(Michelle's POV)
Physics Lab ended, technically.
But the air didn't move.
Not really.
Not after everything Lara said.
The professor dismissed us for the last ten minutes—the usual end-of-lab cleanup—but my hands felt numb on the edge of the table. Like the world tilted sideways, just slightly, but enough to hurt. I barely registered the sounds of chairs scraping, bags unzipping, people whispering.
Whispering about me.
Eyes flicked my way and darted off.
Mouths lowered behind palms.
Jasmine's unreadable stare burned into the floor.
Anthony's jaw was tight as he handed in their group's worksheet.
Steven hadn't moved from beside me since he came back—quiet, solid, steady—but that only made the shame worse.
Lara's words still echoed:
"She opened her legs for Anthony."
"She moved from one guy to the next."
"And now Steven's next in line."
I thought I was strong.
I thought maturity was armor.
But god—
those words hurt in a way nothing had in this second life.
