When we got to school, Aisha hopped out first, adjusting her blazer like she owned the hallway. She turned just enough to throw me one of those sugar-sweet smiles that really meant: don't even try me.
But I followed her.
Because this time… I was going to try her.
---
I found Jessi at her locker, just like always. Aisha was already there, leaning against the metal door, droning on about something. Jessi kept nodding along, but she wasn't smiling.
I took a breath. My palms were sweating. My heart was hammering. But I kept walking.
"Jessi," I said.
Both of them froze.
Aisha's head snapped around, her lips curling into a smirk. "Oh look," she sneered. "The attention-seeker is back."