The weekend flew by in a blur of Netflix, sleep, and a headache that refused to quit. Every time I checked my phone, my stomach twisted, wondering if there were more comments or likes piling up on that photo. By Sunday night, I forced myself to stop checking and decided to bury myself in my blanket fort, pretending school didn't exist.
But Monday came. And as soon as I stepped foot into the building, I could feel the eyes on me.
Jenna and I walked side by side, heading toward the lockers. We didn't talk about the photo, not in the car ride here and not now. But I could tell we were both thinking about it. Every glance, every half-hidden smirk from someone we passed made my heart race a little faster.
"Just keep your head up," Jenna muttered under her breath as we neared our lockers. "It'll blow over."
"Right," I mumbled, trying to focus on anything but the whispers. My hands shook slightly as I fumbled with the lock on my locker. "Do you really think it's no big deal?"
She shrugged. "These things move fast. By the end of the week, it'll be someone else's turn. Trust me."
I wished I had her confidence. But the fact that I could hear my name drifting through the halls every few minutes didn't help. I kept my head down, grabbing my books and slamming my locker shut a little too hard. Maybe if I acted like I didn't care, I'd convince myself I didn't.
As we turned toward the first-period classroom, I spotted Mike leaning against the wall, phone in hand. His face was buried in the screen, scrolling through something. When he saw us, he looked up and gave a small wave.
"Hey," he said, his voice low.
"Hey," I replied, trying to sound normal. "How's it going?"
Mike glanced around, his expression a mix of embarrassment and resignation. "I'm not gonna lie, people keep bringing up the picture. But I'm trying to play it cool."
Jenna sighed, leaning against the wall next to him. "Just own it. If we laugh at ourselves first, they lose their power, right?"
"Yeah, sure," Mike muttered, but I could see the tension in his shoulders. He wasn't as carefree about it as he pretended to be.
Before I could say anything, the door to the classroom swung open, and we filed in, taking our usual seats toward the back. The class started, but I could barely focus. My mind kept wandering back to that picture. The way it captured our most ridiculous moment. I could almost hear the comments behind me, the snickers whenever someone glanced in my direction.
Halfway through the lesson, my phone buzzed in my pocket. I hesitated, glancing up at the teacher, who was absorbed in writing on the board. Slowly, I slipped my phone out, keeping it under the desk as I unlocked the screen.
It was a message—from Darren.
"Hey, saw the pic going around. Don't let it get to you. Shit happens."
My heart jumped a little, and I felt a stupid smile creeping across my face. I quickly typed a reply.
"Thanks, trying not to, lol. How are you?"
I stared at the screen, waiting. But the little typing bubble didn't show up. He wasn't replying. I slipped the phone back into my pocket, feeling my chest deflate. I should've expected it—Darren was always like this. Quick to send a message, but even quicker to disappear.
Jenna nudged me with her elbow. "Who was that?"
"Darren," I whispered, keeping my voice low. "He saw the picture."
"And?"
"He told me not to worry about it."
Jenna smirked. "Interesting. Maybe he's feeling guilty for not saving you from your lawn nap."
I rolled my eyes but couldn't help the small flicker of hope rising in my chest. Maybe Darren wasn't as indifferent as he always seemed.
When the bell rang, signaling the end of class, I gathered my stuff quickly, ready to head out of the room. The hallway was packed with people, their voices blending together into a loud hum. As we walked toward our next class, I felt someone tap me on the shoulder.
I turned around to see Sarah, Darren's ex—or whatever they were now—standing there with a smile that didn't reach her eyes. My stomach dropped. I hadn't really talked to Sarah much, but she was one of those girls who made you feel small just by looking at you.
"Hey, Emma," she said, her voice sugary sweet. "Saw the picture from the weekend. Crazy night, huh?"
"Yeah," I replied, trying to keep my voice steady.
She tilted her head, her gaze sharp despite the smile. "You know, you should really watch yourself at these parties. You wouldn't want people thinking you can't handle your alcohol."
The comment hit harder than I wanted it to. My cheeks burned, but I forced a smile. "Thanks for the advice, Sarah."
Without waiting for a response, I turned on my heel and walked away, my heart racing. Jenna was by my side in an instant, her eyes narrowing as she glared at Sarah's retreating figure.
"Bitch," she muttered under her breath.
"Forget it," I said, trying to push the interaction out of my mind, but it clung to me like a weight. I didn't want to let her words get to me, but they did. I hated that they did.
As the day dragged on, the whispers, the side glances, and the snarky comments kept piling up. By the time lunch rolled around, I felt like I was drowning in it all. I sat at our usual table, picking at my food while Jenna and Mike chatted about something I wasn't paying attention to.
I stared down at my phone, tempted to text Darren again. But I stopped myself. Why was I always waiting for him to throw me a lifeline? I needed to pull myself out of this. Somehow.
"Emma?" Jenna's voice broke through my thoughts.
I looked up, startled. "What?"
"You good?" she asked, raising an eyebrow. "You've barely said anything since class."
I forced a smile. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just tired."
She didn't look convinced, but thankfully she didn't push. As the day dragged on, I couldn't shake the feeling that Sarah was right. I couldn't let this party mess define me. I needed to move on, prove that I wasn't just another stupid girl who couldn't handle her own life.
But I wasn't sure how.
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