CHAPTER THREE: The Note
888 Words
Lina barely slept.
Every time she closed her eyes, she saw it again—juice spilling, whispers rising, Tiana’s cold smile.
You won’t last here.
The words echoed louder in the quiet of her small room.
By morning, her stomach was tight with nerves, but she forced herself out of bed anyway. She didn’t come this far to quit after one day.
You earned this.
That thought carried her all the way back to Silver Crest High.
But the moment she stepped into the hallway, she knew something was… off.
People were looking at her.
Not casually.
Directly.
Whispers followed her steps.
“Is that her?”
“That’s the scholarship girl…”
Lina’s grip tightened on her bag as she walked faster, trying to ignore it. Maybe she was overthinking.
Maybe—
She reached her locker.
Took a breath.
And opened it.
Something fell out instantly.
A folded piece of paper.
Her heart skipped.
Slowly, she bent down and picked it up. Her fingers trembled slightly as she unfolded it.
Three words.
Written in bold, red ink:
“GO BACK HOME.”
Lina froze.
A cold wave washed over her.
Before she could even process it—
A loud laugh echoed behind her.
“Well… looks like someone got your welcome gift.”
Lina turned.
Tiana stood there, leaning casually against a locker, her friends beside her. Their expressions ranged from amused to downright cruel.
“I didn’t write that,” Tiana added with a small shrug. “But I agree with it.”
More laughter.
Lina’s throat tightened. “Why are you doing this?”
Tiana pushed herself off the locker and stepped closer. “Doing what?”
“This,” Lina said, holding up the note. “I said I was sorry—”
“And I said it wasn’t enough,” Tiana cut in sharply.
The hallway began to quiet again. People were watching.
Always watching.
“You think you can just walk in here,” Tiana continued, her voice lower now, more dangerous, “with your scholarship and your… situation… and suddenly belong?”
Lina’s chest rose and fell quickly. “I worked hard to be here.”
Tiana smirked. “Good for you.”
Then her expression changed—just slightly.
“But this isn’t your world.”
Silence.
Lina felt it again—that sinking feeling in her chest.
The one that whispered maybe Tiana was right.
Maybe she didn’t belong.
“Hey.”
The voice cut through everything.
Ethan.
He stepped into the scene, eyes moving from Lina… to the note in her hand… to Tiana.
“What’s going on?” he asked.
“No drama,” Tiana said lightly. “Just a conversation.”
Ethan held out his hand toward Lina. “Let me see that.”
Hesitant, she passed him the note.
His jaw tightened slightly as he read it.
“Who did this?” he asked.
No one answered.
Tiana tilted her head. “Why does it matter?”
Ethan looked at her. “Because it’s not okay.”
A small pause.
Then Tiana smiled again—but this time, it was colder than before.
“You’re really going out of your way for her,” she said. “That’s interesting.”
Ethan didn’t respond.
He handed the note back to Lina. “Ignore it.”
Ignore it?
Lina wanted to laugh.
How do you ignore something like this?
But before she could speak—
“Actually…” Tiana said, her voice suddenly sweet again. “Let’s make things more interesting.”
The hallway leaned in.
Tiana’s eyes locked onto Lina.
“If you really think you belong here,” she said slowly, “prove it.”
Lina frowned slightly. “What do you mean?”
Tiana smiled.
“There’s a party this Friday. My party. Everyone who matters will be there.”
A pause.
“You show up… and survive the night without embarrassing yourself—”
Her smile widened.
“—then maybe I’ll consider leaving you alone.”
A few students gasped quietly.
Lina’s heart pounded.
A party?
With them?
“That’s ridiculous,” Ethan cut in.
“Is it?” Tiana shrugged. “Or is she scared?”
All eyes turned to Lina.
The pressure.
The silence.
The challenge.
Lina swallowed.
She could walk away.
Stay invisible.
Stay safe.
Or—
“I’ll come.”
The words slipped out before she could stop them.
The hallway erupted in whispers.
Tiana’s smile slowly spread into something victorious.
“Good,” she said softly. “Don’t be late.”
She turned and walked away, her friends following behind her like shadows.
The crowd slowly began to disperse.
Ethan looked at Lina. “That’s a bad idea.”
Lina stared down at the note still in her hand.
“I know,” she said quietly.
Then she looked up—something new in her eyes.
“But I’m tired of running.”
Ethan studied her for a moment… then sighed slightly.
“Then you’re going to need help.”
Lina blinked. “What?”
A small smirk touched his lips.
“Because if you’re going to that party…”
He leaned in just a little.
“You’re not going alone.”
Lina’s heart skipped.
Not from fear this time.
But something else.
Something unfamiliar.
Something dangerous.
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