Next morning, the whispers started.
Not loud. Not obvious. Just little murmurs. People nudging each other, glances toward me that didn't go unnoticed.
I ignored them. I'd always ignored them. Doesn't matter.
A sharp-eyed girl, Nova Hale, kept glancing my way. Loud guy Jax Rowan laughed too much at nothing, like he was trying to draw attention. And a quiet girl, Lyra, noticed everything without staring.
I didn't care.
I tried to. Really. I wanted to just play my games, eat my food, and get through the day. But the world has a way of poking even the ones who pretend not to exist.
Then she appeared. Kira. Sitting a little further away than yesterday. Watching. Waiting.
I didn't want to look, but she caught my gaze anyway. Not a smile. Not a frown. Just… presence. Heavy, like she already knew more than anyone should.
I felt it. The first pull. The kind that tries to drag you in before you even notice.
I didn't move. Pretended I wasn't aware. Didn't matter if people noticed me or not.
But they did. And now, I knew, it wouldn't stop.
Something was coming. Something I didn't want. Something everyone wanted me to be part of.
And I… I still didn't care.
For now.