I should've known peace wouldn't last.
Alex started walking with me more often. Talking to me. Laughing with me. People noticed.
And they didn't like it.
Whispers followed us through the hallways.
"Since when does Alex hang out with her?"
"She's so quiet… kinda creepy, don't you think?"
"Is he pitying her?"
I pretended not to hear. I always pretended.
But then she appeared.
Her name was Maya.
She was beautiful in the loud way—perfect hair, confident smile, effortless charm. The kind of girl who never doubted her place in the world. The kind of girl who stood close to Alex, touched his arm when she laughed, spoke his name like it belonged to her.
And Alex… didn't push her away.
The sight of them together made my chest ache.
That day, I skipped the walk home.