The hallway felt too bright, too loud, as Aerith rushed down it, her footsteps echoing off the polished tiles. She clutched her books tightly to her chest, her knuckles white from the pressure. Her heart was still racing, the embarrassment from the classroom fresh and raw, like an open wound. *ℍ𝕠𝕨 𝕔𝕠𝕦𝕝𝕕 𝕀 𝕓𝕖 𝕤𝕠 𝕤𝕥𝕦𝕡𝕚𝕕?* The thought played on repeat in her mind, the weight of it pressing her down. Her so-called friends were talking behind her back, Jake seemed more distant by the day, and now, even the teacher was making her a public spectacle. It felt like the whole world was turning against her, 𝔭𝔦𝔢𝔠𝔢 by 𝔭𝔦𝔢𝔠𝔢.The murmur of students filled the halls, their laughter and chatter like a cruel background track to her spiralling thoughts. She tried to walk faster, desperate to escape their voices, but no matter how hard she tried, they clung to her like shadows. Her mind swirled with paranoia. She replayed the conversation she overheard in class—Lola's smug voice, Hazel's hidden smile, Holden's cryptic words. Were they right? Was she losing Jake? The thought of Jake with Hazel made her stomach churn. He'd been distant lately, more aloof. He used to text her constantly, send her pictures, and ask how her day was going, but now..., there was nothing. Just silence 0_0. And the silences were the worst part—they filled every gap in her life, every quiet moment turning into a space for her worst fears to take root. As Aerith approached her locker, she fumbled with the combination, her hands trembling. The metal handle felt cold and unyielding, and it took her several tries before she managed to open it. She stared blankly at the books inside, though her mind was miles away, replaying the conversation from earlier, dissecting every word. *Jake's been hanging out with Hazel The sentence echoed in her head, louder each time. The way Hazel had smiled when she said it—like she was holding onto some dark secret, something Aerith wasn't supposed to know. Was there something going on between them? Or was her mind just playing tricks on her? She didn't want to believe it, but the doubt was like a poison, creeping through her veins."Aerith."The voice startled her, pulling her out of her thoughts. She turned quickly, her breath catching in her throat. It wasn't Jake. It wasn't one of her so-called friends. It was Zephyr.Zephyr stood at the edge of the hallway, half-hidden in the shadows, as she always was. They had been in the same class since pre-grade, but in all those years, they had barely spoken. Zephry was the kind of girl who kept to herself, never engaging in the drama or gossip that consumed the rest of the school. She moved through life like a ghost—present but unnoticed. For a moment, their eyes met, and Aerith felt a strange chill run down her spine. There was something in Zephry's gaze—something piercing like she could see straight through her. It was unnerving, especially given how little they knew each other. But just as quickly as their eyes met, Zephry looked away, disappearing into the crowd without saying another word.Aerith stood there, frozen, her heart still pounding. What was that about? Why had Zephry spoken her name, only to vanish without an explanation? A strange feeling of unease settled over her. She couldn't shake the sensation that Zephry knew something—something she wasn't telling her. The hallway emptied as students rushed to their next classes, and for a brief moment, Aerith was left standing in silence. But the quiet did little to soothe her. Instead, it made the whispers in her mind grow louder, more insistent. Jake's been hanging out with Hazel a lot. Holden's voice: *People change. She had to see it coming.*Aerith closed her locker with a sharp bang, the sound echoing down the empty hall. She clenched her fists, trying to steady herself. She had to talk to Jake. She had to figure out what was going on—whether it was all in her head or whether something was happening behind her back. But the fear of knowing the truth kept her rooted in place. What if everything she feared was real? What if Jake was slipping away from her? What if Hazel had already taken her place? The questions circled in her mind, unrelenting. But she couldn't confront him—not yet. She wasn't ready to face what she might find.