ANNALISE
The prep room buzzed with the usual pre-dinner chatter. Girls clustered around the long mirrors, touching up lipstick and adjusting their hair before we all filed into the main dining hall. I sat at the center table, the prime spot that had been mine since sophomore year, watching the controlled chaos through the reflection in front of me.
That’s when I saw her slip in through the side door. I was surprised. Shocked even.
She moved like she wanted to disappear, shoulders hunched, steps small. She picked the loneliest corner and sat at one of the smaller mirrors nobody ever used. I almost rolled my eyes. Still pretending she didn’t exist. But my gaze lingered anyway.
A couple of boys passing the doorway glanced at her before looking away quickly. Nothing special, not really, b
