Regina had become uncomfortably attached to Alessia. Every day, she found a way to pull her into their group, linking arms, sharing secrets, and insisting Alessia sit with them at lunch. Her overly friendly demeanor left Alessia feeling like prey being stalked by a predator, but she couldn't find a way to pull away without drawing more attention.
At lunch one day, Regina leaned close to Alessia, her voice a honeyed whisper that the others could still hear. "You're really fitting in, Alessia. I knew you'd do great here."
Alessia forced a tight smile, trying to focus on her barely touched salad.
"Regina," one of her friends—a tall girl with sleek black hair and piercing eyes—spoke up, her voice dripping with curiosity. "Did you hear about Caleb? Apparently, he's been flirting with juniors again. You know how he is."
Alessia tensed at the mention of Caleb's name, her hand tightening around her fork.
Regina laughed lightly, waving the comment off. "You know those are just rumors, right? Caleb is madly in love with me. Besides..." Her voice dropped conspiratorially, though it was loud enough for everyone to hear. "He's about to pop my cherry at my birthday party."
The table erupted into laughter, a mix of teasing and shock. Alessia's face burned, and she busied herself rearranging the food on her plate.
Regina turned to her, flashing a bright, dazzling smile. "Speaking of which, Alessia, you have to come to my birthday party. Everyone's going to be there."
"I... uh..." Alessia stammered, her mind scrambling for an excuse.
"No excuses!" Regina said, wagging a finger playfully. "You're coming. I won't take no for an answer."
Alessia nodded hesitantly, unsure of how to navigate this new minefield Regina had set before her.
***
The quiet hum of the library was a welcome reprieve from the chaos of the day. Alessia sat tucked in the corner, her books spread out in front of her as she worked through a particularly dense reading assignment. The words on the page blurred slightly, her mind drifting back to the uncomfortable conversation at lunch.
She jumped when a chair scraped loudly against the floor next to her. Looking up, she found Caleb Lawson sliding into the seat, his ever-present smirk firmly in place.
"Hey," he said casually, leaning back as if he owned the space. "So, you're coming to the party?"
Alessia's stomach tightened. She lowered her gaze, focusing on her book. "Why do you care?"
Caleb chuckled. "Because it'd be more fun if you were there."
Alessia glanced around the library, her heart racing. "Don't talk to me. Regina will kill me if she sees us."
"She doesn't own me," Caleb said, his tone light but with a hint of challenge. "We can be friends too, you know."
Alessia turned to him, her voice cold and low. "I know what you do to the girls you 'befriend.' Leave me alone."
Caleb's smirk faltered for a split second, replaced by a flicker of something Alessia couldn't quite place. But then it returned, sharper than before.
"You're different," he said, leaning closer. "Most girls would be thrilled I'm talking to them. But you? You're... fascinating."
Alessia closed her book with a sharp snap and stood up. "I don't want to be fascinating. Just leave me alone."
As she gathered her things, Caleb's voice followed her. "I'll just see you at the party then."
She didn't respond, her steps quick and purposeful as she left the library.