The next week at school was a blur. Julie and Noah had kept studying together, meeting up in the library and exchanging notes in class. Each time they were together, Julie felt herself falling a little more—his laugh, his crooked smile, the way he listened to her so intently.
But she wasn't the only one who noticed.
Madison's glares were sharper, her whispers louder. Every time Julie walked past her in the hallway, she felt the sting of judgment, the heavy weight of eyes on her back. But she did her best to ignore it, Noah's words echoing in her mind: "Don't let her get in your head."
Still, it wasn't easy. Especially when Madison seemed determined to remind her of her place.
Julie was at her locker, swapping out her textbooks, when she heard them—Madison and Brooke, their voices low but pointed.
"I still don't get it," Brooke murmured. "Why would Noah waste his time with her?"
Madison's laugh was cold. "It's charity, obviously. She's nothing. A nobody. Probably just feels bad for her or something."
Julie's hands trembled, her stomach twisting. She wanted to run, to hide, to disappear. But she forced herself to keep her back turned, to pretend she couldn't hear them.
Madison's voice dropped, icy and sharp. "It's pathetic, really. She actually thinks he likes her."
Julie's heart sank, her confidence crumbling. Was that true? Was she just fooling herself, thinking she had a chance with someone like Noah?
She heard them walk away, their laughter echoing down the hall, leaving her standing there, frozen.
The sting of their words followed her through the rest of the day, weighing her down. By the time she made it to math class, her stomach was in knots.
She slid into her seat, her eyes fixed on her notebook, doing everything she could to avoid looking at Noah. But he noticed.
"Hey," he whispered, leaning toward her. "You okay?"
Julie forced a smile, but it didn't reach her eyes. "Yeah. I'm fine."
He didn't look convinced, his eyebrows knitting in concern. "Are you sure? You seem… distracted."
She hesitated, her heart aching. She wanted to tell him, to let it all out. But how could she? How could she admit that she was scared? That she didn't feel good enough?
Before she could answer, the teacher started the lesson, pulling their attention to the front. Julie kept her head down, pretending to take notes, but her mind was miles away.
When the bell finally rang, she packed up her things as fast as she could, desperate to escape. But Noah caught up with her in the hallway, his hand gently catching her arm.
"Julie, wait." His voice was soft, his eyes full of concern. "What's going on? You've been off all day."
She looked down, her chest tightening. "It's nothing… I just… I have a lot on my mind."
Noah stepped closer, his gaze searching. "If this is about Madison… don't listen to her. She doesn't know anything."
Julie's heart skipped, her eyes flicking up to meet his. "How… how did you know?"
He sighed, his expression softening. "I saw her talking to Brooke earlier. I heard some of the things she said. I hate that she's doing this to you."
Julie's throat tightened, her defenses crumbling. "It just… it hurts. She makes me feel so… small."
Noah's jaw clenched, his eyes darkening. "She's wrong, Julie. You're amazing. You're smart, kind, funny… and she's just trying to tear you down because she's jealous."
Julie's breath caught, her pulse quickening. "Jealous? Of me?"
Noah's face softened, his eyes never leaving hers. "Yeah. Because you're real. You're genuine. And… because you have my attention."
Julie's heart stopped, her eyes widening. "I… I do?"
Noah's cheeks flushed, his voice lowering. "Yeah… you do."
They stood there, the hallway bustling around them, but all Julie could see was him—his gentle eyes, his shy smile, the way his shoulders relaxed when he was with her.
For a moment, it felt like the world faded away, leaving just the two of them.
Then, the spell was broken by a loud voice echoing down the hallway. "Noah! There you are!"
Julie's chest tightened as Madison approached, her smile wide, her eyes sharp. "I've been looking everywhere for you."
Noah's expression shifted, his shoulders tensing. "What do you need, Madison?"
Madison's gaze flicked to Julie, her smile tightening. "I wanted to ask you about the party this weekend. Are you coming?"
Noah hesitated, his eyes drifting back to Julie. "I… I don't know yet."
Madison's smile didn't falter, but her eyes narrowed. "You should come. It's going to be amazing. Everyone's going to be there." Her gaze settled on Julie, her voice dripping with condescension. "Well… almost everyone."
Julie's chest tightened, her confidence slipping away. She suddenly felt out of place, like she didn't belong.
Noah's jaw tightened, his eyes flashing. "We'll see. I'll let you know."
Madison's smile wavered, but she recovered quickly, her voice sickly sweet. "Alright. Hope to see you there." She walked off, her shoulders high, her head held even higher.
Julie swallowed, her throat tight. "You should go… if you want. It sounds like a fun party."
Noah's eyes softened, his voice gentle. "I'd rather hang out with you."
Julie's heart skipped, her face heating up. "You… you would?"
He grinned, his eyes twinkling. "Yeah. Parties are overrated anyway."
Julie felt herself smile, warmth blooming in her chest. Maybe Madison was wrong. Maybe she did have a chance after all.
As they walked down the hallway together, Julie felt a little lighter, her heart a little fuller. For the first time in a long time, she didn't feel small. She felt seen.