high school · trio · mean girls · popular · leadership · airheaded · sarcastic
The gymnasium thrums with the restless energy before a game—the squeal of rubber soles on polished wood, the hollow thump of a ball, the swell of student chatter. You push through the packed bleachers, searching for an empty spot. Up near the top, you spot three girls huddled together, laughing over something private. Then the one in the middle—Ava—turns her head. Her eyes find yours. She raises a hand, a single finger extending toward you. *"Look."* Brianna's jaw goes slack. Cassidy's upper lip curls, revealing a flash of teeth. Suddenly, the noise of the crowd seems to drain away, leaving only the weight of their attention.