Chapter 36
Friday morning brought an unfamiliar heaviness to the hallways. Liana could feel it in every glance, every whisper. Brianna's silence over the past few days had been too deliberate. Liana knew better than to think calm meant peace—it always meant preparation for the next move.
Aiden walked beside her, his gray eyes alert, reading the subtle signs that Liana had learned to recognize. "Something's off today," he said softly. "I can feel it."
"I know," Liana admitted. "Her quiet is louder than any prank or comment. She's planning something… personal this time."
He squeezed her hand reassuringly. "We'll handle it. Together."
Liana nodded, a mixture of fear and determination tightening in her chest. Over the past weeks, she had faced public challenges, pranks, and whispers, but Brianna had never attacked her personal life—or so she thought. Today, that boundary would likely be tested.
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Second period passed in a blur. Every glance from Brianna was sharp, deliberate, and calculating. Liana felt herself tensing, heart beating faster than usual. She tried to focus on her lessons, but the quiet anticipation was suffocating.
During a brief break, Liana noticed Brianna approaching from across the classroom. Her smirk was sharper, her eyes fixed on Liana with unmistakable intent. And then it happened: Brianna whispered something loud enough for the few students near Liana to hear.
"You think you're special, shadow girl," she said, voice dripping with mockery. "But I heard your little secret yesterday. Maybe everyone should know how scared you really are."
Liana froze, a sudden shock running through her. Her secret—something she had shared only with Aiden, something she had never intended to reveal—was now in the open. Panic and anger surged, but Aiden's hand brushed hers under the desk, grounding her instantly.
"You're okay," he whispered. "You can handle this. I'm right here."
Liana took a shaky breath, forcing her voice steady. "You're wrong," she said, projecting calm even as her stomach tightened. "This secret doesn't define me. It doesn't change who I am."
Brianna's smirk faltered slightly. Liana noticed the fleeting uncertainty flicker in her eyes—the first sign that her personal attack wasn't achieving the effect she wanted.
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Lunch felt heavier than ever. Liana and Aiden sat at their corner table, the usual comfort of snacks and juice bottles doing little to ease the tension. The cafeteria buzzed with whispers, some glances curious, some judgmental.
"I can't believe she said that," Liana murmured, voice low. "I trusted her… and now…"
"You trusted her," Aiden interrupted gently. "And you trusted yourself enough to handle it. That's what matters. She can reveal what she wants, but it doesn't define you. You're stronger than this."
Liana exhaled slowly, letting his words sink in. He was right. Brianna's attempt at a personal strike had failed—not because no one noticed, but because Liana refused to give it power. Composure, courage, and the quiet strength of trust in Aiden had turned an attack into a victory.
Across the cafeteria, Brianna finally retreated, frustration evident. Liana realized she had survived the most personal test yet, and with Aiden's support, had emerged stronger than before.
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As the bell rang, signaling the end of lunch, Liana felt a mixture of exhaustion and quiet triumph. Walking toward their next class, hand brushing against Aiden's, she understood something vital: personal attacks could wound, but courage, trust, and self-belief could heal far faster—and stronger.
The space between her and Aiden remained unshakable, a sanctuary of trust, courage, and quiet resilience. And as they stepped into the hallway together, Liana felt ready for whatever Brianna—or life—threw next.
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