Luz hurried into the classroom, her breath coming in short, panicked bursts. Her backpack bounced awkwardly against her back, and her cheeks were flushed with embarrassment. The bell had rung five minutes ago, and all eyes turned toward her as the door creaked shut behind her. The classroom fell into a hushed murmur.
At the front of the room, Mrs. Miller slowly turned, marker still in hand. Her brows furrowed, lips pressing into a thin line.
"This is the third time this week, Luz," she said sharply, her tone laced with disappointment more than anger. "Care to explain?"
Luz froze in the doorway, her heart hammering in her chest. She felt the heat of judgment not just from the teacher, but from the twin glares shooting toward her from the back of the room. James and Jaxx. Their eyes were cold, unforgiving—warning her. Threatening her.
"I-I… uhm…" Luz stammered, her voice barely a whisper. She risked a glance at the two boys. James cracked his knuckles slowly, eyes narrowed. Jaxx gave a slight smirk, shaking his head at her like she was pathetic.
"I… I must have fallen asleep… I'm sorry," Luz muttered, eyes fixed on the floor.
Mrs. Miller sighed heavily, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Go find your seat. We'll talk after class."
Luz nodded quickly and rushed to the back of the room, sliding into her seat with her head low. She could feel James and Jaxx's eyes burning into the side of her face. Her hands trembled slightly as she pulled out her notebook, pretending to take notes.
The lesson dragged on, every second feeling like an hour. Mrs. Miller continued writing on the board, explaining the new material, but Luz couldn't focus. Her stomach churned with anxiety. She could barely hear the lecture over the ringing in her ears and the weight of the boys' threats still hanging over her.
She tried to look up, but every time she did, she met their eyes—mocking, expectant, cruel.
When the bell finally rang, it was like coming up for air. Students began to collect their things, the clatter of chairs and shuffling of papers filling the room.
Mrs. Miller handed out a stack of worksheets. "Homework is due tomorrow. No excuses. If you don't turn it in, you'll hear from me."
The students murmured in response, some grumbling, most indifferent. Luz stayed in her seat, clutching the paper tightly. Her legs felt heavy, unwilling to move.
As the classroom emptied, Mrs. Miller looked up and gestured to her. "Come here, Luz."
Luz stood slowly, dragging her feet toward the desk at the front. Her heart pounded louder with every step.
"You're getting detention next Friday," Mrs. Miller said, her tone more resigned than angry now. "Your parents have already been notified."
Luz's face paled.
"U-uhm…" she stammered, her voice shaky, "W-which parents…?"
Mrs. Miller looked up from her papers, confused. "Your mother and your stepfather. Who else?"
Luz visibly tensed, her shoulders rising. Her eyes darted to the side, as if looking for an escape route.
"Oh! I-I see…" she said quickly, forcing a small, nervous smile. "That makes sense…"
Mrs. Miller's frown deepened. "Everything okay? You seem… scared."
Luz swallowed hard, giving her head a little shake. "Nope! Everything's fine. Totally fine. Can… can I go now?"
Mrs. Miller hesitated, watching her carefully, but eventually nodded. "Yes, you can go."
Luz turned quickly, grabbing her bag and homework, nearly sprinting toward the door.
But before she could make it to the hallway, two rough hands grabbed her shoulders from behind and yanked her backward into the shadows near the lockers.
"Finally," James growled. His breath smelled faintly of mint gum and something metallic. "We thought you were gonna stay in there all day."
"You made us late to practice," Jaxx added, his voice low and sharp like broken glass.
"I-I'm sorry…" Luz whispered, her eyes fixed on the ground. She didn't dare meet their eyes. Not here.
"Whatever," James snapped. He shoved a crumpled stack of worksheets into her hands. The top sheet was half-finished math problems, his name scrawled at the top. "Finish this. And don't even think about screwing it up."
"It better not be some C+ trash," Jaxx said, stepping in closer. "I want an A. Or else. You know what'll happen."
Luz nodded silently, clutching the papers against her chest. The boys gave her one last glare before turning and walking off, laughing quietly to themselves.
Left alone in the hallway, Luz stood there frozen for a moment. Then, slowly, she sat down against the wall, letting her head fall into her hands. Her fingers curled around the edges of the homework sheets as silent tears welled in her eyes.