The next morning began with a lie.
Elara stood in the kitchen, clutching a piece of toast she didn't feel like eating, while Aunt Celeste fluttered around packing her lunch like she was preparing a child for their first day of kindergarten.
"Did you make any friends yesterday?" Celeste asked, peeking over her glasses with hopeful eyes.
Elara hesitated. Images flashed through her mind—the sharp smirk on James' face, the cold stare Timothy pinned her with, Dean's quiet glance, Shawn's shy wave, and Lou's fiery defense.
One friend. One normal, decent person in a sea of chaos.
"Yeah," Elara finally said. "I… made one friend."
Celeste's face brightened instantly, and guilt ate at Elara's stomach.
She hated lying, but the alternative—telling her aunt that two psychos shoulder-checked her fifteen minutes into her first day—felt worse.
"That's wonderful!" Celeste clasped her hands. "See? I told you. New start."
New start. Right.
It felt more like a countdown.
---
The Bullying Begins
By Tuesday morning, rumors had already started circling the school. Elara didn't know what they were, but she felt the stares. Heavy. Targeted. Curious in that way predators looked at new prey.
She walked down the main hallway with her books hugged to her chest, trying to blend into the locker shadows.
It didn't work.
A loud voice boomed down the corridor.
"Well, well, well… look who survived her first day."
Timothy.
She tensed before she could stop herself. James snickered beside him.
"Maybe she's tougher than she looks," James added. "Or maybe she likes the attention."
They were right in her path. She tried to step around them.
James nudged Timothy. "Bet she'll cry today."
Timothy raised an eyebrow. "Bet she won't."
She wished they would just evaporate.
Then—
Timothy stepped directly in front of her.
Her body froze.
His eyes—dark, unreadable, dangerously calm—swept over her with slow deliberation that made her skin prickle.
"Move," Elara said, quieter than she intended.
Timothy's lips twitched. "Say please."
Before she could react, James swept his arm out and knocked every book out of her hands. The slap of them hitting the floor echoed through the hallway like a gunshot.
The crowd laughed.
Elara did not.
She forced herself to kneel, ignoring the burning humiliation in her cheeks. Her hands trembled slightly as she reached for her notebook.
James crouched beside her, pretending to help—then pushed her pencil farther away with his shoe.
"Oops," he said, his smile razor-sharp. "Clumsy me."
Timothy didn't laugh. He simply watched. Studied her like she was some sort of test he didn't quite understand.
Then a foot stepped between her and her scattered things.
Dean.
He knelt down silently and handed her the pencil James had kicked.
"Here," he murmured.
Elara blinked at him. Up close, he looked even quieter, softer, with the kind of eyes that apologized before his mouth ever did.
Shawn appeared next, kneeling on her other side.
"Sorry," he whispered. "They're just… being them."
James scoffed. "What? You two switching sides?"
Timothy's gaze sharpened. A warning.
Dean flinched, just barely noticeable.
Shawn swallowed, glancing nervously between them. "We were just helping—"
"Don't," Timothy cut in flatly. "You know how this works."
The hall went silent.
Dean's jaw tightened with something like shame.
Shawn shifted uncomfortably but kept picking up her papers.
Elara stared at Timothy.
He didn't look proud of what had happened.
He didn't look guilty either.
He looked… conflicted.
Then he blinked, coldness sliding back into place like armor.
"Let's go," he ordered the group.
James shoved his hands in his pockets and followed.
Dean handed Elara the last of her books before getting up.
Shawn gave her a small, apologetic smile.
And then they were gone.
But the damage was already done.
---
Lunch With Lou
By the time lunch rolled around, Elara wanted to crawl into a locker and disappear.
Lou spotted her from across the cafeteria and waved dramatically, practically dragging Elara toward her table.
"You look like someone sucked the soul out of you," Lou said as soon as Elara sat down. "Let me guess. Timothy and James?"
Elara nodded weakly. "They knocked my books down."
Lou rolled her eyes so hard it looked painful. "Typical. Those two should come with hazard labels."
Elara hid her face in her hands. "Everyone saw."
Lou snorted. "Everyone always sees. It's Westbridge Academy. Gossip travels faster than the school Wi-Fi."
That didn't help.
Lou leaned in, her expression softening. "Hey… you survived. That's what matters."
