"Annie?" Bella’s eyes widened in surprise as she spotted the familiar figure waiting near the entrance of the science building. Annie was a casual friend, someone she said hi to in the hallways, exchanged a few words with between classes, occasionally sat next to during lectures when other seats were full. They weren’t close, but they were friendly. Enough that Bella recognized her face, her smile, the way she tucked her hair behind her ear when she was nervous.

Annie was clearly nervous now.

Annie hurried toward her, her steps quick, her hands clutching a notebook to her chest. "Oh my god, Bella! I’ve been looking everywhere for you. I don’t have your number, so I’ve been waiting here every day. Hoping you’d come back."

Bella’s brow furrowed. "What’s wrong? You look stressed."

Annie glanced around at the students streaming past them, laughing, talking, heading to their classes. "Can we talk somewhere? Alone?"

Bella nodded and led her to a quiet corner near the side of the building, away from the crowd. The morning sun was warm on their faces, but Annie’s expression was pale, worried.

Annie began, her voice low. "It’s about Krystal. She asked me to register your name for the annual day dance performance."

Bella’s eyes widened. Her heart stopped.

Annie continued quickly. "I work in the admin office. I handle the registrations. She came to me a few days ago, told me you were sick and couldn’t come yourself, but that you really wanted to perform. She asked me to add your name."

Bella’s hands clenched at her sides. Her nails dug into her palms.

Annie’s voice grew firmer. "I didn’t add it. I know Krystal. I know how she operates. I’ve seen her do this kind of thing before, sign people up for things without their permission, just to watch them fail." She paused, her expression darkening. "Something about the way she looked when she said it, the smile, the gleam in her eyes, it didn’t feel right. So I told her I’d do it, but I never submitted the form."

Bella’s breath left her in a rush. Relief flooded through her, so intense it made her knees weak.

Bella whispered, "Thank you. Annie, thank you."

Annie shook her head. "Don’t thank me yet. She doesn’t know I didn’t do it. She thinks your name is on the list. She thinks you’re going to perform after her."

Bella leaned against the wall, her mind racing. If Annie had added her name, she would have shown up on the day of the performance, completely unprepared. She would have stood on that stage in front of the whole university, professors, executives, hundreds of students, and frozen. Embarrassed herself. Given Krystal exactly what she wanted.

Annie asked, "Are you going to do something? Are you going to tell someone? The dean? The event coordinator?"

Bella was silent for a moment. Her hands were still clenched, but her mind was clear.

Bella’s voice was steady. "Add my name."

Annie stared at her. "What?"

"Add my name to the performance list."

Annie’s eyes went wide. "Bella, that’s... you can’t be serious. You have no time to prepare. The performance is in a week and four days."

"I know."

"That’s barely any time!"

"I know." Bella pushed off the wall, standing straight. Her brown eyes were steady, determined. "How many dances? One or two?"

Annie blinked. "Just one. Each performer gets one slot."

"Then add my name." Bella’s voice was calm, resolute. "I’ll prepare. I’ll be ready."

Annie searched her face, looking for hesitation, doubt, fear. She found none. "Are you sure?"

"I’m sure."

Annie hesitated. "But Krystal—"

"Let Krystal think she’s won." Bella’s lips curved into a small, cold smile. "Let her think I’m going to show up unprepared and humiliate myself. Let her be confident. Let her be smug."

Annie stared at her.

Bella finished, "Then I’ll show her what I can do."

Annie was silent for a long moment. Then she nodded slowly. "Okay. I’ll add your name."

"Thank you, Annie."

Annie’s voice was fierce. "Don’t thank me. Just... don’t let her win." She hated people like Krystal the most. The users. The manipulators. The ones who stepped on others to make themselves taller.

Bella nodded. Annie turned and walked away.

⊹₊˚‧︵‿₊୨୧₊‿︵‧˚₊⊹

When Bella walked into the classroom, the chatter didn’t stop, but she felt some eyes on her. A few curious glances. A few whispers. Nothing she couldn’t handle.

Karl was at his seat near the window, but the moment he saw her, he stood up. He crossed the room in three quick strides and took her arm, gently but firmly, pulling her toward the back corner where they could talk without being overheard.

His dark eyes searched her face, looking for bruises, looking for pain, looking for anything that would tell him she wasn’t okay.

Karl’s voice was low, worried. "You okay?"

Bella smiled at him softly. "I’m fine, Karl. Really."

Karl frowned. "You were gone for days."

"I was sick."

Karl’s eyes narrowed. "Sick? Or avoiding?"

She didn’t answer.

Karl exhaled, running a hand through his dark hair. "I called you. Multiple times. Some guy named Jay answered. Said you were sick. Wouldn’t tell me anything else."

Bella touched his arm. "I’m here now. That’s what matters."

Karl studied her face, his eyes still worried, but he nodded slowly. "Okay. Okay."

They walked back to their seats.

Mira was sitting at her desk, her hands folded, her eyes fixed on Bella. Her face was pale, her lips pressed together. She looked like she hadn’t slept in days. Dark circles hung under her eyes. Her hair was messier than usual. She looked broken.

As Bella passed, Mira reached out. "Bella—"

Bella walked past her without a glance.

She sat down beside Karl, pulled out her notebook, and opened it to a fresh page.

Behind her, Mira’s hand hovered in the air, empty.

She lowered it slowly, her eyes filling with tears. They spilled over, one by one, dripping onto her desk. She didn’t wipe them away.

Karl glanced at Mira, then at Bella. He didn’t say anything. He just opened his own notebook and began to write random rubbish.

The professor walked in, clapping for attention. "Alright, everyone. Let’s begin."

Bella took notes. She answered questions. She participated in the discussion.

She didn’t look at Mira once. Not once.

And Mira sat in silence, her notebook untouched, her heart heavy, watching the back of Bella’s head and wondering if she would ever be forgiven. Wondering if she deserved to be.

⊹₊˚‧︵‿₊୨୧₊‿︵‧˚₊⊹

The first class ended, and the room emptied as students shuffled out, gathering their things, heading to the water fountain, checking their phones. Bella stayed in her seat, reviewing her notes, while Karl stretched his arms above his head.

Mira sat alone.

Krystal hadn’t come to class. None of her friends had. They were probably rehearsing for the dance performance or shopping for costumes or doing whatever it was that Krystal did when she wasn’t using Mira as a convenience.

Mira stared at the empty seat beside her. Then her gaze drifted to Bella and Karl, laughing together at something Karl had said.

Her chest ached.