The final bell rang like a mercy on Friday afternoon. Claire gathered her books with a tired sigh, her shoulders aching from the weight of the week. The rumors had only grown louder — “gold-digger,” “using him for money,” “she doesn’t belong” — and Victoria’s subtle jabs during training sessions had left invisible bruises deeper than the fading one on her face. Even with Xander’s constant support and Alissa’s fierce loyalty, the constant scrutiny was exhausting.
She made her way to her locker, keeping her head down to avoid the stares. The hallway was loud with weekend excitement, but Claire felt detached from it all. All she wanted was to get to the Avila mansion, train until her body hurt more than her heart, and lose herself in Xander’s arms for a little while.
She dialed her locker c
