Cass Winfield gripped the edges of her locker, trying to steady her nerves. Another day at school, another round of whispers and snickers, but today felt heavier somehow. Marvin Woods had already made the morning hell with his usual smirk and his girlfriend Jacinta trailing behind him like a shiny accessory.
Lena had promised to stick with her, and she was true to her word. They navigated the hallways together, whispering quick reminders: avoid Marvin, ignore the gossip, breathe.
“Seriously, do they ever get tired?” Cass muttered, nodding toward a group of students who were clearly watching Marvin strut through the hallway.
“They feed off it,” Lena said calmly. “Trust me. They’ll get bored eventually. But today… we need a plan.”
Cass frowned. “Plan?”
“You don’t just survive, Cass. Som
