Michelle's POV
The first thing I noticed when I arrived at the Economics Department hall wasn't the decorations.
It was the noise.
Laughter. Music. Chatter. That weird mixture of holiday cheer and academic fatigue unique to December college events. The whole room glittered in red and gold, fairy lights strung across the ceiling like constellations someone had lovingly untangled.
My blockmates were already gathered at the long buffet table — Camille waving at me frantically the moment I walked in, Lance nearly choking on a marshmallow from shock, Angie giving me a smile so stiff it might've been carved from ice.
I inhaled quietly.
This was my first time being in a forced social setting since the… CampusFiles fiasco.
And even though Steven had wiped that thread off the face of the earth, the ripples were still here.
Eyes.
Whispers.
Quick glances.
But after everything that happened… it didn't crush me this time.
