Every now and then, someone glanced her way. Most didn't. That's when it happened. A tray slammed onto the table across from her, making her jump. A girl with glossy hair and a sharp grin leaned forward.
"You're the new one, right? Tiana something?" "Yeah," Tiana said carefully. The girl smirked. "I'm Brooke. These are my friends, Jenna and Sky." Two other girls sat down beside her.
All three looked like they'd stepped out of a fashion ad. Manicured nails, perfect hair, matching phone cases. "So," Brooke continued. "Where'd you move from?" "Atlanta." Brooke tilted her head. "Oh, uh, that's cute.
Bet it's real different here." Tiana gave a small shrug. "A little." Sky snorted. "A little, girl. You're not in the city anymore. People actually know each other here." Brooke laughed, then leaned closer.
"Don't worry. We'll teach you how things work at Jefferson." Tiana smiled politely, unsure what that meant, but it didn't sound friendly. When the bell rang, Brooke and her friends stood up. Brooke gave her a look that lingered a second too long, a smile that didn't reach her eyes. "See you around, Atlanta." As they walked off, Tiana let out a quiet breath she hadn't realized she was holding.
Her mom's words echoed in her mind. Just be yourself. She wanted to, but something told her that was going to be harder here than she thought. But she didn't know yet. This was only the calm before everything changed.
By the second day, Tiana had already memorized her route between classes. She walked fast, eyes down, earbuds in, the perfect formula for invisibility. It worked most of the time. But in Jefferson High, some people noticed quiet. In English class, Brooke sat two rows over, chewing gum and whispering to Sky while pretending to listen to the teacher.
Every few minutes, Tiana felt Brooke's eyes flick toward her. When the bell rang, Brooke stretched dramatically and said, just loud enough, "Some people really think being quiet makes them mysterious." "It's just boring." Sky giggled. "For real." Tiana pretended not to hear. She packed her notebook and walked out, but she could feel that kind of laughter. The one meant to sting.
In the hallway, she found herself stuck behind a crowd of students moving too slow. That's when someone bumped her shoulder hard. "Watch where you're going," a voice snapped. Tiana looked up. It was Jace Nolan, a tall boy with a varsity jacket and that easy confidence that made teachers like him.
He didn't even look sorry. Brooke was standing next to him, smirking. "I didn't bump into you," Tiana said evenly. Jace turned slightly. "Oh, so it's my fault now." Brooke crossed her arms.
"You're really not doing yourself any favors, new girl." Tiana blinked, unsure what to say. Before she could respond, the bell rang. The crowd broke apart and Brooke and Jace walked off laughing. The rest of the day, the tension followed her like a shadow she couldn't shake. In the bathroom between classes, she heard two girls talking near the sinks.