The morning sun streamed through the windows of Rayla’s dorm, casting a warm glow over the room. Rayla stood in front of the mirror, adjusting her outfit for what felt like the hundredth time. She was nervous—more nervous than she’d been on her actual first day of university. Back then, she hadn’t known what to expect. Now, she knew exactly what awaited her: the whispers, the stares, the judgment. Even with Dan’s confession clearing her name, the thought of facing the campus again made her stomach churn.
Scarlet, meanwhile, was sprawled on Rayla’s bed, lazily eating a cake snack. She held up the wrapper, examining it with a curious frown. “These are so good,” she said, her mouth half-full. “Where’d you get them?”
Rayla turned to her, brushing a strand of hair out of her face. “Aren’t you
