The school bell rang, its sharp clang echoing through the hallways like a warning. Annabelle hurried through the crowded corridors, her bag slung over one shoulder, her heels clicking against the polished floor. Students parted as she passed, some whispering, others nodding in respect. She wasn’t just another student anymore—she was Annabelle. The girl who stood up to bullies. The girl who didn’t back down. The girl who had somehow become the unofficial boss of the class.
Her best friend, Flavia, was waiting by their lockers, leaning casually against the metal doors. Flavia’s dark curls bounced as she turned to Annabelle, her eyes lighting up. “There you are! I thought you’d forgotten about me,” she teased, nudging Annabelle with her elbow.
Annabelle rolled her eyes but smiled. “As if I
