Charis
I collapsed onto my bed, still smiling.
"I wasn't even acting at first. I really was overwhelmed. But then I realised how it looked to everyone watching, and I decided to lean into it."
"Those parents went from wanting to attack you to protecting you in less than five minutes," Isolde said admiringly. "The whole scene will be in the news tomorrow, but now you'll be portrayed as the victim, not the villain."
"And the boys believed it completely," I added. "They still think I'm this fragile girl who needs their protection."
Isolde's smile became wider. "Which is exactly how we want them to think. Sympathetic allies are much more useful than suspicious enemies. You see what I told you about shame?"
I nodded, repeating what she'd said a few days ago. "Shame can be useful when you need people to be quiet."
"Yes," she nodded. "At least no one can use your identity as Eamon Riggs against you now."
