot him a look, daring him to argue.
Lucifer just laughed. "Guess we are. Rain check, Lily?"
Lily blinked, her polite mask slipping for just a second. "Yeah. Sure. Maybe another time, then."
But Eliza wasn't stupid. She saw the look in Lily's eyes — and it wasn't friendly.
It all boiled over after school.
Eliza was at her locker when Lily found her.
"Eliza."
Eliza didn't even look up. "What?"
Lily leaned against the locker next to hers, voice low and sharp. The sweetness was gone. "Cut the act."
Eliza slammed her locker shut. "You're gonna have to be more specific."
Lily's eyes narrowed. "You're in love with him."
Eliza froze for a split second — but recovered fast. "Yeah? And?"
Lily leaned in. "And you're wasting your time. He doesn't want you."
The words hit like a slap. But Eliza didn't flinch.
"He doesn't want you either," Eliza shot back, voice steady. "Looks like we're both out of luck."
Lily's smile twisted, cold and smug. "I wouldn't be so sure. He likes me. He just doesn't realize it yet."
Eliza laughed, short and sharp. "Yeah? Keep dreaming."
Lily's expression hardened. "You think you can stop me? You're his safe option. He doesn't see you that way. He never will."
Eliza's heart squeezed painfully in her chest, but she didn't let it show.
Lily leaned in a little closer. "But I think he could see me that way. So, if you really care about him, maybe you should step aside."
Eliza stared at her, something cold and furious burning beneath her skin.
"Yeah, that's not happening," she said quietly, voice unwavering.
Lily blinked, caught off guard. "What?"
Eliza smiled — slow, dangerous, and nothing like her usual one.
"I'm not stepping aside," Eliza said. "You want him? You're gonna have to take him from me."
Lily stared at her for a second, her mask of sweetness fully shattered now. "We'll see about that."
Eliza leaned in, voice soft but deadly. "Yeah. We will."
Lily's eyes darkened.
Challenge accepted.
---
That night, Eliza told Ava everything — every word, every glare, every twisted smile.
Ava stared at her for a second, then groaned. "Okay, I'll say it — I love the new, ruthless you, but this is kinda insane."
"She started it," Eliza said stubbornly.
Ava sighed. "And you're gonna finish it?"
"Damn right I am."
Ava leaned back on Eliza's bed, smirking. "Well, looks like Lily's about to figure out what happens when someone messes with you."
Eliza laughed, but her eyes stayed sharp.
Ava smirked. "Alright, warrior princess. Let's bring her down."
To be continued....