Zoe's POV
The ride to school with Seth was quiet. Too quiet. Every little sound felt magnified—like the tick of the blinker, the faint tap of his fingers on the steering wheel—each one a trigger against my already pounding heart. My fingers twisted the strap of my bag until the skin at the edge of my palm turned red.
Every time I lifted my eyes to glance through the windshield, the thought of the school gate looming closer made my chest squeeze tighter.
I'd survived the stares before—on my first day of school. I thought I'd built an armor for this. Last night, I was so sure I could handle anything. Too sure. I told myself the worst was already behind me: the whispers, the giggles behind cupped hands, the first-day stares. I thought the next time would be a piece of cake.
But today?… Today was different.
