MariahIt was weird how quiet everything felt now.Not school.School was never quiet.But… everything else.No whispers when I walked into a room.No girls side-eyeing me like I’d stolen something from them.No stupid rumors floating around like they owned the place.Just… normal.Which, honestly?I wasn’t used to.I dropped my bag onto the chair in the TV room and flopped down onto the couch, staring at the blank screen in front of me.“Mom, we’re in here!” I called.From the kitchen, I heard, “Okay! I’m making dinner!”I exhaled, sinking deeper into the cushions.Normal.That’s what this was supposed to feel like.A few minutes later, I heard the front door open.My heart did that annoying little jump it always did when I knew it was him.“Mariah?” Jackson’s voice carried through the house.“In the TV room!”His footsteps came closer, and then he appeared in the doorway.For a second, he just stood there.Looking at me.And yeah, I’d never admit this out loud, but—That look still
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