The trap

The moment I stepped out of the school doors after detention on Friday afternoon, a sinking feeling settled deep in my chest. The warm sunlight felt harsh against my skin, as if the day itself was warning me that nothing would be easy anymore.

Just beyond the sidewalk, standing like silent sentinels, were my parents. Their faces were stone, expressionless but heavy with unspoken judgment. My mother’s arms were crossed tightly, the kind of posture that made it clear she was prepared for confrontation. My father stood beside her, his jaw clenched in quiet disapproval.

I stopped a few feet away, the uneven pavement beneath my shoes suddenly too much to bear.

They didn’t say a word at first. The weight of their silence pressed down on me, more suffocating than any shout could have been. I could feel their eyes piercing through me, dissecting every part of me as if trying to decide if I was still worthy of their approval.

Finally, my mother spoke. Her voice was low and steady but laced with a coldness that made my skin crawl.

“Avery, come home with us. We need to talk.”

I nodded slowly, feeling the lump rising in my throat. The walk to the car was a blur, their silent stares burning into my back with every step.

Once inside the house, the atmosphere didn’t get any lighter.

In the living room, Ethan was already seated on the sofa, his posture rigid and unnervingly calm, as though this was all perfectly ordinary. His eyes met mine for a fraction of a second before sliding away.

My parents’ voices rose together, a cold chorus of accusations and disbelief.

“Are you jealous, Avery?” My mother demanded, her eyes narrowing. “Jealous that Ethan gets everything handed to him on a silver platter while you… you struggle to make a mark?”

My father’s gaze was sharp, unyielding. “You have to realize the damage you’ve caused. Do you even understand how much trouble you’ve brought on this family?”

I swallowed, the lump in my throat growing heavier. I tried to speak, but no words came.

Ethan cleared his throat, his voice cutting through the tension like a scalpel.

“Mom, Dad, I think punishing her is too severe. Why don’t you just ground her?” he said, taking me by surprise. I thought he would lash out at me along with my parents. Why was he on my side all of a sudden? “Avery, I have to admit you do have a backbone after all. I know why you did it.”

My mother’s expression twisted with distaste. “You think grounding her is enough? What about how she threw herself at Jaxon at your party? Savannah’s mother told me today, and I was too embarrassed to say anything.”

“Mom, this isn’t about the party. Besides, I think grounding is better; maybe she will learn her lesson.” Ethan told my mother. I was still standing there with my mouth open. I can’t believe Ethan was standing up for me. Maybe, just maybe, he was seeing me for the first time?

“We didn’t raise a girl like that,” she said sharply. “You should know your place, Avery. Jaxon will never look at you the way you want. He belongs to someone else.”

The words felt like shards of glass, piercing deeper than I expected. I opened my mouth to defend myself, to tell them they were wrong—but my father cut me off with a harsh look.

“That’s enough.”

His voice brooked no argument.

“You are grounded. No phone. Not seeing your friends. And you will remain in your room all weekend.”

The door clicked shut behind me before I could say a word.

Alone in my room, the silence was deafening. The walls felt like they were closing in on me, shrinking tighter with every breath I took. I curled up on the edge of my bed, the weight of rejection pressing down on me until I thought I might suffocate.

The buzzing of my silent phone mocked me. No messages. No texts from Lucas. No lifeline.

Monday arrived with a cruel dawn.

I was still trying to piece myself back together when I approached my locker, and the smell hit me first—a sharp, revolting stench of decay.

I froze as dozens of dead cockroaches spilled from inside, tumbling onto my shoes and the cold tile floor.

I stared at them, my heart pounding and my stomach twisting into knots. The brittle bodies crunched beneath my feet as I slammed the locker door shut.

Behind me, I could hear the faint laughter, sharp and cruel, like the buzzing of angry bees.

I didn’t look back. I couldn’t.

Lunch was no better.

