Everyone at Westbridge Academy knew Maya Carter had a place at the bottom of the social ladder.
She was the scholarship girl.
The transfer student.
The girl whose father cleaned the school at night and whose mother worked two jobs across town.
She wore the same three sweaters every week.
She carried an old canvas backpack with a broken zipper.
She never went to the expensive cafés where the other students spent their afternoons.
She never attended the weekend parties.
And, most importantly, she never complained.
That was why Chloe Whitmore liked her.
Not because she respected her.
Because Chloe believed Maya knew her place.
Until the morning Chloe tried to humiliate her in front of half the school.
And discovered, in less than three seconds, that she had been bullying the wrong girl.
The hallway was already packed when Maya heard the laughter.
She knew that laughter.
It was the kind that didn't come from something funny.
It came from people who had found a target.
Maya slowed down.
She had a biology book tucked against her chest, her backpack hanging from one shoulder, and exactly seven minutes before her next class.
Seven minutes.
She could have turned around.
She could have taken the stairs.
She could have waited until the hallway cleared.
But then she saw Chloe standing in the middle of the corridor.
Three girls surrounded her.
Sarah was holding her phone.
Emily was whispering something into Chloe's ear.
And directly behind them was Maya's locker.
Chloe smiled when she saw her.
"Oh, look."
The hallway quieted slightly.
"She's finally here."
Maya stopped.
She already knew something was wrong.
"Excuse me."
Chloe tilted her head.
"Excuse you?"
Maya glanced at the clock.
"I need to get to class."
A few people laughed.
Chloe stepped toward her.
"That's interesting."
"What is?"
"You walk around here like you're important."
Maya frowned.
"I don't."
"You do."
Chloe looked down at Maya's shoes.
Then at her sweater.
Then at her old backpack.
She smiled.
"Actually, I think you just forgot what kind of school this is."
Maya said nothing.
She had learned a long time ago that arguing with people like Chloe never ended well.
Chloe needed an audience.
Maya refused to give her one.
She stepped sideways.
Chloe stepped sideways too.
Maya moved in the opposite direction.
Chloe blocked her again.
"Let me through."
"No."
"I have class."
"So do I."
Chloe's smile widened.
"But I don't think you're going anywhere yet."
Sarah raised her phone.
Maya noticed the camera immediately.
"Put that away."
Sarah laughed.
"Why? Afraid?"
"No."
"Then smile."
Maya looked at her.
"I'm not interested in being filmed."
Sarah moved closer.
"You don't get to decide that."
Maya's jaw tightened.
"Sarah."
"Oh, she knows my name."
More laughter.
Chloe stepped closer until there were only inches between them.
"You know what your problem is, Maya?"
Maya stayed silent.
"You've been here long enough to start forgetting."
"Forgetting what?"
"That you're here because someone felt sorry for you."
The laughter became louder.
Maya felt something tighten inside her chest.
She thought about her father.
About the way he came home every morning smelling faintly of disinfectant.
About how his hands were always dry and cracked.
About how he never complained about working nights because he wanted her to have opportunities he never had.