Raven's POV
The drama didn't actually wait for me.
Of course it didn't.
It came looking for me—right there on the bus.
So there I was, sitting at the front with my earphones plugged in, minding my own business. Not bothering anyone. Not looking at anyone. Just existing in my little bubble like I always did. I wasn't talking. I wasn't laughing. I wasn't even breathing too loud. I was being the version of myself people preferred: quiet, invisible, and out of the way.
There was a commotion at the back of the bus. I could hear it even through my music—laughter, loud voices, that nasty edge people got when they were about to make someone else the joke of the day. I didn't turn around. Didn't care. I had learned that sometimes survival meant pretending things weren't happening.
I told myself it had nothing to do with me.
I was wrong.
Something hit my arm.
Not hard. Just enough to make me flinch.
I looked down.
A piece of crumpled paper lay on my lap.
