ASHLEY’S POV
The next morning, stepping into school felt like stepping into another world.
At first glance, nothing looked different. The same lockers, the same fluorescent lights overhead, the same groups of people gathered in the hallways. But it was the silence that gave it away.
No loud snickers. No in-your-face insults.
Instead, conversations hushed the second I walked by. Heads tilted. Eyes tracked me, then moved away.
It felt worse.
At least when people laughed or mocked me to my face, I could roll my eyes, fire back, or pretend not to care. But this, this was like a slow poison in the air. It was invisible but everywhere.
My gut twisted. This is bad. Really bad.
I caught some of their whispers as I passed groups of students pretending not to stare.
“I heard she cheats on t
