I practically rolled my eyes as Stella and her crew strutted past, heels clicking like they owned the hallway. Honestly, it was almost impressive… if it wasn't so infuriating. I hugged my bag tighter, hoping Maya wouldn't notice me trying to melt into the locker next to hers.
"Are you going to let them ruin your life again, Aisha?" Maya whispered, nudging me. Her eyes sparkled like she actually believed I could survive a world run by spoiled girls.
"Let them ruin my life?" I scoffed. "Maya, please. They're just… rich with nothing better to do."
She rolled her eyes. "Just… don't fall for any of their games. Or, like, get caught in them again. Remember last week?"
Ugh. Don't remind me. The whole "embarrass-yourself-in-front-of-Eden" fiasco still haunted me.
That's when I noticed Sebastian leaning against the lockers across the hall. Not the awkward, shy type you pity—more like the kid who knew things, had opinions, and didn't care if people liked him. He gave me a half-smirk and a nod.
"Hey, Aisha," he said, his voice casual but carrying that I-know-something vibe. "You're still surviving Stella's circus, huh?"
"Barely," I muttered, wishing I had some invisible shield.
Sebastian chuckled. "Good. Don't let anyone push you around. That includes the queen bee and her parade."
Maya gave me a side glance. "See? Not everyone here is out to get you."
I grinned. "Yeah, except the ones who are."
The bell rang, and chaos exploded. Bags tumbled, a spilled soda near the cafeteria, someone screamed about homework being late, and I was just trying to grab my things without being seen. Maya grabbed my hand. "Come on, genius, photoshoot plan. We need a break from all this."
A break? More like a cover for my panic attacks around Stella's crew. But fine, we ran to the courtyard and set up our little photo session. Maya posed like a mini-supermodel, while I tried to look casual. It was harder than it looked.
"You're too tense," Maya said, snapping a shot. "Relax, Aisha. You're not auditioning for a tragedy."
I laughed, almost spilling my drink, and for a moment, the world outside—Stella, the rich girls, even Eden—felt miles away.