The first sign something was wrong came during third-period chemistry.
Imani slid into her seat like always. shoulders straight, edges laid, confidence worn like armor..and noticed the whispers. It wasn't out of the ordinary. People always talked. Usually about her.
But this was different.
There was a weird stillness to the room as she walked in, a pause, like someone had hit mute. A few girls exchanged glances. One guy coughed awkwardly. Kayla was already seated, her brows drawn tightly together like she'd been waiting.
Imani dropped her bag beside her chair and raised a brow. "What?"
Kayla hesitated.
"Kayla."
"Don't freak out," she whispered.
Imani's stomach dipped, but she kept her face neutral. "Why would I freak out?"
Kayla leaned in. "You remember when I said Malik and Tasha were together at that party last semester?"
Imani didn't answer, just looked at her.
"Well… someone said they hooked up. Like, for real."
Imani blinked.
"That's old news though, right?" she asked, voice sharp. "I mean, people were already saying that."
Kayla shook her head slowly. "Not like this. It's different. Someone posted… stuff."
"Stuff?"
Kayla didn't get the chance to explain. The bell rang. Their teacher strolled in with her usual tired face and oversized tote bag. But Imani's ears were still ringing with Kayla's words.
All class, she felt the stares like thorns in her skin.
By lunchtime, she knew something was up.
Tasha was sitting in her usual corner with her crew loud, laughing too hard, eyes flitting toward Imani every few seconds. She looked like she was glowing with something wicked. And Malik? Nowhere to be found.
Imani was already walking faster than she realized, jaw tight, nails biting into her palm. She slid her phone out of her pocket and opened her DMs.
Anonymous: You didn't hear this from me but check the thread @valkyriegossip. You're trending.
Her heart dropped.
The page was known for messy school drama. The kind that ruined reputations. She clicked the thread.
And there it was.
BREAKING: Queen Imani ain't so royal after all. Word is Malik been keeping it warm with Tasha since BEFORE the breakup. Someone got receipts too.
Attached was a blurry photo. Malik and Tasha, curled up on a couch. Her lips on his neck. His hand dangerously low on her waist.
Then another image. A timestamped selfie of Tasha in Malik's hoodie three weeks before he and Imani split.
The comment section was a war zone.
"I knew she was fake bougie."
"She thought she had it like that "
"Tasha won fr. Imani who?"
"Didn't she say she was done with him anyway?"
"Malik always been trash. Don't blame her."
"Poor Imani."
She stared at the screen for too long, like if she blinked, it'd disappear. But it didn't.
Kayla caught up to her near the vending machines.
"Say the word and we fight," Kayla growled. "I mean it."
Imani laughed, but it sounded all wrong. "What are we gonna do? Throw punches over Malik? Tasha would love that."
"You don't have to act like you're okay," Kayla said quietly.
Imani shrugged. "I am okay."
"You're not."
"I said I am."
The truth was, she wasn't sure what she was.
She hadn't cried. She hadn't screamed. She didn't even feel shocked. Somewhere deep down, she always knew Malik wasn't worth the pedestal she'd put him on. But still—seeing it online like that? Knowing the whole school saw it too?
It was humiliation in high definition.
She skipped last period.
Imani sat alone on the back steps near the art wing, knees hugged to her chest. The sky was too blue for how she felt.
She didn't want to give anyone the satisfaction of seeing her crack. Not Tasha. Not the gossip pages. Not Malik.
But silence had a way of pulling the truth out of you.
She was hurt.
She was mad.
She felt… used.
"Mind if I sit?"
She looked up, startled.
Noah stood there, his expression unreadable as always. He didn't wait for a reply. Just sat beside her and pulled out a small sketchpad.
Imani sniffed. "Is this your thing? Showing up when people are on the verge of a breakdown?"
Noah didn't respond. Just flipped to a blank page and started to draw.
She leaned over. "What is it?"
He angled the book toward her. A quick sketch of a wolf sharp eyes, fur bristling, strong posture.
"That's me?" she asked, half amused, half surprised.
He nodded once.
"Why a wolf?"
He scribbled something under the drawing and showed it.
They fight in packs but survive alone.
Imani stared at the words. Her throat tightened.
No one had said anything like that to her before. Not even Kayla.
"Thanks," she said softly.
Noah just kept drawing.
By the next day, the thread was still active. Comments kept flooding in. Tasha was eating it up, walking the halls like she'd won some twisted prize. Malik still hadn't shown up.
People stopped whispering and started smirking. They didn't hide it anymore. A few even called her "Tasha 2.0" as she passed.
Imani didn't lash out. Didn't cry. Didn't post vague captions or clapbacks.
But she was different now.
A little quieter. A little sharper. And the way she started to look at people changed.
Even the popular ones weren't safe.
After school, she caught Tasha in the hallway.
Not on purpose. It just… happened.
Tasha was fluffing her curls in the reflection of a trophy case when she noticed Imani behind her.
"Oh hey," she said sweetly. "Didn't see you there."
Imani stepped closer. "I just want to know one thing."
Tasha turned, raising an eyebrow. "What?"
"Did you plan it? Sleeping with him. Posting it. Was that your goal from the beginning?"
Tasha smiled. "You think too highly of yourself. Not everything's about you."
"But that was, wasn't it?" Imani said coldly. "You needed me to lose so you could feel like you won."
"You already lost. All I did was speed it up."
Imani laughed. "Okay."
"That's it? No screaming? No hair pulling?" Tasha taunted.
"Nah. I don't need to touch you to ruin you."
Tasha blinked.
Imani stepped closer. "You're loud now because it's your moment. But moments fade. And when yours does? You'll still be you. That's punishment enough."
And with that, she turned and walked away.
No dramatics. No witnesses.
Just war in her eyes.
That night, she posted a selfie. No caption. No tears.
Her curls were wild and free. Her eyes were lined in sharp black. She wasn't smiling but she looked powerful.
The comments were a mix.
"She's unbothered."
"Yesss queen."
"Still prettier than Tasha tbh."
"She gonna rise fr."
"Tasha better watch out."
The next day, Imani returned to school in an oversized hoodie, black leggings, and fresh sneakers. Not flashy. Not loud. But somehow still commanding.
She walked with her head high.
Not to pretend it didn't hurt but to show she could still walk through the fire and keep going.
And as she passed Noah in the hallway, he held up his sketchbook again. A new drawing.
This time, it was a phoenix.