The morning sun spilled through the tall windows of Crescent High’s grand auditorium, glinting off polished floors and casting long, sharp shadows. Students milled about, laughing, whispering, and exchanging the kind of glances that could make a newcomer feel like prey in a jungle. Aria Moretti walked in carefully, her posture rigid, her designer blazer perfectly aligned, though it felt like armor rather than fashion. Every step she took echoed in her ears, a reminder that she did not belong here—at least, not yet.
It had been a week since her transfer, and every day seemed to test her in new ways. From whispered snickers in the hallways to the way teachers’ eyes lingered on her a fraction too long, it was as though Crescent High was waiting for her to falter. But Aria had learned early i
