Sophia laughed softly.
“Oh please, it’s not that big of a deal.”
Her voice was humble.
Modest.
But the glow of victory surrounded her.
Then she noticed Ethan.
Her smile widened slightly.
“Hey, Ethan.”
He nodded politely.
“Davis.”
Her gaze flicked briefly toward Olivia.
Then she turned back to Ethan.
“You coming to the celebration tonight?”
Olivia stiffened.
Celebration?
Sophia nodded toward a flyer in her hand.
“The team is throwing a small party for the new captain.”
Her eyes sparkled sweetly.
“You should come.”
Ethan’s expression remained neutral.
“Maybe.”
Sophia leaned slightly closer to him.
“I’d really like you there.”
Her tone held a subtle flirtation.
The kind that made other girls in the room glance over immediately.
Olivia stared at her notebook.
Pretend you don’t care.
Pretend you don’t care.
Sophia straightened.
“Well, think about it.”
She walked toward the back of the classroom.
But as she passed Olivia’s desk—
She paused.
For just a second.
And whispered softly,
“You should’ve stayed invisible.”
Olivia froze.
The words sliced through her like ice.
Before she could react, Sophia was already walking away.
Smiling.
Laughing.
The perfect captain.
Olivia’s hands curled into fists under the desk.
Ethan noticed immediately.
“What did she say?”
“Nothing.”
“Olivia—”
“I said nothing.”
The bell rang.
Class began.
But Olivia didn’t hear a single word the teacher said.
Because Sophia’s whisper echoed in her mind again and again.
You should’ve stayed invisible.
Exactly what Olivia had told herself last night.
How did Sophia know?
The question made her stomach twist.
Lunch was worse.
The cafeteria buzzed with gossip.
Olivia grabbed a tray and scanned the room.
Most tables were full.
And most of them were watching her.
She spotted Mia near the windows.
Relief flooded her chest.
But as she approached—
She slowed down.
Because Mia wasn’t alone.
She was sitting with a guy Olivia had never seen before.
Tall.
Broad shoulders.
Dark hair tied back loosely.
He looked older than the average high school student.
College age, maybe.
He leaned close to Mia as they spoke quietly.
Olivia’s stomach tightened.
Mia noticed her.
Her eyes widened slightly.
Then she smiled brightly.
“Liv! Over here!”
Olivia forced a smile and walked over.
“Hey.”
Mia gestured toward the guy.
“This is my cousin Miguel.”
Miguel looked up.
His dark eyes studied Olivia carefully.
Too carefully.
Then he smiled politely.
“Nice to meet you.”
Olivia nodded.
“You too.”
But something about his gaze made her uneasy.
Like he was evaluating her.
Judging her.
Almost… disappointed.
Miguel stood up.
“I should get going.”
Mia frowned.
“You just got here.”
“I have class.”
He turned to Olivia.
“Take care of yourself.”
The words sounded normal.
But his tone carried something else.
Something heavier.
Then he walked away.
Olivia sat down slowly.
“That was weird.”
Mia laughed nervously.
“He’s protective.”
“Of you?”
“Yeah.”
Olivia studied her.
“Mia.”
“What?”
“You didn’t tell me you had family nearby.”
Mia shrugged.
“He just moved here.”
Olivia nodded slowly.
But the unease didn’t leave.
The conversation from last night echoed in her mind.
Miguel.
The Davis family.
Revenge.
She pushed the thoughts away.
Maybe she was overthinking.
After everything that had happened, her brain was probably just paranoid.
“Anyway,” Mia said quickly, “ignore the idiots today.”
Olivia snorted softly.
“Hard to ignore when they’re printing posters.”
Mia’s eyes darkened.
“What posters?”
Olivia pulled the crumpled paper from her backpack and tossed it on the table.
Mia unfolded it.
Her expression hardened instantly.
“That’s messed up.”
“No kidding.”
Mia stared at the photo longer than necessary.
Then she said quietly,
“They’re trying to break you.”
Olivia shrugged weakly.
“Mission accomplished.”
“No.”
Mia grabbed her wrist.
“Listen to me.”
Her voice was intense.
“You are not the same girl you were at your old school.”
Olivia looked away.
“Feels like it.”
“Well, you’re not.”
Mia leaned closer.
“And you’re not going to let Sophia Davis win.”
Olivia hesitated.
“What if she already did?”
Mia shook her head firmly.
“Then we fight back.”
The word made Olivia’s chest tighten.
Fight.
She had spent her whole life avoiding fights.
Avoiding attention.
Avoiding conflict.
But maybe that was the problem.
Maybe staying invisible had never protected her.
Maybe it had just made her an easier target.
Across the cafeteria—
Sophia Davis laughed at a table full of admirers.
She looked radiant.
Untouchable.
Perfect.
Olivia’s eyes narrowed slightly.
For the first time since last night…
A small spark of anger flickered in her chest.
Maybe Mia was right.
Maybe it was time to stop being invisible.
Even if it meant starting a war.