Aisha slammed her locker shut so hard that the sound made a few people flinch.
Her perfect smile was gone now, replaced by something sharp, cold, and dangerous.
Across the hallway, she could see Emily, Jackie, Ashlin, and even Sara huddled in the corner — whispering to each other. Watching her.
She knew.
They were slipping.
Her loyal little court… slipping right through her fingers.
And she was not going to let that happen.
---
"Emily," she called sweetly, walking over with that practiced charm. "Jackie, Ashlin — hey! Why are you all standing around like scared little mice? Come on, you know she's just playing you, right? That Lilly girl? She's manipulating you. She's making you pity her so you'll all feel sorry for her. You're smarter than that, aren't you?"
The girls exchanged glances but didn't say anything.
Aisha's eyes narrowed.
"Don't tell me you believe her over me," she hissed, her voice dropping now that no one else could hear. "I made you all who you are. You'd still be nobodies without me. Don't forget that."
Jackie finally spoke, her voice quiet. "We just… don't want to hurt anyone anymore. That's all."
Aisha's jaw tightened.
Ashlin added, "And maybe Lilly isn't the one hurting people."
That was it.
Aisha's whole face went cold.