"Barely."
Lou tossed her bright red hair over her shoulder. "Well, lucky for you, you're sitting with the coolest person in this entire school. That automatically boosts your social score."
Elara cracked a smile.
Finally—something that felt normal.
Then Lou said, "By the way… I'm having a party Friday. You should come."
Elara blinked. "Me? At a party?"
"Yes, you. Don't make me drag you."
Elara hesitated. Parties weren't exactly her thing. Especially not after… everything.
But Lou's smile was warm, and inviting, and the first real kindness she'd felt in a long time.
"Okay," Elara said. "I'll go."
She should've asked who else was going.
That mistake would come later.
---
The Party
Lou's house was huge. Bigger than Elara expected.
Music thumped through the walls, lights flashed across the hallway, and voices echoed from every corner.
Lou greeted her at the door, wearing glitter eyeliner and a grin.
"You came! Good. Prepare for chaos."
Elara laughed nervously, stepping inside.
But her laughter stopped fast.
Because standing in the living room—half lounging on Lou's couch like they owned the place—was the last group she wanted to see.
8U.
Timothy.
James.
Dean.
Shawn.
Elara's stomach dropped.
"Why are they here?" she whispered urgently.
Lou blinked innocently. "Did I forget to mention? Timothy's my cousin."
"What?!"
Lou winced. "Yeah… oops."
But before Elara could protest or escape, James looked up.
"Well, well, if it isn't our favorite New Girl."
Shawn offered a small, encouraging wave.
Dean stood behind the couch, eyes lowered.
Timothy simply stared at her… again. That unreadable expression pulling tight.
Elara took a small step back.
Lou quickly whispered, "Don't worry. They won't do anything. I'm right here."
But she didn't know how wrong she was.
---
Spin the Bottle
Lou disappeared into the kitchen to get snacks. Elara stayed near the wall, trying to blend into the shadows again.
But then James called out, "Elara! Come join us."
"No thanks," she said immediately.
Timothy tilted his head. "Scared?"
"No," she replied, too fast.
"Then sit."
His tone left no room for argument.
She reluctantly sat in the circle. A bottle lay in the middle.
She already knew what game they were playing.
James' grin widened. "Let's make this fun."
She swallowed.
Timothy spun first. It landed on some random girl.
James spun next. It landed on another girl.
Then Shawn spun.
It clicked past three people and stopped on Elara.
Shawn's eyes widened.
"You don't have to—" she whispered.
But James snapped, "Rules are rules."
"It's fine," Elara said, voice tight.
Shawn leaned forward and gave her a light, respectful kiss on the cheek.
The circle "aww'd."
Shawn blushed.
James rolled his eyes.
Then it was James' turn again.
He spun.
The bottle slowed.
Clicked.
Stopped.
Pointing
directly
at Elara.
Her breath hitched.
"Oh? Lucky me," James said, leaning in.
Elara tried to push back. "No—"
But Timothy's hand shot out, pressing firmly on her shoulder, holding her in place.
The circle gasped.
Dean stiffened.
Shawn frowned.
Lou was nowhere in sight.
"Don't," Elara whispered.
James smirked—and kissed her.
Hard.
Longer than necessary.
Longer than she wanted.
Timothy didn't move his hand.
Panic clawed up Elara's chest.
"Stop—STOP!" she gasped, voice cracking.
She shoved James away, stumbling backward.
He laughed. "Relax, it's just a game."
"That wasn't a game!" Elara shouted.
Timothy's jaw ticked.
He hadn't expected her to fight.
She tried to leave.
Timothy grabbed her wrist—not hard, but enough to stop her.
"You're overreacting," he said quietly.
"No. I'm done."
"Let her go," a voice snapped.
Lou.
She stormed into the room, fiery hair blazing like a warning flare.
"What the hell happened?" she demanded.
Elara's voice broke. "He held me down."
Lou's head snapped toward Timothy.
"Are you insane?!"
Timothy opened his mouth, but Lou pointed sharply. "No. Shut up. I'm telling your mom."
James paled.
Dean inhaled sharply.
Shawn looked horrified.
Timothy's expression finally cracked.
"Elara—" he started.
But she didn't let him finish.
She walked out.
And this time—no one stopped her.