Tw 18+
Tori Hartley is invisible.
In her junior year at Glenwood High, she's perfected the art of staying unnoticed-fading into the background as the popular crowd torments her. Alexa Thompson, the school's queen bee, makes Tori's life miserable, a...
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Maya Thompson gazed at herself in the mirror, taking in her familiar reflection with its soft waves of honey-blonde hair cascading down her shoulders, pale, delicate skin, and blue eyes that sparkled with a mix of allure and uncertainty. Maya rarely saw herself the way others did; in her own eyes, she was just... Maya.
The early morning light crept through her bedroom window, casting a golden glow across her room's pastel walls. She sat cross-legged on her bed, flipping through a psychology textbook in preparation for an upcoming test, though her thoughts wandered elsewhere. She could hear the faint hum of her parents' voices drifting from the kitchen downstairs, muffled but unmistakably tense.
Her father, Dr. David Thompson, was an esteemed surgeon, the type of man whose confidence filled every room he entered. He was tall and broad-shouldered, with a carefully maintained image of control. Maya had always admired him, but as she grew older, she noticed cracks in his composure, particularly in the moments he thought no one was watching.
Her mother, Dr. Rebecca Thompson, was equally accomplished, a dedicated pediatrician whose gentle demeanor was the perfect counterpoint to her father's more rigid personality. Where David was exacting, Rebecca was compassionate, and while they both shared a deep love for their daughters, Maya had long sensed that something unspoken hung between them, like a shadow.
A soft knock on her bedroom door broke her train of thought. It was her little sister, Emma, poking her head in with her usual wide-eyed innocence. Emma was twelve and adored Maya with an admiration that sometimes felt like too much to live up to.
"Are you studying?" Emma asked, her voice tinged with a hint of awe.
Maya smiled and put her book aside. "Not really. What's up?"
Emma slipped into the room, her gaze dropping as she fidgeted with the hem of her shirt. "Mom and Dad are arguing again."
Maya sighed, patting the space beside her on the bed. Emma sat down, leaning into her older sister's comforting presence. "It's probably just about work stuff," Maya reassured her, even though she knew that wasn't the whole truth.
Emma glanced up, her brow furrowed. "Why do they argue so much? Do you think they're going to... you know, split up?"
The question stung, but Maya wrapped an arm around Emma, squeezing her shoulder. "They love each other, Em. Don't worry. Sometimes adults just have complicated lives."
Emma nodded, though her face was still shadowed with doubt. She looked up at Maya, seeking reassurance in her older sister's calm presence. "I wish it wasn't so complicated."
"Me too," Maya murmured, kissing the top of Emma's head. Despite her own uncertainty, she put on a brave face for her sister's sake. "How about we grab some breakfast?"
