"I'm Ethan, by the way," the boy introduced himself casually as they both filled their stomachs. He glanced at Ayo, waiting for a response. But minutes passed, and she still hadn't said a word. Ethan furrowed his brow slightly, wondering if he'd done something wrong.
"What's your name?" he asked after the silence stretched a bit too long.
Ayo stared at him, still chewing the bread. It wasn't that she didn't want to respond—she was just trying to take him in, now that she had the chance to really look. He had striking sage green eyes, the kind that held a quiet intensity, and well-defined cheekbones that gave his face a sharp, almost sculpted look. Freckles dotted his skin, a detail that oddly suited him, adding a touch of softness to his features. He was, without a doubt, conventionally attractive.
"I'm Ayo," she finally replied, her voice steady but distant.
"Oh, that's a really—"
"I'd prefer we don't speak while we eat," Ayo interrupted him, quickly seizing on an excuse to make him stop talking. She wasn't in the mood for chit-chat, and she figured a little silence wouldn't hurt.
Ethan raised his eyebrows but didn't push. He simply nodded and returned to his meal.
Back in class, the minutes before lunch break ended passed quietly. At 4 p.m., the final bell rang, signaling the end of the school day. Students hurriedly packed their things, eager to head home.
As Ayo zipped up her bag, she felt a light tap on her shoulder. She turned to find a girl standing behind her—a striking figure with light skin, a massive curly afro, and bold, artsy makeup. Her look was a mix of streetwear and alte fashion, with bleached eyebrows and a collection of piercings that gave her an edgy vibe.
"Oh, hello," Ayo said, surprised.
"Hey, sorry to bother you, but I had to ask you something," the girl said, a hint of nervousness in her voice, though her eyes stayed locked on Ayo's, steady and unblinking.
"Sure, go ahead," Ayo responded, smiling warmly. There was something about the girl's energy that made Ayo feel like she couldn't say no.
"I saw you earlier in the lunchroom with that boy who sat next to you..." The girl's concern was evident in her tone.
Oh, so people do notice me, Ayo thought sarcastically. I thought nobody gave a damn.
"I just wanted to ask—did he say anything to make you uncomfortable? It looked like he wasn't exactly invited to your table," she said, her brow furrowing slightly.
"Oh, no, it's fine," Ayo said, a bit taken aback. "You're right, he wasn't invited, but he wasn't being weird. I just met him today, and I guess he was trying to strike up a conversation."
The girl nodded, her concern easing. "Alright, good. If he ever does anything stupid, just come find me. We'll ride at dawn," she said with a wink and a smile.
Ayo laughed softly. "Uh, okay. Nice sense of humor," she added, feeling a little more relaxed.
"I wasn't joking," the girl said, her expression turning deadly serious for a moment, making Ayo freeze.
"Oh..." Ayo murmured, unsure of how to respond. They stood in awkward silence for a bit.
"I'm Jemima, by the way. But you can call me Jems," the girl said, offering a smile once again as she extended her hand.
"I'm Ayo. Nice to meet you, Jems," Ayo replied, shaking her hand and returning the smile. Despite the oddness of the conversation, Ayo felt a sense of relief.
Jemima seemed genuine, the kind of person she wouldn't mind having around.
"Okay, I've gotta go, but before I leave, I want you to have something," Jems said, zipping open her bag and pulling out a flier. She handed it to Ayo with a small wave.
"Bye!"
Ayo watched as Jems walked out of the classroom. She slung her backpack over her shoulders and glanced down at the flier.
After stopping by the principal's office to grab her locker key, she opened the flyer as she headed to her locker. The first thing that caught her eye was the bold print at the top: "FEMINISM ROCKS AND YOU CAN BE A ROCKSTAR."
"Interesting," Ayo thought, smiling to herself. It seemed some of the girls at Brainpoint High had started a feminist club, and their first meeting was coming up soon. Ayo had always considered herself a feminist, but she hadn't really sought out others to discuss it with. Maybe this was the sign she needed.
She slipped the flier into her locker along with a few of her books when she heard it.
"Hey, loser."
A feminine voice, sharp and condescending, echoed through the hall. Ayo's body tensed instantly, recognizing it before even turning around.
No. Not her.
She turned slowly, confirming her worst fear. Standing there, arms crossed, was Sasha. Tall, pretty, a cheerleader—everything Ayo wasn't. But where others saw charm, Ayo only saw cruelty. Sasha had made Ayo's life miserable in the past, going out of her way to pick on her every chance she got.
"Long time no see," Sasha said with a sneer. "Remember me?"
How could Ayo forget? She'd know that voice even in her nightmares.
"Here we go again," Ayo muttered under her breath, bracing herself for whatever was coming.
"You look... less like a loser than you did last year. I see you finally trashed those awful skinny jeans," Sasha said with her signature backhanded compliment. Her smile was sweet, but Ayo knew better—there was venom behind it. The only real change was her now-blonde hair.
Sasha's eyes narrowed as she took a step closer. "So, what's this I hear about you stealing someone's boyfriend?" she said, folding her arms across her chest. Her expression hardened.
Ayo rolled her eyes, already tired of the conversation. Of course, Sasha had to stir up some drama.
"I saw you at lunch with him. Ethan. You two looked all loved up," Sasha added, her voice dripping with accusation.
Ayo sighed heavily. Here we go.
"He was talking to me, actually. I wasn't interested in the conversation," Ayo shot back. She used to stay silent, let Sasha walk all over her, but she'd promised herself she wouldn't be a pushover anymore.
Sasha laughed, an exaggerated, mocking sound that echoed through the hallway.
"You? Ethan was talking to you?" she sneered. "Please."
"Yes. He was. You can ask him yourself if you don't believe me," Ayo replied firmly.
Sasha's face darkened, her playful demeanor vanishing.
"Watch how you talk to me, girl. You're getting way too confident for your own good," she hissed, stepping closer, her voice low and threatening.
"I don't want to see you near him again, got it?"
In that moment, all the courage Ayo had built up crumbled, replaced by the familiar weight of fear.