The first day of school.

  I thought it would feel different. I had convinced myself that maybe something would change—maybe the whispers in the hallways wouldn't sting as much, maybe the insults wouldn't feel so heavy. Maybe, just maybe, I'd finally be able to breathe.

  But it was the same as always.

  The second I stepped through the school doors, I could feel it. The tension, the judgment, the eyes that followed my every movement. The world didn't stop for me; it never had. As soon as I walked in, I could feel the weight of everyone's gaze on me, from the group of girls gathered by the lockers to the passing whispers that trailed me down the hall.

  It had been like this since freshman year—since that stupid, careless mistake I made. Asking out Ethan was a joke to me, but apparently, it was an invitation for disaster. I hadn't even known he was dating Trina.

  The humiliation that followed—being laughed at in front of the entire cafeteria, the way Trina's eyes narrowed as she made sure to push every knife into my ribs.

  She'd never let me forget that mistake.

  And she wasn't alone. Her followers, the girls who had nothing better to do than watch someone else suffer, all picked up where she left off. Every hallway was a minefield, every glance sharp and cutting. They found new ways to torment me, new ways to make me feel small.

  But today was different, right?

  I told myself that as I walked to my first class. Maybe it was just my nerves, or maybe I was getting better at pretending it didn't hurt, but it didn't feel like today was going to be as bad.

  At least, that's what I kept telling myself.

  "Lily, wait up!"

  I turned to find Camila running toward me, her oversized hoodie swallowing her figure.

  She was the only person who didn't treat me like I was invisible or a target. She was my safe space in the chaos.

  She jogged up to me and threw an arm around my shoulder. "So, did you survive the dinner with Madison's guy?"

  "Yeah, he's... fine. I guess." I tried to sound casual, but something about his smile kept replaying in my head.

  She raised an eyebrow. "You guess?"

  I shrugged. "Just not Madison usually go for. He's too... perfect."

  Camila snorted. "You're such a cynic." She nudged me lightly. "But, hey, at least he doesn't seem like the typical jerk. Maybe he's the one."

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  I shook my head. "Maddy deserves someone nice. I'm not worried about that."

  "Uh-huh, sure you're not." Camila's voice was teasing, but there was something else behind her words.

  I didn't want to go into it. I didn't want to talk about how it felt to watch Madison so effortlessly slip into this world of perfect smiles and perfect boyfriends. She didn't even notice that I was slowly being erased in the process.

  But I didn't want to spoil Camila's mood.

  Instead, I forced a smile. "You'll see. He's just another guy in the long line of guys Maddy's dated. Nothing special."

  Camila smirked. "Right. And you couldn't care less."

  I bit back a smile. "Exactly."

  We reached the door to our first class, and I stepped inside, the noise of chattering students immediately engulfing me. It was always loud, always chaotic, but today, it felt even more overwhelming. I slid into my seat in the back, keeping my head down.

  Class was boring as usual. The noise making, the chatters from the back benchers, and also the slight comments thrown towards individuals by the bully in the class. By individual, I mean me.

  Camila did help snap back at them, but I didn't say anything, just gave her a faint smile anytime it happened.

  The bell rang, and I grabbed my things, already mentally preparing for the next round of awkward hallway encounters. The world still saw me as the outcast, but at least today, I could breathe a little easier.

  After class, I rushed to the restroom, needing a moment to myself. The bathroom was quieter than usual, and I let out a sigh of relief.

  I was halfway through washing my hands when the door slammed open again.

  "Well, look who it is."

  Trina's voice.

  I didn't even turn around.

  She was with her usual sidekicks. The girls who looked at me like I was beneath them. "You think you can just act like you're all grown up now?"

  I stayed silent, my heart racing. I could feel the tension crackling in the air.

  "I'm sorry, did I say something wrong?" Trina said, stepping closer to me. Her voice was sweet, but her eyes were anything but.

  "Leave me alone, Trina." I whispered.

  "Or what?" Her voice was cold now.

  I closed my eyes, taking a deep breath, but before I could mutter out my words, I felt a sharp blow to my stomach. My breath hitched as I tried to muster up some strength to get up, then again, another hit to my abdomen.

  It went on and on, with kicking from each corner. They avoided my face though, not to make it obvious. After she was done, she made her minions pin me to the wall.

  "As long as I am in this school, your life will be a living hell. I'll make sure you regret even thinking of asking him out." She spat on my face, before signaling the girls to let me go.

  The girls immediately backed off. Trina shot me one last look before turning on her heel and storming out with her crew.

  I struggled as I reached over the sink—resting my weight on it as I got up. I stared at my face, cleaning the spit off. I reached out for the napkin and dabbed my face into it, sighed and exited the bathroom like nothing happened.

  That has always been the routine. Go to school, get to class, talk to Camila, get beaten, go home. Every single day for the past year. I did tell my parents once, but they just thought it was one of my schemes to get them to give me attention. I stopped bugging them, and just decided it was best to keep shut so I don't escalate the matter.

  I met Camila at the entrance of the school already waiting for me.

  "Everything good? You took long in the bathroom." she asked, her face worrying.

  "Yh, I'm fine. Just lost track of time." She didn't ask much after that, she knew better not to or else I would just shut her out. She is the only person that sees me for me, and I love that.

  As we walked together, a strange yet expensive looking car stopped right in front of both of us. The windshield wind down, a familiar face in lenses bending his head to face us.

  "Need a ride?" Woody asks flashing his smile.

  "Uh...yes!" Camila squealed rushing in. I rolled my eyes before getting in, but met strangely with Trina's—a look of jealous in it.

  I liked that feeling. Uh...maybe Woody isn't so bad after all.