Nicole woke up with her face buried in the pillow and a headache that felt personal.
with the taste of ash in her mouth. Her limbs ached. Her throat felt raw. Nicole dragged herself out of bed, threw on a hoodie, Downstairs, the clatter of plates and the annoying hum of normal life crept through the walls. Jaden's music thumped through the wall next door, like always. Mark was probably still asleep, pretending not to be nosy. Downstairs, her dad was already dressed like he had somewhere important to be. Coffee. Car keys. Responsibility. He didn't even glance up when she walked in.
"Morning," he said, flipping through some emails on his phone. "You've got dinner plans Friday."
Nicole raised an eyebrow. "With who?"
"Alex. Chelsea. Us."
Her stomach turned.
"Oh," she said, voice flat. "A whole family reunion. Cute."
"Don't start, Nicole."
She grabbed a piece of dry toast, didn't bother sitting. "Did it ever cross your mind I don't care to meet the woman who replaced my mother?"
"She didn't replace anyone," he snapped.
Nicole smiled, sharp and bitter. "Whatever helps you sleep at night."
She turned, walking out without another word. If she stayed one more second, she might've thrown the toast at him.
Back upstairs, she was dressed in black jeans, her hoodie pulled tight, headphones in. She walked out the front door like she was headed to court instead of school
The school gates felt tighter than usual. Like walking into a cage she'd set on fire the night before. Nicole stepped out of the car Mark dropped her in, hoodie up, headphones in, middle finger energy loaded. Sky was waiting by the side building, leaning against the bricks with a lollipop in her mouth and zero shame in her eyes. Same cocky smirk. Same I-don't-give-a-damn posture. Nicole walked past her like she didn't exist.
"You broke my windshield," Sky called out casually. "Should I send the bill to your house or just text your daddy?"
Nicole stopped, turned halfway. "Don't act like you didn't deserve it."
Sky smiled. "Didn't say I didn't. Just saying, damn. You really snapped."
"I should've hit you instead of the car."
Sky chuckled, pushing off the wall and walking beside her like they were friends. "You've got a mean right hook. Marcos is pissed, by the way."
Nicole raised a brow. "He know it was me?"
"Nope." Sky popped the lollipop out of her mouth. "Just that someone trashed his car. He's been cursing since sunrise. Honestly… it was beautiful."
Nicole didn't smile. But a flicker of satisfaction lit behind her eyes. Sky kept walking. "You're a little psycho. I like it."
"Don't."
"Relax," Sky said, twirling the stick in her fingers. "We're not friends. Just allies with matching rage."
Nicole gave her a side glance. "That alliance? It's done."
Sky shrugged like it didn't matter. "Still fun while it lasted."
They reached the school doors. People stared, whispered. Nicole felt it — the eyes, the weight, the reputation forming like smoke behind her. She didn't care.
Marcos stood at the end of the hall. Tall, broad, arms crossed. His jaw clenched so tight it looked like it could crack concrete. The bruise on his cheek was new. Probably from some other fight—but his eyes? They were locked on Sky. And then… on her. Sky didn't flinch. Just whispered, "Uh-oh. Daddy's mad."
Nicole didn't slow down. But Marcos started walking toward them, footsteps loud, chest puffed.
"You think this is funny?" he growled, stopping a foot away. "Someone trashed my ride."
Sky gave him an exaggerated gasp. "No way. Who would do such a cruel, evil thing?"
He didn't laugh. His eyes sliced to Nicole. "You."
Nicole leaned back on one leg, unimpressed. "Why would I touch your crusty-ass car?"
"Because you're friends with this psycho," he snapped, jabbing a finger at Sky.
"Ex-friends," Nicole corrected, calm but deadly. "And I don't do favors for anyone."
"Then you better pray it wasn't you," Marcos said low. "Because if I find out—"
"What? You'll cry?" Nicole interrupted, voice sharp as a blade. "Call your mommy?"
The hallway gasped. Sky was trying hard not to laugh.
Marcos stepped closer, fury burning in his jaw. "You don't know who you're messing with."
Nicole stared up at him, bored. "Neither do you."
Before fists could fly, a teacher's voice rang out behind them. "Keep it moving, people!"
Sky grabbed Nicole's wrist. "Let's go before we get detention again. My liver needs a break."
As they walked away, Sky whispered, "That was hot."
They disappeared into the crowd. But Nicole could feel Marcos's rage burning behind her like a warning. Nicole sat by the window, half-listening to the teacher drone about something she couldn't care less about. Her notebook was blank. Her mind louder than the classroom.
Sky passed her a folded note halfway through — "You look like death. Still salty about the car?"
