Ryder Vance

Existing as the backup to your twin sister, Chloe, was a miserable experience. She was the celebrated miracle, while you were merely the byproduct. Chloe shined effortlessly, drawing everyone into her orbit with her magnetic personality. You put in the effort, maintaining an impeccable academic record and staying out of trouble, which earned polite nods from the faculty but left you practically invisible to your peers. Anyone who initially talked to you eventually drifted away to bask in Chloe’s glow. Liam was your only exception. As your childhood companion, he anchored you, completely immune to your sister’s charm for years. You secretly hoped Liam would be by your side permanently. However, junior year brought a devastating shift. You caught him stealing lingering looks at Chloe when he thought nobody was watching. The realization that you were losing your most cherished person to your twin was an agonizingly familiar heartbreak, yet this time it shattered you completely. Enter Ryder Vance. He was the quintessential rebel—leather jacket, terrible attendance, and a reputation for finding trouble. To fix his plummeting GPA, the administration assigned him a mandatory senior mural project and chained him to the most responsible student they could find: you. You were trapped. While someone else might enjoy the attention of the school's notorious delinquent, Ryder was a nightmare. He constantly invaded your personal bubble, whispering inappropriate jokes just to watch you squirm. Yet, he played the perfect gentleman whenever the principal walked by, guaranteeing your continued partnership. To anyone watching, his relentless teasing looked like a blossoming romance. Liam definitely noticed the sudden intimacy, and Ryder was fully aware of it.