I carried my tray carefully, scanning the room for a place to sit where no one would see me. But every table was either empty or occupied by groups who gave me wide berths, whispering behind their hands.

Savannah and her friends sat near the cafeteria windows, their eyes fixed on me like predators stalking their prey.

I thought maybe, just maybe, they wouldn’t do anything more.

But then a cold splash hit my shoulder, and I gasped as sticky milkshake poured down my back.

The cafeteria erupted in laughter and shocked gasps, all eyes suddenly on me.

My cheeks burned with humiliation as I stood frozen, too stunned to move.

For a moment, it felt as if the whole world had stopped—waiting for my reaction.

I wanted to disappear. To melt into the floor.

But the laughter only grew louder.

Later, desperate for sanctuary, I slipped into the bathroom. The cool tiles and bright fluorescent lights usually helped me breathe easier.

I turned on the faucet, splashing cold water onto my face, trying to wash away the shame and the sticky milkshake still clinging to my skin.

But the door slammed behind me, and before I could react, three girls surrounded me.

Their faces were masks of cruelty, eyes flashing with malice.

Before I could say a word, they grabbed me roughly, pinning me against the cold tile wall.

Savannah’s eyes were wild, her breath coming fast as if she were ready to explode.

One of her friends held my arms tight while Savannah produced a cigarette, the red-hot tip glowing ominously in the dim light.

I wanted to scream, to fight, but another girl clamped a hand over my mouth, silencing me.

Tears pricked my eyes as the cigarette pressed cruelly against my skin, searing a burning line that pulsed with pain.

I bit down on my lip, desperate not to make a sound, but the pain was sharp and immediate.

When they finally let me go, I collapsed to the floor, my breathing ragged, tears streaming freely down my face.

I knew I needed help.

There aren’t many candidates. Somewhere deep down, I hoped Ethan would be the one to listen.

I found him leaning against his locker after class, scrolling lazily through his phone.

“Ethan,” I whispered, my voice trembling.

He looked up, his expression guarded and skeptical.

“It’s Savannah,” I said quickly, swallowing my shame. “She burned me. She’s making my life impossible.”

His face twisted with disbelief, like I’d told him some unbelievable lie.

“You’re lying,” he said flatly. “Why would she do that? Just stay out of it, Avery. Leave Savannah alone.”

His words landed like a slap.

“I’m not lying,” I said, my voice cracking.

He shook his head, impatient.

“You always make everything worse.”

The weight of his rejection crushed me.

I realized then that no one was going to save me.

I was completely alone.

That night, hands trembling, I typed a message to Savannah.

Fine. I’ll meet you. One hour. Pool.

Then I sent one to Ethan.

I’m going to the pool. If I’m not home in an hour, please come find me.

He’s an asshole. But somehow I want him to see exactly how he’s wrong about everything.

The pool was quiet under the moonlight, the surface shimmering like a sheet of glass.

Savannah stood at the edge, arms crossed, her smirk sharp as a knife.

“You think you can just show up here and steal what’s mine?” she hissed. “Jaxon belongs to me.”

I squared my shoulders, refusing to back down.

“Well, then keep the game between you guys. Bullying me won’t make him yours.”

Her eyes flashed with fury as her minions closed in, surrounding me like wolves ready to pounce.

Before I could react, they shoved me to the ground, their hands like iron.

They kicked and slapped, the pain sharp and unforgiving.

“You’re in the way,” Savannah spat venomously.

Then she shoved me toward the pool’s edge.

My legs trembled, my heart pounding so hard it was almost deafening.

Before I could even brace myself, she shoved me into the freezing water.

The cold shocked my system, stealing my breath.

I thrashed, desperate for air, but panic clawed at me, making every movement clumsy and weak.

I tried to scream, but the water filled my mouth.

Hands pushed my head under again and again, crushing my desperate gasps.

My lungs burned, and the darkness crept closer, threatening to swallow me whole.

Then —

A scream tore through the night air, raw and fierce, cutting through the water and the panic.