ASHLEY’S POV
The cafeteria buzzed with the usual Friday energy. The room was filled with laughter, chatter, and the small beat of someone’s playlist thumping from a phone across the room.
The air smelled like fries, coffee, and too much perfume.
I sat with Melissa and the rest of the cheer squad, picking at my salad and trying to look interested while the girls went on about the upcoming game and the afterparty at Blake’s house.
Melissa waved her perfectly manicured hand, tossing her hair dramatically. “Ashley, are you seriously pretending not to notice how half the guys in this room are staring at you?”
I blinked, my fork frozen halfway to my mouth.
“They’re not,” I muttered, glancing down at my food.
“Oh, please,” she scoffed, leaning closer with a teasing grin. “It’s the outfit
