"That's not true—" I tried to explain.
But Jessi just looked away.
Even Sara avoided my eyes.
Jackie, Ashlin, Emily — they all drifted closer to Aisha. She had them wrapped around her finger, and nothing I said could change their minds.
---
Weeks passed.
One afternoon, I mustered up the courage to talk to Jessi. I found her by her locker.
"Jessi," I said quietly.
She glanced up, surprised. "Oh. Hey."