Jayden
I stood up, adjusting my clothes, and made my way to the door. I opened it to find my stepmom, Elizabeth, standing in the hallway with a concerned expression.
"Hey, have you seen Allison?" she asked, glancing past me into my room. "I've been trying to knock, but she's not responding. I wondered if she went out without telling me."
"She's in my room," I replied, trying to sound nonchalant.
Elizabeth's eyes widened in surprise. "What? Why is she in your room?"
I heard Allison whisper coldly behind me, "Jayden, are you crazy?"
"She's reading a manga," I explained to Elizabeth, who still looked confused.
I heard Allison whisper again, "f**k you, Jayden," followed by the sound of her rummaging through my shelf. She was improvising, trying to cover for herself.
Elizabeth raised an