Nicole didn't respond. Just smirked and shoved the note in her bag. The second the bell rang, Nicole grabbed her bag and slipped out before Sky could turn around.
Backpacks slammed into lockers. Someone was beatboxing. A group of cheerleaders argued over mascara. Nicole kept her head low, hoodie up. Every little sound hit like static in her ears. By lunch, her mood had only gotten worse. The hallway was a jungle of loud voices and fake smiles. Tasha met her by the lockers, already chewing gum like she was fighting someone.
"Lunch?"
Nicole shrugged. "Might as well eat before I fight someone."
Tasha found her at her locker.
"You look like you didn't sleep," she said.
Nicole didn't respond.
"I mean… you look like you didn't sleep, but also like you could murder someone. Which—hot, honestly."
Nicole gave a ghost of a smile.
"Sky's been looking for you," Tasha added, more cautious now. "Said to meet her at lunch."
Nicole rolled her eyes. "Why? So we can go burn down a whole house this time?"
"Maybe she brought snacks."
The cafeteria buzzed like a broken speaker — loud, annoying, fake. Nicole sat with Tasha at the edge, stabbing her salad like it owed her money.
"Yo."
Sky dropped her tray across from them, all teeth and trouble. "You're sitting with us today."
Nicole blinked. "Says who?"
"Says me." Sky popped her gum. "Come on, I'm introducing you to real chaos."
Tasha raised an eyebrow. "Should we be scared or flattered?"
Sky grinned. "Both."
Tasha nudged Nicole. "This is either the worst idea ever or the most fun you'll have before you die."
Nicole sighed. "Probably both."
Sky's crew looked like the kind of kids who'd be famous on social media for doing nothing but existing. Loud. Beautiful. Dangerous.
Music played from someone's phone. Vape clouds floated. A girl with bubblegum-pink braids was painting her nails. Micah and Travis argued about who would win in a real fight — Batman or John Wick.
Sky plopped down like she ruled it all. "This is Nicole," she said, tossing her bag on the table. "She's new. She's not boring. So be nice."
Nicole stood for a beat too long. Eyes scanned her. The pink-braided girl — Angel — looked her up and down like she was dirt tracked in on fresh floors.
"This your charity case of the week?" Angel asked Sky. "We doing community service now?"
Sky laughed like it was cute. "She helped me last night. That's more than you've ever done."
Nicole's jaw tightened. She didn't need defending — especially not from Sky. But she didn't say anything yet. Angel leaned back in her seat, legs crossed like a weapon. "And did your new bestie tell you how she broke your windshield after?"
Nicole froze. Sky just sipped her drink. "She's got trust issues. It's adorable."
Angel stood. "Nah, it's stupid. You don't just bring randoms into our space. Especially ones who play both sides."
Nicole stood too. "You got a problem, say it to my face. Not around it."
Angel moved quick. "Say it with your chest then."
Tasha grabbed Nicole's arm. "Girl—"
Sky shot up, slamming her drink down. "Enough!"
Her voice cracked like thunder. The table went quiet. Even the music paused for a second. And that's when he showed up. Coach Dray. Black tee stretched over his chest. Clipboard in hand. Eyes sharp enough to cut glass.
"What the hell is going on here?" he asked, voice low but loud enough to shake bones.
Angel sat. Nicole didn't. Dray's gaze landed on her, hard and unreadable.
"You two," he said. "My office. Now."
Sky smirked and picked up her drink again. "Told you this would be fun."
Coach Dray's office smelled like sweat, old paper, and anger. Nicole dropped into the chair like it owed her something.
Dray shut the door. "Angel's gone home. Nurse said she was 'lightheaded.'"
Nicole scoffed. "Dramatic much."
Dray leaned on the desk, arms crossed. "You're not here to fight everyone, Nicole."
She looked up, eyes flat. "Feels like they all want one."
That muscle in his jaw ticked like he was trying not to smile.
"You think this is funny?" he asked, voice low.
She met his eyes. "No. I think this school is a circus. I just didn't realize you were the ringmaster."
Silence. His gaze didn't drop. And for a second, it wasn't teacher and student. It was something else. A standoff. A dare. He moved closer.
"You've got fire," he said. "But fire burns. You play with the wrong people, you're gonna get hurt. Or worse—burn everything around you."
Nicole's smile faded. Just a little.
"Maybe I was already burning before I got here."
That landed. He blinked. Like he saw something he wasn't ready for. She stood, walking toward the door.
"You done preaching?" she asked without turning around. He stared. Long. Quiet.
"Sky's bad news."
"So am I."
Her hand hovered on the doorknob.
"You done judging me?"
"Not judging," he said. "Warning."
Nicole paused at the door.
"Keep warning me, Coach," she said. "One day I'll listen."
Then she was gone.