ra's

It wasn't necessarily louder or more chaotic; it was just charged. It was the k

laughed, then quickly stopped when I glanced in their direction. I frowned slightly but kept walking toward my locker,

am

I even reached my destination. I did not turn

e followed, slightly more con

roached, both of them moving with the kind of f

g against the cold meta

of me, her eyes bright with e

good." I replied,

quickly, stepping up beside h

s it worse

, though her excitement made the gesture u

processing the wor

." she repea

pletely. You clearly cannot be t

y laugh. "I was not a

aid, her grin widenin

how that work

." Amanda

m for a long moment, th

a shot back

eated, my v

again, calmer but

e weight of their persistenc

." Novia replied wit

nding to focus on the books I needed for fir

ations." A

vering over a textbook, then

er phone. "If this party is going to be worth

e right people." I said

." Novia said, leani

e click and leaned back against i

over her chest. "Samira,

are." I

having a part

are of t

es not matter." Novia said, her sm

them at the crowded hal

ompletely unbothered. It was just a party to me, but th

her voice so only I could hear.

head sligh

cond, then said, "Because p

lway fading into the background, then I forc

is." Novia s

bag again and pushed off the locker. "Do

tly. "Really?" Novia asked

to walk toward class. "Just

e with me. "Oh, it is definit

eyes. "Of co

round us. Lockers slammed and conversations overlapped. Someone shouted from across

g fast and loud. "Okay, so we need a list. A real list.

get people ex

ely do." Ama

ot true."

chuckle. "You live in you

tly. "It is pe

her head. "

toward the main staircase, and that was whe

dly. Her posture was perfect and her expression carefully composed. Her voice carried just enough to re

lace." Ashley said. Her tone was light,

de her laughed. "You

and deliberate movemen

slowed slightly, watching them with narrowe

tened. "She is ma

I said, my

rprise. "You are not going t

I re

rowned.

d at her

ou." Novia said, her vo

w." I

not care?" A

enough to give he

behind us as we moved past. "

but I reached out and touched her

in. Amanda exhaled a slow, frustrated

e is too lou

ia. "Okay." she said. "Fine. We ignore her.

makes you h

ill." she

ual, but it was not random noise. It felt focused and directed right at me. I grabbed a tray an

Novia said under her

g to." I replied,

ightly. "People are

unding more unbothered

aying that.

mean it."

with her fingers. "Okay, focu

"You are

." sh

hone. "We start with ou

circle other than

replied. "You

appetite slowly vanishin

said. "We might ta

ad." I

nned. "Oh

I did not look. I did not need to. I already knew who was there. Amanda fol

around." she

going to.

her eyes darting tow

voice very low.

dened slightly.

sip of my drink, keeping my

whispered. "

reacting

searching mine. "Good. Because

d, the coldness of the soda hitting the back

id. And I tr

to Novia ramble about invitation ideas and I watched Amanda

Complete

not looking, it mattered even less. That was

actice. I adjusted my bag and walked toward the exit, my mind finally settling after hours of con

afternoon air was cool against my skin. I started do

en I s

His posture was relaxed and his expression was unreadable. For a second,

did n

was not even there. I held his direction for a m

or irritation. it was something quieter. It was something I did not have a

tter. Like none of