Lily clutched her math textbook tightly to her chest as she walked through the bustling school hallway.
She had been trying her best to stay under the radar since the fallout with Maya.
Every glance, every whisper seemed to burn with judgment. Today was no different, and the weight of it pressed down on her like a physical burden.
As she rounded the corner, she collided with someone, her books tumbling to the floor.
"Oh, I’m so sorry!" Lily stammered, crouching to pick them up.
Her heart sank when she realized who she had bumped into—Maya.
Maya stared down at her for a moment, her face unreadable.
Lily’s cheeks flushed with embarrassment, and she quickly gathered her books, preparing to walk away before things could escalate.
But to her surprise, Maya stopped her.
"W
