ngering effects of her encounter with Ace. She took a deep breath, hoping to

e she

hear what

e be interes

nalyzing every move she made. Her stomach churned with a mix of anxiety and frustration. She q

lesson, but Hazel could see the curiosity in her eyes too. Even the author

ou caught my eye. You're different from the other girls." His voice echoed in her head

nd saw him watching her, a small, enigmatic smile playing on his lips. She quickly

d think about was how to navigate the next 15 days without becoming a complete spectacle. She had always prided herself on sta

her things, eager to escape the suffocating atmosphere of the classroom. But just

one casual as if nothing out

her expression guarded.

ockets. "Just wanted to see how you were ho

nk? Maybe because you humiliated

"I told you, it was just a joke

sses. She felt a wave of relief as Ace stepped back, giving her space to move. She grabbed her bag

She needed a moment to herself, away from the prying eyes and whispered rumors. S

looked at her reflection in the mirror, noting the tension in her eyes and the tigh

Hazel turned to see her friend Mia enteri

okay?" Mia ask

le. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just..

d. Ace is such a jerk. I can't bel

t I don't want to give him the satis

. Don't let him get under your skin.

itude for her friend. "Tha

e the whispers and stares. Every time she caught Ace looking at her, she felt a mix of anger and confusi

approached her. She needed answers, and she wasn't going to let him toy with her emotions any longer. The

erself on the bed, she sobbed at the whispers of rumours she heard about herself.

was a message send to her and her eyes widened at the name. It was non other than Ace. She shivere