Chapter 5: New Girl, New Troubles

Blue Ville came into view as Stacey parked her grandfather’s bike in the student lot. She couldn’t believe she had to show up here again. Not like she had any choice. All she really wanted was to hide in her bedroom until the whole mess with that stupid video blew over—or her mother finally gave in and transferred her to another school.

“Hi.”

Stacey turned and saw a chubby girl with kind eyes smiling at her. Stacey blinked, her brows furrowing in confusion.

“I’m Lily. You ran out of Literature class yesterday.”

“Oh my goodness—have you come to mock me?” Stacey’s face turned red, her heart skipping.

“No. You ran out before I could even talk to you. I was the girl next to you.”

Stacey’s mouth dropped into a small “oh” as recognition sparked. She remembered her—the girl who’d tried to speak up, but her voice was drowned out by laughter and shame.

“I’m Stacey,” she said softly.

They stared at each other for a moment, a fragile smile forming between them—like the beginning of something unspoken but needed.

“That Monica girl… don’t mind her. She’s always like that,” Lily said as they both fell into step, heading toward the humanities block.

“She seemed ready to bite my head off,” Stacey muttered.

“She bites everyone’s head off,” Lily replied. “Especially girls she sees as competition.”

“Competition? With me?” Stacey raised a brow. “I’m new and she doesn’t even know me.”

“She does now,” Lily said knowingly. “Let me tell you—Derrick doesn’t even like Monica. But she’s so head over heels in love with him, and expects him to love because she thinks she is the prettiest girl in school. She walks around like she owns him.”

“Well… she is pretty,” Stacey shrugged.

“But not as much as you,” Lily said, holding Stacey’s gaze.

Stacey blinked, startled. Her brows lifted, lips parting in surprise. “You’re joking, right?”

Lily gave her a teasing smile. “You’ll find out soon.”

Stacey laughed nervously, her cheeks flushing. “I don’t want Dragon Queen drama—”

A voice behind them cut in. “I think deserve that.”

They turned.

Derrick.

He blinked at Stacey, then burst into laughter.

Lily giggled beside her. “She came ready today.”

“I see that,” Derrick said, offering Lily a fist bump. “Hey, Lil.”

“Derrick, what are you doing near the humanities block?” Lily asked, arms folding playfully.

Stacey tilted her head too. “Aren’t you supposed to be solving equations or something?”

He shrugged. “Maybe I’m here to wait for someone.”

Stacey narrowed her eyes. “Me?”

“Could be.” He grinned, eyes dancing with mischief.

Lily clapped her hands. “I love this show. This is so much better than Physics.”

“I feel like I missed the first episode of this show,” Stacey said, trying not to smile.

“Oh, trust me,” Lily said, “Monica thinks she’s the lead actress, but she’s not even on the poster.”

They laughed.

The three of them fell into step, walking slowly toward their class.

The campus buzzed around them. Seniors laughing too loudly. Juniors dodging prefects. The sky was hazy with morning light, and the air still held on to the coolness of dawn. But Stacey felt heat rising in her chest.

Students turned as they passed. Some whispered. One girl even pointed.

“I think they’re talking about me,” Stacey muttered.

“They are,” Lily confirmed. “It’s the video. And… Derrick.”

Derrick scratched the back of his head. “Ignore them. If I paid attention to everything people said, I’d go insane.”

“Too late,” Lily joked.

Just then, Monica appeared at the hallway turn, her two minions trailing behind her like shadows. She was dressed in a perfectly pressed uniform and a smug expression.

She locked eyes with Stacey, her lips already curling.

“Well, well—” she began.

But before the words left her mouth, the school intercom crackled to life.

“Stacey Edwards, report to the principal’s office. Now.”

The hallway went quiet for a beat.

Lily gasped. “Oh no.”

Derrick turned to Stacey, brows creasing. “Did you do something?”

Stacey’s stomach twisted. Her heart felt like it dropped to her knees.

What did I do? What now?

She glanced at Monica, who was smirking again like a villain in some bad teen drama.

Heat crawled up Stacey’s neck. Her skin prickled with nerves, her body on edge. A few students nearby started whispering.

One girl even said, “Guess she’s already in trouble.”

“I didn’t do anything…” Stacey whispered. “Did I?”

“Go,” Lily said softly, nudging her. “You didn’t do anything wrong.”

But Stacey wasn’t sure anymore.

As she turned toward the admin building, every step felt heavier than the last. The principal’s office loomed ahead like a punishment, and her mind was already racing with worst-case scenarios.

Still, she held her head high. 

Even if she was breaking inside.