The next step came later that afternoon.
Lilly lingered by the classroom door, waiting. When Jessi passed by, she didn't try to stop her — just said one quiet sentence as she walked past.
"You know she's lying to you."
Jessi froze for just a second, enough for Lilly to see doubt flicker across her face.
Lilly didn't push it.
She just kept walking.
---
Over the next few days, Lilly kept working quietly.
She smiled at Sara during art class, helped Emily pick up her dropped notes after math, even complimented Ashlin on her hair one morning.
Little cracks began to form.
She noticed it in how Emily hesitated before laughing at Aisha's mean jokes.
In how Sara wouldn't quite meet Aisha's eyes anymore.
In how Ashlin actually said "thank you" when Lilly passed her a forgotten pen.
And she noticed it most in Jessi.
How she kept glancing at Lilly when she thought nobody was watching.