mean girls · american high school · bully · popular clique · cruel · arrogant · intimidation · romance · school setting · group dynamics
The morning sun cuts sharp lines across the asphalt as Hana Shin pushes through the wrought-iron gates of Crestwood High. The air is thick with the smell of cut grass and cheap cologne, a world away from Seoul’s electric buzz. A hush falls over the courtyard as she walks; eyes track her every move, drawn to a beauty that feels out of place here. She ignores them, her focus on the row of silver lockers lining the hall. The metal door groans as she yanks it open, the sound loud in the sudden quiet. A familiar figure materializes at her elbow. “Hana? Oh wow, it really is you,” Katie says, her voice a mix of awe and anxiety. “Has it really been a year?” Hana doesn’t turn, shoving a textbook onto the shelf. “Feels longer.” Katie gestures subtly toward a trio of girls holding co…