Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
MONDAY MORNING HIT DIFFERENT , and Karma wasn't feeling it. Her alarm went off at 6:30 a.m., but she laid there staring at the ceiling, knowing she had to get up but not wanting to deal with people. Especially after that whole Kenzo fight. She wasn't about to let nobody phase her, but still, she could already sense the whispers that were gonna be flying around at school today.
Finally, she dragged herself out of bed, threw on her black Nike hoodie, ripped jeans, and her favorite pair of Jordan 1s. She slicked her hair back into a bun, making sure her baby hairs were laid perfectly. Grabbing her bag, Karma looked in the mirror and gave herself a small nod. Ain't nobody finna mess with me today.
She made her way to the bus stop, AirPods in, blocking out the noise of the city around her. As the bus pulled up, Karma spotted a few familiar faces but kept to herself, sliding into an empty seat toward the back.
By the time she stepped into school, the hallways were buzzing with energy. Groups of students clustered up, gossiping and laughing. Karma walked through, head held high, pretending like she didn't hear the low whispers. She knew they were talking about her fight with Kenzo.
As she reached her locker, Eva came up beside her, leaning against the metal with a knowing smirk. "Girl, everybody talkin' about you knockin' Kenzo out."
Karma rolled her eyes but smirked a little. "They need to get a life, for real."
Eva laughed. "But you did what you had to do. Ain't nobody gonna mess with you now."
"I know that's right," Karma said, pulling out her books. "I just don't want to deal with no more drama today. I ain't in the mood."
As they walked toward class, they passed by Kenzo and her little crew. Kenzo had a bruise on her cheek from the fight, but she still tried to act tough, throwing a glare in Karma's direction. Karma shot her a sideways look, not even acknowledging her for real.
"Don't give her no attention, Karma," Eva whispered as they passed. "She mad because she lost."
"Girl, I ain't worried about her," Karma said, flipping her hair. "She don't faze me."
The day dragged on, class after class, with Karma barely paying attention. Her mind kept drifting back to everything that had been going on. She was tired of the constant back-and-forth, tired of the drama. But at the same time, she knew she had to stay on top of things—keep her head in the game, because if she didn't, these people would try to pull her down.
At lunch, Karma and her friends sat in their usual spot, laughing and talking. Jayla was going on about some boy she was crushing on, but Karma wasn't really paying attention. She kept glancing around the cafeteria, scanning for any signs of trouble.
