Married To My Worst Enemy

Chapter 1: The Girl Everyone Loved to Mock

Lily Carter woke up to the soft glow of morning light slipping through her curtains.

For a moment, she just lay there, listening to the quiet hum of the house. The distant sound of birds outside. The faint clatter of dishes from downstairs. A normal morning. A safe morning.

She pushed herself up slowly, her curls falling around her face as she sat on the edge of her bed. Lily wasn’t the kind of girl who blended in easily. She was chubby in a way that made people notice her first, but there was a softness and curve to her frame that suited her age, even if she never felt like it belonged in a place like Westbridge High.

Still, she got up anyway.

Because she always did.

Downstairs, the smell of breakfast wrapped around her like a warm blanket.

“Morning, sweetheart,” her mother called from the kitchen.

Lily’s mom stood at the stove, flipping pancakes with practiced ease. Her hair was tied back, and she already had a small plate set aside just for Lily—extra syrup, fruit on the side, exactly how she liked it.

Her father sat at the table scrolling through his phone, but he looked up the moment Lily entered.

“There she is,” he said with a smile. “Our early bird.”

Lily gave a small, tired smile in return. “Morning.”

Her mom turned slightly, eyes softening as she looked at her daughter. “You’ve got a big day today, don’t you?”

Lily hesitated before nodding. “Chemistry test… and practice after school.”

“You’ll do fine,” her father said immediately, like there was no other possibility. “You always do.”

Her mom placed a plate of pancakes in front of her and gently brushed a curl away from Lily’s face.

“And don’t let anyone make you feel small today,” she added quietly, almost like she had said it before. “You hear me?”

Lily nodded again, her expression steadying.

“I won’t,” she said firmly.

“That’s all we ask,” her mom replied with a reassuring smile.

Breakfast passed in a familiar rhythm—warm food, soft encouragement, and the kind of love that tried its best to shield her from a world that didn’t always care.

But eventually, the clock pushed her forward.

Lily grabbed her backpack, hugged her mom quickly, and waved at her dad before stepping out into the morning air.

Westbridge High loomed ahead like it always did—loud, bright, and unforgiving.

Students filled the sidewalks in clusters, laughing too loudly, moving too fast, living lives that never seemed to slow down for anyone like her.

Lily adjusted the strap of her backpack and let out a quiet breath.

“Just one more year,” she whispered to herself. “I can survive one more year.”

She kept her head down as she walked through the gates.

It never helped.

“There she is.”

The voice cut through the noise like it always did.

Lily’s stomach tightened before she even looked up.

A group of students stood near the fountain, already watching her. Smirks forming. Phones ready. Anticipation building like they had been waiting just for this moment.

Jason Blake.

The school’s golden boy.

Captain of the basketball team. Rich. Popular. Untouchable.

And the person who made her mornings feel heavier than they should.

He leaned against his black sports car like he owned the entire parking lot, spinning his keys around his finger. His friends laughed before he even spoke again.

“Morning, Carter,” Jason called out, loud enough for everyone nearby to hear. His eyes flicked over her. “Did you dress in the dark again, or is that just your style now?”

A few students snickered.

Lily lifted her chin slightly, her voice calm and steady. “I dressed just fine. You’re just bored.”

The crowd went a little quieter for a second—like they weren’t used to that.

Jason blinked, then let out a short laugh. “Oh? She talks back now.”

Lily didn’t stop walking.

“Hey!” Jason called after her. “Didn’t your parents teach you manners? Or do you just ignore everyone who talks to you?”

She stopped for half a second.

Then turned her head just enough for him to see her expression.

“I hear you,” she said evenly. “I just don’t take you seriously.”

That got a reaction—laughter, louder this time, but also a few surprised looks.

Jason stepped in front of her, blocking her path like it was nothing. Like she was nothing.

“So you can talk,” he said, amused.

His friends circled slightly, like they were watching a performance they had seen too many times but still enjoyed.

Lily tightened her grip on her backpack straps.

“Please move,” she said, unshaken.

Jason studied her for a moment, then tilted his head.

“You know,” he said slowly, “if you tried smiling once in a while, people might actually think you’re normal.”

Laughter erupted around them.

Lily didn’t flinch.

“I am normal,” she said coolly. “You’re just loud.”

The laughter faltered again, a few students exchanging looks.

She shifted to step around him, but someone bumped her shoulder from behind.

Her books slipped from her hands.

They hit the ground hard.

The hallway seemed to explode with noise.

Laughter. Phones lifting. Whispers spreading.

A notebook slid across the pavement and landed near a puddle from last night’s rain.

Lily dropped to her knees quickly, gathering her things before the bell.

No one helped.

No one ever did.

“Careful,” someone mocked softly.

Jason looked down at the mess. For a split second, his expression changed—something unreadable flickering behind his eyes.

Then it was gone.

He smirked again.

“Maybe you should pay more attention,” he said.

Lily picked up her soaked notebook, hands steady now despite the damage. The ink was already bleeding through the pages. Weeks of notes ruined in seconds.

She closed her eyes briefly.

Breathe.

Just breathe.

“I’ve handled worse,” she said quietly, more to herself than anyone else.

She stood, gathered what was left, and walked away without looking back.

The laughter slowly faded behind her.

Jason stayed where he was, watching her disappear into the building.

One of his friends nudged him.

“Why do you always go after her, man?”

Jason shrugged, slipping his hands into his pockets.

“She’s just easy to mess with,” he said casually.

But even as he said it, his eyes stayed on the hallway she had vanished into.