5.

ALORA

I waited for Mallory to defend herself because there was no way the girl from high school would ever tolerate someone talking to her, even when it was Brielle.

But to my surprise, she didn’t say a word and looked away. She looked as though she wanted to curl into herself and disappear.

Hani and I exchanged surprise glances. I guess we shared the same thoughts.

Her reaction began to make me wonder if she was really being truthful when she said she had indeed changed. Or could this be an act?

Did the new version of herself make her lose the ability to defend herself? If she kept quiet, it would be painting a target on her back.

I sighed and made up my mind to defend her, but Hani beat me to it.

“Funny how you keep picking on everyone. Do you feel threatened or something? Are you trying to make yourself feel better about your last season's shoes?” She snapped, and Brielle’s eyes widened.

“They are not last season! I just got them,” she shrieked.

“Oh honey, they so are. I had the same pair last year. Gave it to my maid,” Hani smirked triumphantly and high-fived Harvey.

Brielle realised she was outnumbered and that the only results she was getting were humiliations.

“This is not over, Alora. You better watch your fucking back,” she snarled before storming off.

I frowned. I never understood why Brielle hated me. It always seemed like she had a personal vendetta against me. She never missed an opportunity to torment me whenever she saw me.

Did I do something to her and not remember? I couldn't remember offending her.

“Are you okay?” Harvey asked, pulling me from my thoughts.

“Yes,” I gave him a small smile.

“You should hide that,” he smiled sympathetically, and I followed his hand to see that he was pointing at mine, which was trembling under the table.

“It’s not that…” I stumbled over words trying to explain that I wasn't scared because of Brielle, but he just smiled at me.

“Trust me, I understand more than anything,” he murmured, and before I could ask him what he meant by that, he was already typing on his phone.

I removed my hands from under the table to clench them together on my lap. I felt a strong urge to look around the class and see if anyone could see how much I was struggling.

“That was intense?” Hani chuckled.

“Tell me about it.” Harvey shook his head, not taking his eyes off his phone. “Who still bullies people in uni?” he asked, rolling his eyes.

Unable to stop myself, my eyes strayed to the back and found Kian already looking at me.

I flinched out of surprise, not expecting to meet his gaze that felt like he could see beneath the surface. Despite the earlier warnings, I couldn't bring myself to look away.

In that moment, it felt like it was just the two of us in the class. His eyes watched me with intention, as though they were mocking me and calling me out on all my lies.

The awareness made me shiver, and I felt the need to wrap my arms around myself to hide away from him.

The terrifying thought that there was a possibility that he could read me like an open book almost had me hightailing it out of the ball, but I held back. I couldn't show fear.

Something sinister told me that he knew I was putting on an act, but I would never allow him to prove himself right.

“Hey,” Hani tugged my arm, forcing me to break eye contact first.

“That was intense,” she said, then laughed. “That’s the second time I've used that sentence today, and it's all because of you.”

“What do you mean?”

“The staring contest with Kian? We were all watching, and it felt like we were intruding on your private time,” she supplied with a giggle.

“I wasn't looking at him,” I argued weakly, but they threw me a “are you fucking kidding” look, and I sighed in resignation.

“Lora, you can’t,” Hani whined softly.

“I won’t,” I argued.

“Are you sure?” Harvey chuckled.

“It’s not funny,” Mallory snapped at him, and he raised his hands in mock surrender.

“Sorry, but I think it is,” he smirked.

“Okay, let’s drop the topic,” I said before anyone could say anything more. It was getting annoying because it was making me feel like I didn't know better.

The professor for the general course walked in at that moment, and everywhere fell silent, but not my thoughts.

My heart constricted, and my palms itched with the need to wash them until they bruised.

“Breathe in.

Breathe out.

Take it easy.

Nice and calm

I’m helping now so it doesn't feel like the only thing I ever do is torment you.”

The whispers sneered, breaking out of the prison I thought I had trapped it in for the rest of the day.

“I’m the only one allowed to make you feel miserable, so you better calm the fuck down before they see,” It snapped. “Don’t be such a coward. I thought you said you weren't pathetic so what’s this?”

The whispers turned punishing, and I dug my nails into my lap to ground myself. The pain always helped.

“You’re only proving Brielle right by hurting yourself in front of all these people.” The whisper mocked, and I ripped my hands from my lap and dragged my dress down to cover the small marks I had already made with my nails.

My fingers tingled, desperate for something to do, so I pulled out the PopSocket I always carry with me and got my hands busy.

Mallory noticed the item in my hand and threw me a curious stare, but I ignored her.

I turned my attention to the professor while my fingers clicked furiously at the object in my hands, hoping it would take my mind off what I really wanted to do and off the person still staring at me.