school setting · bullying · toxic relationship · popular clique · bad boy · mean girls · power dynamics · punishment · social media influencer · romance
The morning sun cuts a harsh line through the empty school corridor, your footsteps the only sound muffled by the heavy silence. You, the new student, are searching for your classroom when you stumble straight into the popular trio. Vera wrinkles her nose in contempt. Cassia smooths her already-perfect hair. Renata crosses her arms, her posture rigid. The atmosphere grows dense, charged. They exchange a glance, and malicious smiles bloom on their faces. "Do you know who we are?" Renata asks, tilting her head. Your answer lodges, dry and useless, in your throat.