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Elena’s POV

“Is that Elena?”

“I wouldn’t have recognized her if not for her face.”

“Damn… she looks different.”

Yeah, yeah, keep talking, people. That’s exactly what I want. Let them choke on their own jealousy.

Lena and I walked through the hall like we owned it. Our steps hit like thunder—every eye glued to us. She was rocking the shorts and tops we picked together, looking like a goddess who decided to casually grace mere mortals with her presence. What a child, honestly.

“You must be feeling like you own the school, right?”

A voice dripped with all the fake sweetness in the world, making us stop mid-step. I sighed and rolled my eyes before I even looked. Of course—it had to be Melinda, the self-proclaimed queen bee, dripping with arrogance, standing with that fake smile of hers. Jason’s little slut—typical.

“Oh my, it’s the school bee. Welcome back! What got in your pants?” Elena fired back, and her eyes snapped to Lena, burning hate into her gaze.

“For you too—lose some weight, must’ve stung, Jason rejected you, huh?” Melinda spat venomously.

The crowd murmured, some nodding, some whispering. I smirked.

“That’s right. I haven’t seen her since the day of rejection,” one of the girls murmured.

“Glad she worked on herself, though,” another voice chimed in.

I let them stew. Time to set the record straight. I raised my chin, voice calm but cutting.

“Jason who? That child? I’m sure the Moon Goddess was joking,” I said, letting the words drip with pure honeyed venom. “Pairing me with a fool like that? Absolutely a no-go.”

“WHAT?” Melinda screeched, and the hall gasped. Phones were up, mouths were open.

“Did she just call Jason a fool?”

“Damn, she’s bold!”

“And pretty!”

Yeah. I’ve always been pretty—you just were too blind, or too pathetic, to notice.

Melinda’s little pawn, Sara, piped up next: “Just because you lost some weight doesn’t make you pretty! You’re still the fat girl.”

I laughed so hard my chest hurt.

“No one asked you to talk, pawn pet. I’m in a good mood today ‘cause my best friend is back… or I might just spray your dirty little pussy with pepper,” Elena growled.

Melinda and her dog scrambled back, screaming, “You’ll pay!”

I laughed, tugging Lena by the hand. “Let me see you try, darling. Woof.”

“Now, let’s go learn,” I said, and Lena sighed in mock exhaustion.

“Can we skip?” she whined.

I shook my head, frowning. “Absolutely not. I thought you said you liked school now!?”

“Well, I don’t, okay!! I liedddd!” she groaned dramatically, throwing her hands in the air.

“Excuse me!” a voice stopped us again.

Another hater? Ugh. Lena and I turned, eyes narrowing, to see a boy walking towards us—handsome as hell, hair light pink, skin auburn, rocking skinny jeans and a simple top like he didn’t even have to try. I exchanged a glance with Lena; she raised an eyebrow, intrigued.

He stopped in front of us, smiled politely.

“Hello, I’m Hayden,” he said.

“Hi Hayden, I’m Elena… and she’s Elena also,” I introduced, pointing between us. He blinked like his brain just glitched.

“You two are both Elena?” he asked, eyes bouncing left and right.

We nodded in perfect unison because obviously.

“Wow that’s sick! Anyway… I just transferred here and got lost. These ants won’t stop staring at me like I’m suspicious,” he sighed dramatically. “I’m gay, not a killer.”

Ohhhhhh. That explains why he’s stupidly pretty.

“Damn, you’re beautiful,” I blurted out before my mouth asked for permission.

He smiled—and the dimple popped out like it was formed by the gods themselves. I

“I LOVE your dimple, boyyy—” the other Elena squealed and reached out like she was about to poke it.

I slapped her hand away. “Stop harassing the beauty, ma’am. Anyways, what department?”

“Art and design,” he replied.

I lit up immediately. “Say less, that’s where we’re going too.”

We started walking when Elena dropped a bomb like she was announcing a presidential decree.

“There’s a party tonight. Welcome-back party. We HAVE to be there ‘cause Jason will be there.”

She flipped her hair like that explained everything.

I raised a brow.

“He’s not even in school today,” she continued, “but he has to pay for what he did. We’re going. Final.”

She turned to Hayden. “And you’re coming with us, pretty boy.”

Hayden blinked. “Oh… okay.”

The way he said it, you'd think he just got recruited into a cult.

I shook my head, already exhausted, and walked into class.

☆☆☆☆☆

“This party is actually cool,” Hayden muttered hours later, swaying his hips like a Disney princess with attitude while we danced.

We’d bumped into him at the gate —man was literally waiting like a lost puppy.

“I knowww,” Elena bragged, flipping her braids like a diva. “I might just choose you as my new bestie.”

I rolled my eyes so hard I saw my brain.

“I need a new drink. You two want?”

Both of them nodded instantly because of course they did—parasites.

I strutted to the bar, grabbed another cup, and someone tapped my arm.

“Hey pretty,” a slurred voice muttered.

I turned—and froze.

Jason.

Looking drunk, confused, and painfully slow-brained.

His eyes widened so aggressively it was almost funny.

“Elena…?”