Claiming Space

The small bell above the nail salon door rang, sharp and sudden, and my shoulders jumped up without me thinking. A sweet, heavy perfume rushed into the room, cutting through the chemical smell I’d just gotten used to. It made my nose twitch. I kept my eyes down, watching the tiny brush move carefully across my last toe.

But I knew the moment they walked in — Cassidy Chen and her group of girls. The room felt smaller the second they stepped in, noise shifting around them without anyone saying a word.

I gripped the armrests tighter. Don’t look up. Don’t—

“Nova?”

Her voice hit like a tap on a bruise. I flinched, my foot shifting. The line of dark red polish smudged in an instant. The nail tech sighed in that sharp way adults do when they’re annoyed but trying not to show it. She grabbed a cotton ball and gently wiped at the mistake.

“Oh my god,” Cassidy was closer now. “I almost didn’t recognize you—” She stopped. Her voice changed. Softer, maybe. “You look different.”

My throat clicked as I swallowed. Here it comes — the compliment hiding a cut.

“The dress from yesterday?” she said, dropping into a seat a few chairs down. Her shiny designer bag hit the floor with a quiet thud. “Everyone’s been talking about it.”

Oh. So that’s what the looks and whispers might’ve been about. Not Jace’s post about me.

I risked a glance up.

She was smiling.

Not her usual fake-too-bright smile. This one looked real. But my chest still tightened — not out of fear exactly, but not trust either.

“Thanks,” I said. The word came out rough, like I’d chewed on it first.

Talia gently nudged my foot under the dryer. Nothing big — just a small reminder: I’m here. Breathe.

Cassidy picked up a nail polish bottle, turning it between her long fingers.

“We’re having a party tonight,” she said, casual. “My place. You should come." A pause. Then she looked at Talia and added, “Both of you. My parents are in Aspen till Monday.”

The words hit heavy. A party. Loud music. Eyes watching. Jace maybe there. My lungs tightened just thinking about it.

“We’d love—” Talia said.

“I can’t—” I said at the same time.

Cassidy raised her eyebrows but didn't say anything. Instead, she pulled out her phone and handed it to Talia. “Text me. I’ll send the address?”

They swapped numbers while I stared down at my toes, trying to remember how to breathe right again.

In the mirror, Cassidy was watching me. Not in the usual way. Not with that cold, judge-you-in-two-seconds look. She looked... curious.

I leaned toward Talia and whispered, “No way.”

She whispered back, already buzzing with energy: “Yes way. And you know what that means—”

“Don’t.”

“Emergency mall trip!” she said, grabbing her purse like a girl on a mission. “Time to make Jace regret everything.”

Two hours and six stores later, I stood in a small fitting room that smelled like new fabric and wood.

The mirror stretched from floor to ceiling, and there was no escaping it. The light above made everything look too real.

The black dress clung to my body like it had chosen me.

Behind me, Talia let out a breath like she’d been punched.

“Holy crap.”

My hands shook a little as I touched the fabric over my stomach.

It felt strange. Not the dress — the body underneath it. Like suddenly it was mine for the first time, and I didn’t know what to do with it.

I’d spent years hiding under baggy sweaters, layers, clothes that didn’t ask for attention.

Now… the dress showed every curve I’d tried to disappear.

The neckline dipped just low enough to make my chest feel tight. My pulse sped up — not fear exactly, but close.

“I can’t wear this,” I said. My voice cracked on the last word. “This isn’t me.”

“Look,” Talia said quietly, coming up next to me. “Really look.”

I didn’t want to.

But I forced myself to meet the eyes in the mirror.

The girl standing barefoot on the fitting room carpet wasn’t invisible. She wasn’t small or easy to ignore. Her shoulders were up. Her spine straight. Her burgundy-painted toes peeked out from under the dress like tiny rebels.

She looked strong.

“They’re gonna stare,” I whispered.

But my hands didn’t move away from the fabric.

They kept smoothing it out, like I was trying to memorize what strength felt like against my skin.

Talia caught my eyes in the mirror.

“Let them.”

Something cold settled low in chest. But something else was there too – louder than fear, brighter. Like light pressing in from the inside.

I thought about the note in my locker last week. About Jace pretending I wasn’t worth looking at. About how many times I’d shrunk myself to fit into hallways, conversations, silence.

“Okay,” I said, surprised myself.

Talia’s smile went full supernova.

“But I’m wearing my boots.”

“Obviously,” she said, already digging through her purse. “Can’t exactly kick ass in heels.”

The sun was setting as we stepped out of the mall.

Shadows stretched long across the parking lot, soft gold light sliding over cars, bags rustling against our legs. Mine bumped my thigh with every step — quiet but steady.

“Hey,” Talia said when we reached her car. Her keys jingled in her hand. “If you’re not feeling it, we can bail. No pressure.”

I looked down — at the bag, at my painted toes, at the weight in my chest.

But also at something new.

I’d made choices today. Small ones. But they were mine. I was starting to claim my own space instead of apologizing for it.

“That’s the thing,” I said, sliding into the passenger seat. My voice came out steady, like it had roots. “I think I am ready.”

Talia started the engine. The radio burst to life, greedy by Tate Mcrae playing. My pulse matched it, my fingers tapping along with the rhythm, even though my stomach was in knots.

***

The bass from inside the house was so loud, I could feel it under my boots. Like the music was living in the ground.

I stood frozen on the edge of Cassidy Chen’s porch, jacket zipped almost all the way up, fingers twisting the hem again and again.

Through her windows, I saw shadows moving as my heart pounded.

Next to me, Talia leaned in. “You’re doing it again.”

“What?”

“The turtle thing,” she murmured. “Where you try to crawl into your collar.”

Crap.

I straightened my back, prying my hands off the bottom of my jacket.

Before I could say anything else, the door flew open.

The music slammed into us like a wave, air rushing out too — thick with sweat, cheap booze, body spray, something warm and expensive that made my throat close up.

Cassidy stood glowing in the doorway, wearing a silver dress so bright it hurt a little to look at.

“Oh my god, you actually came!” she said. Her voice jumped up in surprise, then pulled itself back down. “I mean... that dress is so hot”

I held still.

My fingers tightened around my jacket, but I made myself stay upright. No shrinking. Not this time.

“Thanks,” I said. My voice scraped a bit, but it made it out.

I caught a glimpse of some jocks at the beer pong table, fists in the air, cups flying. On the stairs, a couple was practically glued together, lips messy, hands everywhere, like the rest of us didn’t exist."

Eyes skimmed my skin as I passed, little flicks of attention that made my chest tighten. I fought the urge to curl inward.

Straighter spine. Chin up. Try not to shake.

Cassidy turned like she was going to say more, but someone grabbed her by the arm mid-sentence and spun her away, laughing.

She disappeared into the crowd, just like that.

Talia’s fingers found mine and squeezed. “Breathe, babe.”

I pulled in air, then forced it out again, slower this time, until the tightness in my chest eased a fraction.

“I’m good,” I said. “I’m—”

A voice behind me sliced clean through all of it.

“Well,” he said, low and smug. “Look who cleaned up nice.”

I turned around too fast, one boot heel catching just slightly on the floor. The expensive kind of cologne clung to him — sharp and heavy.

His eyes dragged down my body — slow, like it was a game.