Chapter 114 At school the next day, the cafeteria was a cacophony of clattering trays, metallic screeching, and the overlapping drone of hundreds of students seeking respite from their morning classes. At the center of this social ecosystem sat Daisy, anchored at the prime circular table by the window just exactly where she loved sitting down during breaks. She sat with a rigid, practiced elegance, her posture projecting an aura of untouchable authority. Her laughter, punctuating a lively exchange with her friends, was light and melodic, yet it carried the sharp, rehearsed quality of someone who knew exactly how she was being perceived. The atmosphere shifted abruptly, the air growing heavy and static. A shadow fell across the table, fracturing the light. Hannah stood there, backed by her loyal but visibly anxious friend, Gloria. Hannah’s face was a study in controlled agitation; her jaw was set, and her knuckles were white where she gripped the strap of her bag. “Daisy,” Hanna
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